All things bright and fluorotastic

Fed up with Farrow & Ball? Tired of tasteful off-whites? Bored with back to black? Well, you’re not the only one. According to Jasper Conran, neon paints are set to be the next big thing, following on from the summer’s fluorescent fashion trend.

Neon paint, made from almost pure pigment — hence its brilliance — is still produced by a handful of specialist trade-only manufacturers and used almost exclusively by theatrical companies; you’d be hard pushed to find them on a Dulux paint chart. But Conran, who has recently taken over from his father as chairman and creative director of The Conran Shop, is about to change all that by launching his own range in response to all the compliments the newly neon-painted store has been getting.

“Neon brings a space alive. At our Chelsea store, we work with a brilliant British company who supply paint predominantly for the theatre. The pigment is so strong the wall looks almost velvet. It’s an effect you cannot find in mainstream paint and we receive so many compliments in the store —particularly about the Blue Room — it’s something I thought we must offer our customers. We are working on a range that will launch next season.”

It’s not just paint though. Conran is one of several stores embracing dozens of highlighter bright home accessories, from French knife company Laguiole’s classic knives with fluorescent handles to hi-vis coloured skateboards and scooters.

Anything techy, including compact cameras and ipad cases comes in at least 50 shades of eyewatering iNeon bright, while the old-fashioned stuff like washbags, stationery and the ubiquitous leather satchel is nothing short of electric blue. Farrow & Ball’s Elephant’s Breath, eat your heart out!