Announcing the Color of the Century – Viridian Odyssey (DE1925)

Since 1925, Dunn-Edwards has been at the forefront of color and design. From the roaring twenties to the digital age, our company has witnessed the ebb and flow of trends, the evolution of styles, and the constant reinvention of how we express ourselves through paint color.

In celebration of our 100th anniversary, we're not just looking back at the past; we're also focused on the future. Our color and design team has been studying how color trends have evolved since our company's founding, in addition to forecasting how color and design will evolve in the next 100 years. With both of these visions in mind, we are proud to announce our Color of the Century: Viridian Odyssey (DE1925) This groundbreaking, once-in-a-century color release marks a major milestone in our history.

100 Years in the Making

When our company was founded by Frank “Buddy” Dunn in 1925, it began as a wallpaper store in Los Angeles. Inspired by the colors of the popular patterns he sold, Buddy expanded the business by adding a line of paints, and later manufactured them in the backroom of our second store.

In 1938, he partnered with Arthur C. Edwards, a former painting contractor and pigment salesperson, to form the Dunn-Edwards Corporation. Together, they developed a new business philosophy: “Make the finest line of paint and give the best service at fair prices.”

Since our earliest days, that attention to quality and service has guided our company to make innovations in color tinting, paint formulations, and hiring a team of designers to help customers select the perfect paint color.

From pastel Victorians to earthy Southwestern dwellings and bright Mid-Century Modern homes, Dunn-Edwards paint colors have been a part of some of America's most beautiful buildings since the beginning.

When our experts looked back through the last 100 years of color and combed through our archives, a consistent theme emerged: blue and green have been the most trending colors since our founding.

Viridian Odyssey: A Colorful Journey

A marriage of our two most popular colors ever, Viridian Odyssey is a sophisticated blue-green that blends both past and future. Mysterious, yet tranquil, its deep, muted quality evokes a sense of timelessness. More than just a pretty hue, the symbolism behind the color is significant: blue represents stability and green represents growth. Viridian Odyssey is a color that will guide us into the unknown, keeping us steady as we navigate the increasingly fast pace of technology and change.

This complex, darker take on blue-green conveys a sense of seriousness and elegance, making it appropriate with a range of architectural styles, from classic to contemporary.
Viridian Odyssey represents a journey of how far we've come since 1925, and the exciting path that lay ahead. We invite you to experiment with this once-in-a-century color. Here are some ideas:

• Create a Viridian Mood: Color drench your bedroom or living room to evoke a sense of calm and sophistication. By painting all of the walls, ceiling, and trim in a room the same color, you'll reduce visual noise and create the perfect backdrop to showcase light, shadow, and decor.
• Style an Odyssey Wall: Introduce Viridian Odyssey as an accent wall to add drama and intrigue. This is perfect for rooms where color drenching wouldn't be appropriate.
• Pair it Perfectly:
• Complementary Colors: Consider pairing Viridian Odyssey with warm neutrals like cream, taupe, and beige.
• Bold Contrasts: For a sophisticated look, accent it with contrasting hues like terracotta, burnt orange, or deep burgundy.
• Monochromatics: Use lighter and darker shades of Viridian Odyssey for a serene look that evokes the feeling of mountain shadows.
• Metallics: Fine tune your style with decor and hardware in metallic finishes like gold, copper, or brass.
• Artsy Decor: Viridian Odyssey feels at home with boldly printed wallpapers and gallery walls, perfect for showcasing a Maximalist style.
• Zen Vibes: Because Viridian Odyssey represents the water element, adding natural accents or architectural features that represent wood, earth, metal, and fire will create a balanced, peaceful space for modern times.

Celebrating a Century of Color

The announcement of Viridian Odyssey is just the beginning of our anniversary celebration. Throughout 2025, we will be announcing a series of special palette releases and stories on our blog. Stay tuned for more color and design inspiration: subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates.