By NG PAU LING pauline@thestar.com.my

Colouring your new year!

COLOUR speaks louder than words. It is a powerful tool that possesses the ability to influence moods and emotions.

An action as simple and cost-effective as adding a new hue to a wall can do wonders for the ambience of any interior.

Here we share four inspirational colour palettes that will add vibrancy to your 2018.

Each colour palette evokes a specific mood and highlights social focuses of the coming year, including the relationship between humans and technology, the fearless and bold nature, the sense of natural harmony in urban living and the creative ways to reinvent living spaces.

Nippon Paint’s Seeking Adventure colour set echoing the bravery of nature through the free use of saturated tones and organic neutrals.

Fearless nature

From the highest mountain to the deepest ocean, life is a journey of exploring the unknown.

Nippon Paint’s Seeking Adventure colour set is inspired by the oceans and mountains – seaweed, coral, graphite, pebble – echoing nature’s bold and courageous personality through the use of the saturated tones and organic neutrals.

This palette encourages the clashing of colours, textures and patterns. You can combine two or more contrasting colours to create a bold and dynamic statement – red and aqua, green and coral; or add some saturated nature tones onto the muted or mineral shades to give a subtle yet pleasant accent.

Blue-Green is the highlight of this colour palette. Rich and immersive, it is the most exhilarating of nature’s hues. It reflects the unexplored depths of the sea or the moment when warm morning sunlight permeates foggy forest. This hue is one that brings the nature indoors.

Blue pairing with metallic finishes, Conscious Being by Nippon Paint is a palette blended from synthetic and organic tones.

Futuristic finishes

In this digital age, a life immersed in technology has become the cultural norm. Tech is no longer just a tool; it is now an ally – a friend or even a means of survival.

Cool greys and blues pairing with metallic finishes, the Conscious Being by Nippon Paint is a palette blended from synthetic and organic tones. The grouping of this colour set exhibits the essence of the digital and industrial-inspired design, drawing vibrancy and futurism into one space.

The metallic finishes add versatility to the palette and remind us about industrial machines, while the smooth and warm undertones bring up a human touch, blurring the line between man and machine.

Heart Wood is a timeless tone that can easily blend with any palette.

Woody urban

The modern-day bustling city needs a balance with natural harmony, a breathing space where you feel relaxed and at ease while living at a comfortable pace.

Heart Wood – Dulux’s colour of 2018 – is an earthy tone that sits between warm pink and milky brown. It conjures up a feeling of comfort, security and harmony which can transform an urban home into a sanctuary.

Brown may sometimes be considered dull, but this warm colour of nature brings a sense of stability and security.

The soft tone of Heart Wood is conservative, quiet and subtle, thus making it easy to adapt to any backdrop or blend with other palettes. It adds a timeless touch and softens the interior.

Imagine curling up comfortably in an unhurried and relaxed ambience created by this earthy tone. Being free of stress – that is exactly what you need after a day of hard work.

Jotun's City Motions in blue-based shades brings a touch of drama and glamour.

Modest drama

In an increasingly urbanised society, a new generation is finding innovative ways to reinvent their living spaces. Jotun’s City Motions colour theme captures these creative sanctuaries in blue-based shades.

The younger generation emphasises self-esteem, creativity and identity, yet bold statements don't always need to be loud.

Marble greys and warm weathered-woodland browns create a palette of soulful simplicity, modestly adding a touch of drama and glamour in spaces.

The unnecessary and the excessive are stripped away as inventive urbanites transform compact spaces into sophisticated temples for easy-living functionality.

This colour theme goes hand-in-hand with the “new luxury” which speaks of a peaceful haven that has soaked up exterior noises from the hustle-and-bustle cries of modern cities.