‘Rhythm of Life’ | The 2018 colour collection from Jotun

Norwegian paint company Jotun has just released its latest colour collection and the photos instantly caught my eye when they popped into my inbox a few days ago. Entitled ‘Rhythm of Life’, it encompasses 32 beautiful shades for 2018: terracotta pink, pale sage green, deep burgundy, dark petrol blue. They’re certainly bang on trend – in fact many of the new-season homeware ranges (including Ferm Living’s ‘Home Collection’ which I shared last week) feature similar palettes – but there’s a lot more to Jotun’s selection than simply following the latest fashions.

The collection is based on extensive research into the way colour impacts our lives, our moods and our homes, and it’s divided into three themes – ‘City Motions’, ‘Silent Serenity’ and ‘Lush Garden’ – which reflect the changing nature of modern living. Each aims to capture the ideas, values and aspirations of people around the world, as Jotun’s Global Colour Manager Lisbeth Larsen explains:

“How people think and what people dream of is actually surprisingly similar whether you live in Muscat or Copenhagen. Everyone shares a love of colour. Our research identified three trends that are common to inhabitants of every global city: our longing for the restorative power of nature; our dream of a calmer, slower-paced way of life in the sun; and our desire to make the most of our increasingly compact urban living spaces in minimalist but creative ways.”

Here’s a closer look at each theme, all styled for Jotun in real Scandinavian homes by Oslo-based creative studio Kråkvik & D’Orazio and photographed by Line Thit Klein.

‘City Motions’

‘City Motions’ is about urban living and surviving busy city lives. It focuses on compact spaces, and how we make these work for us through pared-back design and comfortable functionality. It pairs industrial, architectural colours such as cool blue and marble grey with warmer browns and beiges, reflecting how minimalist urban homes can be softened with wood, wool, linen, leather, velvet and stone to create sophisticated, elegant schemes.

Shown above: 5455 ‘Industrial Blue’, 1434 ‘Elegant’, 5200 ‘Dusky Blue’, 1391 ‘Bare’, 10965 ‘Hipster Brown’ (front room) and 10961 ‘Raw Canvas’ (back room), and 5044 ‘Icy Blue’

‘Silent Serenity’

‘Silent Serenity’ speaks to our yearning for more relaxed, sun-warmed climes. The palette is inspired by nomadic lifestyles, interweaving various cultural influences and taking its cues from natural light, soft earth, adobe walls and vast deserts. It mixes creams, terracotta pinks, muted peaches and sandy browns, creating a soothing atmosphere that gives us space to slow down, breathe, and dream of adventures in distant lands.

Shown above: 10580 ‘Soft Skin’, 10966 ‘Almond Beige’, 20047 ‘Blushing Peach’, 10678 ‘Space’, 10966 ‘Almond Beige’ (front room) and 20047 ‘Blushing Peach’ (back room), and 10981 ‘Norwegian Wood’

‘Lush Garden’

‘Lush Garden’ reflects our desire to reconnect with nature. It takes us out of the city and into forests and tropical jungles – botanical sanctuaries where we can retreat from the relentless pace of modern life and recharge. The blue-greens of foliage and water are contrasted with the red-browns of bark and branches, evoking memories of sunlit leaves, swaying palms, woodland pools and dense canopies of trees.

Shown above: 6352 ‘Evening Green’, 8281 ‘Pale Linden’, 0963 ‘Golden Bronze’, 6350 ‘Soft Teal’,  20054 ‘Silky Pink’ (wall with doors) and 2588 ‘Artist Clay’ (wall with windows), and 8302 ‘Laurel’

Photography by Line Thit Klein for Jotun; styling by Kråkvik & D’Orazio