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| Color Trends You're dying for a red sofa, but red is "out," so the only fabrics you can find are in shades of mauve and pink. What's going on here? Every year, professional forecasters try to pick the colors that will dominate everything from fashion to car upholstery. Forecasters try to read the "mood" of the country and note trends. Can color preferences really predict the future? Absolutely, says Margaret Walch, director of the Color Association of the U.S. "Color is a highly subjective, intuitive, irrational kind of choice. So if you have all the world rushing toward pink, including men, that would be highly indicative of something, such as a wish to return to more secure times. The economy is on people's minds, and you're seeing men wearing that pink Brooks Brothers buttoned-down look from the '50s." Similarly, a current passion for purple, "the color of the mind," reflects the cyberworld of the new millennium. What's ahead for 2001-02? Here, top color experts reveal what to watch for in the months ahead: Hot colors. Global warming, the influence of Asian and Southern Hemisphere cultures, even the film Traffic, all led the movement toward bright, warm colors, says Margaret Walch. The warm reds, yellows and oranges of South America will dominate, says Leslie Harrington, of Benjamin Moore. "The Hispanic population is going to become the largest segment of our population in the future, so look at Hispanic cultures and how they look at color," she says. Usually colors from warmer climates tend to be cleaner and fresher looking, Harrington says, very strong yellows and oranges, "hot salsa colors." A preference for red will also reflect the influence of Asian cultures, in which red, the color of prosperity, plays a key role. Complex colors. "Life is complex, color is complex," Walch says. "What we don't want is simplistic color." The "bread and butter" colors right now are strong neutrals , says Leslie Harrington, but they're not the beiges of years past. "They're very sophisticated neutrals, not beige or taupe or cream, but there's one color that's all three of those at the same time." The complexity of a color, Harrington says , can be summed up in how many words you need to describe it--a "creamy, taupe-y beige" as opposed to a simple "tan." Green. Pale celadon will be one of the top hues, says Margaret Walch. The color reflects the popularity of gardening (and growing bamboo, in particular), as well as the growing popularity of teahouses in major urban areas, which often decorate with live bamboo. |
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NOTE: Your area lighting will change the appearance of the colors you choose. Daylight, florescent, track lighting, incandescent lighting give different shades of colors. Be sure to check your colors in the lighting you have in your home. An easy way to decide on a decorating color scheme is to examine and select a print fabric, or use existing furniture or wallpaper. You will quickly see the color schemes. Here are just a few I found by looking at fabric swatches. Choose 3 colors. If you are not using wallpaper use the lightest color for your walls, medium tones for your large furniture pieces and window treatment. The darker tone can be used for accents. For that little extra touch, add fringe to pillows, curtains, throws in either a contrasting or matching tone. Adding flowers, plants, candles, decorative vases, pictures, collectibles etc. all add to the overall decorating theme. Match your sofa color to the wall color to make things blend and make the sofa seem less bulky. |
| Brown. Taking a cue from the fashion world, which embraced brown in place of black this season, mahogany wood colors will be popular for interiors, says Walch: "There's security in brown," something people long for in uncertain times. Orange. Young people, those in their teens and twenties, love it, says Harrington . "Almost anyone over 30 remembers orange from a past life. But young people have never experienced it and for them it's very new." Color Tips What type of room would you like? Bright, soft, warm, or neutral? Look at your floors, carpets, or a large piece of furniture that you already have, that will be your starting point. Pull out one of the colors that you want to be your primary color. Then choose one or two of the colors to be your accent colors. When choosing colors bear in mind how color can influence your room. BLUES Cool and calming and restful Very popular color for bedrooms Good for rooms with southern exposures. Accent colors gold and terra cotta REDS Stimulating, exciting, good for rooms with northern exposures GREENS Cool, reflecting on nature Green complements most colors Good for rooms with southern exposures Team up your greens with soft peach and terra cotta Soft greens mixed with natural colors create a relaxing and restful room. YELLOWS Bright and cheery. One of the most popular colors in kitchens. Bright yellow goes well with blues Warmer tints go great with the red family. Accent colors Reds and just a touch of Black. Good for northern exposures. Keep it light and don't over do it! Creamy yellows, warm gold's make a room appear brighter and larger lending a comfortable appearance to the room. WHITES White will always make a room appear larger Consider using soft tint colors on walls and moldings which will make the room more appealing and inviting. White is a good color for making dark hallways brighter looking. |
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| Every color has a range of values including lights, mediums and darks. |
| Blue, violet and green are cool; yellow, orange and red are warm. |
| Within each color family there are warm and cool versions. |
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| Color |
| Article by Benjamine Moore |
| InteriorRedesignReview |
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