Dunn-Edwards announced its 2018 Color of the Year – The Green Hour – a darker shade of grayed blue-green.

“This stunning color has dual personalities of being moody, dramatic and intense, while still grounding and tranquil, acting as a neutral,” said Sara McLean, color expert and stylist for Dunn-Edwards. “It is dreamlike, mysterious, rich and cozy.”
 
She selected The Green Hour after extensive research on color trends in everything from pop culture and fashion to world events and local street culture. “Variations of this hue have been trending over the past two years, from lighter cactus and mint green to darker teal blue-green,” McLean said.

The name comes from the custom of drinking absinthe in Parisian bars, bistros and cafés beginning in the early 1800s and continuing through the turn of the century. The hour of 5 p.m. was called l’heure verte, or The Green Hour, signaling an increase in absinthe drinking into the late evening hours. Artists, writers and other creative types were regulars at The Green Hour.
 
In the spirit of The Green Hour, Dunn-Edwards is donating 10 percent of sales of paint tinted in The Green Hour to Beautify Earth, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization devoted to putting an end to blighted walls and communities all over the world by empowering artists, encouraging social responsibility, and instilling community pride. Dunn-Edwards will provide paint for a series of Beautify Earth community art projects in multiple cities throughout the year.

“The Green Hour is very versatile, pairing well with other moody deep colors, like blackened red, peacock blue, brown, purple and black,” McLean said. “These rich colors are very popular and continue to trend.
 
“With a nod to the maximalism trend and 1980s excess, the Guilded Era revival continues, providing a desire for richer, jewel-tone colors such as The Green Hour to add to the designers’ palette of go-to hues. Art Deco and Craftsman styles, both rich in history and color, provide a relevant reimagining of these noteworthy colors, evoking moods of luxury and refinement.”
 
For an Art Deco inspiration, she suggests pairing The Green Hour with rose, light cool gray, olive green, rose and red. Or for a Craftsman look, accent with chocolate brown, beige, mustard and rust.
 
The Green Hour is stunning as an accent on a home’s exterior, especially if the house is a neutral gray or taupe. McLean suggests painting the front door, window trim and other exterior accents like a fence, mailbox or garden pot to brighten up the curb appeal. For the interiors, she says, go bold with The Green Hour throughout a room, then accent with cool neutrals like DEW383 Cool December and DE6296 Sculptural Silver.




Photos courtesy Dunn-Edwards