2009-2010 Color Trends

Is it in or out?  If 2008 was the year of lime green, what is the hot color for this year?  What do I avoid so I don’t end up with the harvest gold of the 1970’s syndrome?  Stay tuned for the hot color trends for the 2009-2010 season….

Hope and Inspiration

Not only is it in the White House, but it’s in your house as well.  Yellow is THE color for this year’s decorating  palettes.  "The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “yellow also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."  We imagine this is a hot color that’s here to stay with a sunny outlook for the future.  If sunny yellow is too hot to handle in your home, tone it down to get the look without the heat.

Going Green

Green is not only the environmental word of the day, it’s also a color trend for the year.  Moss green in particular is making an appearance in many of the upscale home magazines taking the place of the kelly and lime greens of yesteryear.  Don’t even think of toning it down to the sage green of the 90’s, that was SO last decade.

The Luxury of Lavender

Lavender is the newcomer on the scene for this year.  Bright purple just doesn’t cut it – it made a brief appearance in the color forecasts and fizzled.   People just chickened out when they saw eggplant and amethyst colors hitting the walls.  Lavender is the must-have color for the bedroom, signifying elegance and luxury in a toned down fashion.

Americans are looking for something uplifting, says Patricia Call, an interior designer and a board member of the Color Marketing Group in Alexandria, Va. - and that translates to purple power.  "Historically, purple is associated with royalty. Now it's being use for everything from cooking ranges to washing machines," says Call. "In a bad economy, it gives you a lift to feel royal in the kitchen or laundry.

Going Gray

Slate and charcoal grays are the new neutrals.  Browns and beige are slip sliding away and going gray.  From pewter to ash – place a cool gray with almost any color for a hot pairing.

Aqua Cool

Aqua slipped into the scene in 2008 and has shown some staying power.  Aqua will be hot, hot, hot for the summer, but may fade into the sunset come fall – try it as an accent to make the transition. 

Scared to make the big leap to be a trend-setter?  Accent colors in the hot colors of the year make the grade when watching your budget.