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5 'ugly colors' that I'll be decorating with in 2024 – these undesirable colors will trend this year
Interior design firm Pierce and Ward, known for coining the term 'ugly colors,' asserts that incorporating underappreciated muddy tones is essential for dialing down overly 'pretty' aesthetics in homes. These 'ugly' colors, often misunderstood and avoided in interior design, include dirty, earthy, and muddy shades such as ochre, rust, lime green, dark brown, and arsenic. These hues, while considered unappealing by some, are experiencing a surge in popularity due to their comforting qualities, which are particularly relevant as people spend more time in their homes, seeking warm and cocooning spaces.
Dark brown, often underplayed, offers unexpected richness and complexity. As a dark neutral, earthy brown provides a grounding effect while exuding sophistication. It demonstrates versatility by either standing alone as a striking color or serving as an elegant backdrop that allows other hues to pop. Inspired by global travel, this season’s decorating trends integrate a rich palette of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and ochre, all contributing warmth and depth to interiors. Interior designers like Nicola Harding advocate for its use, especially darker tones, for creating sharp contrasts, and highlight its electric effect when paired with blue.
Mustard, another color often overlooked, is presented as more than just a condiment. Earthy mustard yellow is lauded for its ability to create rich and enveloping rooms, offering a sense of a warm embrace. Patrick O’Donnell, brand ambassador for Farrow & Ball, suggests its suitability for kitchens or offices due to its energetic, happy, and optimistic qualities, while advising against its use in bedrooms to promote rest. Sarah Brown, founder of Sarah Brown Interiors, recommends mustard as an accent color, particularly for inside cupboards or pantries, to provide an uplifting surprise. She notes its effectiveness in darker, moodier spaces where it can introduce warmth and intrigue, serving as an elegant and sophisticated backdrop for artwork and antiques.
Lime green, despite frequently appearing on 'ugly color' lists, is championed for its joyful and buoyant nature. As a primary color of nature, green typically brings calm and serenity, making it suitable for any room. Henriette Von Stockhausen, co-founder of VSP Interiors, suggests using vibrant lime green piping to lighten the mood in more restrained schemes, highlighting its ability to add attention to detail and a sense of humor without overpowering the space. Its energizing and exciting qualities can also be softened effectively with white and pale blue, creating unique atmospheres through unusual color pairings.
Beige, which suffered an unfair reputation for being boring in the 90s and early 2000s, is now being re-evaluated for its capacity to add warmth and elegance. Its neutral color palette, inspired by the natural world, offers a gentle and soothing touch that can be layered with textures and tones to adapt with the seasons. The article emphasizes that a neutral palette does not equate to boring; instead, it can create an interesting and exciting space through the layering of different tones, such as off-whites and beige, with accents of caramels and even black. Rust and terracotta, historically associated with decay and aging, are now recognized for their ability to inject warmth and depth into interiors. These earthy colors, ranging from rich red to orange, evoke the sun-baked surfaces of warmer climates, drawing inspiration from ancient civilizations. Terracotta, derived from 'terra cocta' (baked earth), is described as a giving shade that can act as an accent or a main backdrop. Its character provides an all-year-round mood of warmth, reminiscent of Spanish and Italian architecture, bringing summer warmth even on gloomy days through rich terracotta, umber, and orange shades.
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