2024 Color of the Year from Dutch Boy Paints (Wait, wut? Already?!?)

Well, the dance has begun, folks. Paint manufacturers have already begun to announce their 2024 Color of the Year: with more than four months to go until the New Year!

Trying to get a jump on the competition is one thing but, when everyone jumps at the same time – nothing but confusion can follow. Never fear, for we are here to help reduce the clutter.

Dutch Boy’s “Ironside” Paint Color of the Year

One of the first to jump is Dutch Boy Paints who, according to DesignersToday.com, have gone “deep and dark for color of the year”. The paint has been named “Ironside, [and is] a deep olive shade with dark undertones that creates a level of comfortable sophistication.”

“As dark shades become more appreciated in the home, this deep olive is versatile in wide-open spaces or enclosed comfy places, reflecting well-being from all angles, according to Dutch Boy,” wrote Product Editor Lauren Roses.

Quoting Ashley Banbury, NCIDQ and color marketing manager for Dutch Boy, we learn their thinking behind this intriguing color as the foundation for numerous palettes from the manufacturer:

“Creating a space for wellness should be a driving factor in everyday life,” she said. “That’s why taking a natural approach to healthy living and safe spaces is a pivotal part of the current landscape. Dutch Boy Paints’ 2024 One-Coat Color of the Year – the stunning, strong Ironside – incorporates all the above in one bold color and can be applied in one single coat.” (emphasis added)

Complementary Color Palettes from Dutch Boy Paints

Of course, every paint manufacturer offers a spread of choices, based on their chosen Color of the Year. In this way, they can offer a palette of colors that can be used by designers and homeowners to make a particular statement or enhance the feel of a chosen space.

• Embrace Palette - As homeowners place an emphasis on the comfort of slowing down, the Embrace Palette focuses on self-care and wellness. Shades include Antique White, Whale’s Tail, and Heritage Brown.

• Inspire Palette - Personal expression and creative outlets have become therapeutic. Bold uses of pattern, color, and curated spaces in this color palette create self-inspired trends and environments. Explore color by combining shades like Ultra White, Pineapple Flan, and Strawberry Shade.

• Retreat Palette - The Retreat color palette is intended to give peace of mind while taking extra personal time. Ironside is the color that ties Sanded Grout, Wild Orange, and Antiquated Olive together, bringing both cleanliness and warmth to the home.

Without a doubt, we’ll be hearing about and seeing many more offerings from many more paint manufacturers about their 2024 Color of the Year. As we do, we’ll be sharing them with you.

A quick cautionary note: Don’t be surprised by the variety of colors, some of which will definitely contrast with others.

As always, Ted remains available for business consulting to the trade, whether you have questions about colors or basic business practices. Simply… Contact TD Fall today.

Interior Design Business Administration Tasks – The Big Yuck!

Perhaps the biggest headache for small design firm owners – and small business owners in general – are the administrative tasks that must be handled. After all, you got into this business to explore and put to use your creative side, not to be pulled into interior design business administration tasks every day, instead.

Luckily, there is help available. From services like ADP and Paychex that manage payroll to Virtual Business Support Services and Virtual Assistants (VA), you can get your payroll taken care of, along with a myriad of other admin tasks. From HR to marketing and from helping to put in place policy and procedure manuals to client follow-up, VA support services can handle all of it for you at huge savings over the time you’re spending right now.

De-yucking the Big Yuck

An eye-opening article at BusinessOfHome.com brought clarity to the issues that small design firm owners run into frequently:

“Ten years ago, Penny Francis didn’t think she needed an employee manual—or dedicated HR resources, or a formal goal review process, for that matter. But when interviewing job candidates, the founder of the New Orleans–based firm Eclectic Home found herself reinventing the wheel each time and realized that there had to be a better way. ‘I was lacking consistent policies, procedures, and interview resources,’ says Francis. “I needed steps for documenting and following up with both hired and non-hired job applicants.’

“Francis was already using Paychex to manage payroll; when she realized that the company offered a human resources administration service as an add-on, she signed up. The process required some upfront time and energy but paid off exponentially. ‘After a few days of working with their consultant to help them understand my business’s needs, they created a supervisor’s manual and another manual for staff interviewing and selection. Each manual provides resources, forms, and state-specific compliance laws, along with procedures, sample letters, and forms for easy implementation.’”

Your Time is Your Greatest Asset

Current admin cost: What are your time, energy, training, and talents worth? Because right now, YOU are your greatest business admin expense. In other words, whatever you charge your design clients for your time, be it $150, $200, or $300 per hour, has to be included in the overall project price you quote them.

Now take that number, let’s pick $225 per, and multiply it by the time you spend on these tasks. Spending just 15 hours a month on admin is $3375 a month down the drain. Or, $40,500 per year. (It’s likely closer to 20 hours per month at five a week, but we’ll stick with the number we used.)

Dang! What could any small business owner do with that kind of extra cash every year? Not to mention the time you’ll save for doing what you love – interior design!

From hiring and firing to ordering products, creating estimates, and billing clients, the value of the time you spend on admin currently is almost inestimable. Getting help with the drudgery and time-suck that is business administration can only benefit your design business, and you.

Recall that our guide and mentor, Ted Fall, remains available for business consulting to the trade. He also has contacts with virtual business support firms that are dynamite at helping take the business administration load off the shoulders of small business owners. Feel free to… Get in touch with TD Fall today.