Decorating

Paint Colour Trends

Classic Yellow Creates Charm

The most popular color used in home decorating changes so rapidly according to styles and trends. Today, as a result of recent global events, we are turning to reassuring colors that are rich, tonal and bright. The trend is for soothing, benevolent colors...nothing too extravagant, but color that honors a sense of comfort, security, innocence and optimism. For a sense of cheer and peace, sunshine yellow is the color of choice. A yellow palette is both approachable and unpretentious.

Recently, our homes have become our personal havens. We are spending more and more time becoming “home sweet homebodies.” This is the time to transform our havens into our treasure troves. We need a sense of connection and domestic bliss. We feel the need to celebrate a sense of gracious living. We are turning to warm, welcoming yellow to uplift our spirits. Yellow is a clean and uncomplicated American country classic. It can be utterly charming or elegantly sophisticated.

It can be the color focus for the most humble or the ideal color for those with a sense of grandeur but it will always radiate a sense of welcome -- a cheerfulness that is both real and comforting. Think of the warm glow of candlelight, the friendly welcome of sunflowers, lemon meringue pie and the mellow yellow of the setting sun. Discover yellow and you have indeed discovered enchantment!

Color Trends in Natural White

By nature, white provokes a sense of purity and peace. A white room generally encourages clarity of thought and is particularly successful within a space that provides good natural light. Whites are also valid choices for small, dark rooms, as they tend to visually brighten and open up a space, lending the impression of greater square footage.

In order to create a monochromatic white space that does not lack interest, designers often add texture via the use of stimulating special effect paint treatments or intriguing furnishing and accessory fabrications. All white bedrooms are especially striking. ‘Milky’ whites are particularly capable of cultivating cozy areas. White monochromatic color schemes function exceptionally well in bedrooms that contain an abundance of windows, allowing a sun-brightened effect to permeate the space.

As interior hallways are traditionally busy spaces, white is a particularly effective choice as it produces a simple and uncluttered effect. For those who are concerned about the aura of coldness associated with stark whites, creamy whites promote a warmer appearance.

Contemporary Hues Inspire Autumn's Color Palette

Traditional fall hues such as gold, brown, maroon and orange are timeless classics. However, classic autumn hues are being treated to updated twists resulting in an exciting, innovative fall color palette.

Gold has emerged into a sunnier, yellow hue or a warmer shade that contains olive influences. Brown can run the gamut from displaying touches of rose to deep grayish casts, spicy brown sugar or muted cocoa. Reds are making a comeback for fall 2001 in a big way! Maroon can be substituted for vibrant red, burnished mahogany and reds containing rich, brown pigments. Today’s orange is anything but ordinary, featuring bright tones such as sherbet as well as darker tones that incorporate gold and red.

Trends in Black

Almost any room can benefit from just a tad of black. Small touches of black are often used to accent other colors within a space. Black can successfully be utilized in varying densities. The deepest blacks lend a striking effect, while gray-blacks and blue-blacks tend to be gentler on the eye. To prevent black from becoming too overwhelming in an interior space, it should be used sparingly.

Black is a wonderful compliment to several color groupings. Combined with white, black creates a dramatic visual impact and sophistication that is apparent in many modern design schemes. Black is often combined with white and gray to produce a striking color combination. For those who prefer the absence of color; black, gray and white create stimulating interest within a space by manipulating variations in form, line and texture.

For example, in a small powder room, a black ceramic sink and black lacquered pottery adds shiny texture and importance to vertically striped walls that have been painted gray and white. To compensate for the lack of bright color, incorporate rough textures next to smooth and light tones beside dark tones to provide the most interesting result. Or, mix fabric patterns and vary the scale and print within window treatments, woven accent rugs and linens. Bear in mind that there is not only one shade of black. Black shades range from the deepest to a gray-black, blue-gray black or a brown-black, just to name a few.

Taken from Glidden.com

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