“Caliente” means hot in Spanish and Benjamin Moore has taken control over the dial this year and turned it all the way up. Caliente AF-290 has been announced as their color of the year. Known for their unpredictability (Simply White in 2016; Shadow in 2017) the color has evolved from a hue to a feeling; a moment. Their collective findings demonstrated an emergence of red hues, embodying the change, strength, confidence and vitality that permeates cultural movements around the world.
We know what you’re thinking….red? How can I design AROUND that giant elephant of a statement? Simple. Like all of life’s hacks, you either go BIG or go HOME (in subtle, chicer ways). Here’s how to to use this color and not turn your house on fire…unless if you want to!
All the Small Things
Courtesy of Jamie Walters
Still not ready for that paint job? No problem. Choose smaller accessories that still want all the attention without screaming - maybe just hinting. Books serve both as enjoyable pastimes and as little pops of color that help decorate a space. Above, designer, Jaime Walters does just the trick with choosing white, neutrals as the defining palette and incorporates bits of this hot color via an art piece, a chair and the literature that speak to the homeowner!
Off-the-Wall
Like a statement art piece, choose one wall as the conversation stirrer and then have that be the reference points for all other design aspects. Incorporating neutrals like soft grey, and misty blues can help cool down the room - or at least to a level that’s livable.
Imagination Nation
Courtesy of Jamie Walters
Normally people shy away from a 360-red room. However, a children’s room is appropriate for it. It’s a very sensational space. Children tend to always desire sensory stimulation. Enhance your child’s creativity with this caliente color. Jamie Walters taps in:
“ Benjamin Moore’s 2018 Color of the Year is a rich and vibrant color that is a perfect accent for a child’s room. For rooms that have door and crown moldings, keeping the walls in a neutral tone and painting these architectural elements in Caliente can add a pop of color, fun and sophistication. Red is - in many ways - the perfect compliment to any neutrals - white, navy, cream… and it adds a playful and upbeat vibe to any room. For those who are wary of committing to wall color - I recommend introducing color through fabrics and textiles or handmade toys.”
Floor Art
Rugs (when chosen carefully) have the power to tie a room together. Because it’s on the floor, aka not at eye-level, it’s not the first thing you notice when you walk into the space but lies in the peripheral the whole time. Make no mistake, choosing the rug will never mean that it goes unnoticed, it is an element that would look off when you remove it. Trust.
Pillow Talk
The bed is the most important furnishing in your bedroom for three reasons: a) it takes up the most space b) dictates how other furnishings will be arranged c) will also have a defining factor in color palette. Whether you choose to match or contrast your sheets with accessories, pillows are the finishing touch that tie the room together. If buying caliente curtains is too out there for your personal taste, choose the little fluff pieces of magic to incorporate this fresh, new color!
Make an Entrance (and Exit)
Ironically enough, the first design element one uses upon entering a home is…the door. Because it is used so frequently, it is often, overlooked. Make no mistake, choosing a certain texture or color for your door can make just the right pop of statement without being overbearing. Try color JUST your front (or back) door this new color and notice the difference in how you make your signature entrance.
And there we have the new color of the year. We’d love to see how you interpret this hue into your space. Fire things up this 2018! It’s going to be a fun one.