The Dulux Color of the Year 2022 is in, and it's the perfect optimistic light blue. Bright Skies is all about hope and optimism – something we all a bit more of following the tough pandemic years.
Blue room ideas are the hottest paint trend right now, and the understated, powdery color truly encapsulates the current mood for soft yet grown-up blues.
There is more than one reason why light blue has become so popular. On the hand, it's often praised by psychologists as one of the most relaxing colors, making it suitable for bedrooms. Blue bedroom ideas are incredibly popular among the many people who struggle to go to sleep at night.
Psychologist Lee Chambers has explained that blue 'can be soothing and make you feel secure', but that overly dark colors can make us feel sad, so should be avoided. Bright Skies is just the right kind of blue – uplifting and cozy at the same time.
Light blue also happens to be one of the best colors to add value to your home if you're planning on selling. Light blue has figured prominently in the Zillow Paint Color Analysis as a great color for both bathrooms and kitchens, with blue bathrooms adding as much as $5,000 to a home.
And, quite simply, Bright Skies just suits the current hunger for hopeful and optimistic home decor. Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director of Dulux UK, explains that 'right now, people want to feel revitalized and enjoy the freedoms that are returning to them, to look out and bring in new ideas.'
Light blue is the color of nature and infinite space, and 'what better inspiration can we take than the endless skies around us?' Marianne points out that the light blue shade is perfect for any room in the home. 'Whether we are working or relaxing, creating or exercising, it is essential to have a space that reflects the optimism and desire for a fresh, new start that is top of the agenda for the year ahead.'
We especially like the new shade as a color to incorporate into modern home office ideas. Nothing quite cheers up a homeworking environment as a fresh color inspired by nature.