December Color of the Month: Malachite Green (DEFD37)

Why Malachite Green is December’s Color of the Month

Winter is coming. And with December already upon us, the theme of this last month of the year is both the winter’s chilly stillness and also the idea of hope and transformation for an even better new year ahead. That’s why Malachite Green (DEFD37), a vivid, bluish-green, is our December Color of the Month. This green paint color is inspired by the malachite gemstone; and when paired with complementary tones like our Dunn-Edwards crisp Classic White (DEHW08) and our warm neutrals like Instant Classic (DET672), you can create a space of elegance and sophistication fit for royalty. Alternatively, this saturated green color looks harmonious with turquoise and other greens for luxe tone-on-tone aesthetic, or with accents of violet and spicy orange for a rich palette evocative of Art Deco-era maximalism. This eye-catching green paint color is the perfect accent for your front door, and in fact, Green Malachite is part of our new Front Door Limited Edition Color Collection.

As part of our 2023 Color + Design Trends reveal we’ve highlighted a palette of rich and luxuriant colors called Liberated Nomad, a collection of paint colors which reflect our celebration of diversity—with influences from nearly every place and time. This particular color trend palette, of which December Color of the Month Malachite Green is a part, plays with strong contrasts and by doing so cultivates strong emotional reaction—oftentimes great joy and others immense sadness. Liberated Nomad and its associated design trends reflect an aesthetic which combines arts, folklore, Baroque, and industrial elements, all coalescing in provocative ways.

A Brief History of The Color Green and Malachite Gemstone

The color green is, of course, in its simplest form a combination of two primary colors, blue and yellow. As a combination of the two colors, green can exhibit the color psychology traits of both—for example, yellow’s positivity and blue’s inherit calmness. Click here to learn more about how colors are derived and categorized across various mediums and colors systems. With our December Color of the Month being a rich green, let’s take a look back at what we know about the history of the color green.

To begin, ancient Egyptians used the green color pigment derived from the copper mineral, malachite, as a symbol of regeneration and rebirth. In fact, they painted this green on tomb walls.

Additionally, while green is deeply related to nature, life, and renewal as showcased by ancient Egyptians, it later developed new symbolism as a result of the harsh toxins used to create green pigments. In the late 1700s chemist Wilhelm Scheele invented a green hue, appropriately named Scheele’s Green, which was made with highly toxic arsenic. With its toxicity relatively unknown at the time, the color was used heavily, sadly sometimes resulting in the sickness or even death of those heavily exposed. Later, during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, saturated greens, like Malachite Green, became a favorite color of the era.

Further, the malachite gemstone itself possesses a swirling or marbling of its hypnotic green color. Such a flow translates, at a metaphysical level, to the healing properties of easing pain—mental and physical—and drawing out the negative energies from the body for positive transformation. The malachite gemstone is believed to help provide for personal growth.

Getting Started With Vivid Greens

Look to December's color of the month, Malachite Green (DEFD37) to represent luxury and
sophistication in your space. And also to get a jump start on inspiration and transformation for the new year just around the corner. Whether making over a kitchen, painting a front door, or transforming a dining room, Malachite Green can help you make your desired transformation.

Want to try out Dunn- Edwards’ December Color of the Month, or our vivid green paint colors before you commit? Then with the click of a button you can download our InstaColor® ID app and simply upload a photo from your personal library or one from ours to give the space an instant, virtual paint job.

Dunn-Edwards is committed to bringing you the highest-quality paint that is also trusted by both
design experts and painting professionals. Don’t put your projects on hold any longer. Just one more click and you can order your free samples to get started.