Behind the Design
The in colors for 2008? Think gentle, clean and fluid
By Susan Pantaleo, ASID -- Furniture Today, May 14, 2007
Color should be fun, yet predicting the next popular trends can be intimidating or, worse yet, expensive if you guess wrong when purchasing for your store. To give you some help, I've analyzed the latest color forecasts by industry experts, including Pantone and Benjamin Moore, and balanced their predictions with the real-world standards and expectation for high style on the part of typical interior design clients.
The overall attitude in 2008 will be one of simplicity and ease. Color combinations will be gentle and fluid. Fussy embellished surfaces are giving way to high-tech finish techniques and novel fiber content. Consumers are interested in longevity, and these trend colors will blend beautifully with their existing furnishings.
Below are my four color trend categories, based on the common denominators in several of the 2008 forecasts.
Red Carpet Style
Look to the red carpet for clues in high-fashion color. Historically, we've seen clothing color trends spill over to the home fashion industry within six to 12 months. This year's 79th Academy Awards and Golden Globes will surely point us in the right direction. Watch for gunmetal metallic, as seen in the dress worn by Cate Blanchett. Gwyneth Paltrow's apricot brandy gown is on the cutting edge by reintroducing us to the dusty tones that have been absent since the '80s. Look for clean yellows to be strong, especially with Gen X and Y buyers. Classics such as plum and navy will look new with special attention to surface treatments.
Body and Soul
Clean, cool colors we associate with relaxation are here to stay. The spa influence has touched our lifestyle and our home color palette. Clean blues, violets and greens are next to each other on the color wheel, a sure indicator there will be a smooth visual transition between room surfaces. Hints of blue violet are the fresh addition to last year's aqua color schemes. Deep peacock blue is my pick for the most versatile color of the year.
Earthly Delights
We are committed to being "green," but that doesn't mean neutral. The movement for sustainable product design is encouraging a color palette that borrows from natural and recycled elements. Added to the brown-based palette from last year, we are now appreciating the cooler side of nature. Stoney grays and seaside blues, along with foliage-inspired greens, play well and update the sun-burnt red and gold so popular the past three years.
Global Reflections
World cultures still fascinate us. The influence from Asia is especially evident, perhaps a result of our manufacturing connections. However, the application of these colors is very American. The intense reds from China, India's sari-inspired palette and the hot, hot, hot colors of Brazil are used selectively by Americans in small doses, with a higher impact. Mixing neutrals with these bold colors makes this palette distinctively Made in the USA.
