The Paint Quality Institute expects next year’s popular colors to reflect the national mood of piecemeal improvement and rebuilding. The Institute has divided its trend predictions into three categories: "Good morning," "Good night," and "Good bye."
The Institute, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company that develops some of the raw materials that go into paint, looks at building and design trends, taking into account the current economic climate and changing demographics to predict the colors it anticipates being popular next year.
"We don’t say color A, B, or C is going to be color of the year—we try to take a combination of colors that fit a higher thinking," said Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Paint Quality Institute.
The first category of "Good morning" (pictured) is based around colors that warm a space and give an emotional lift. This is appropriate for small improvements that are being made in homes and commercial buildings, rather than major renovations. These colors include honey-like hues, like tan and pale gold, as well as yellow and coral. Zimmer said these colors are likely to be seen in hotels that are renovating and boutique environments. More neutral colors will be used as well to offer a balance to those already in place.
The "Good night" theme includes pastel colors, midnight blue, eggplant, and wine. The use of these "cave-like hues" can wrap the perimeter of a room and on the ceiling as well. "Why do we need light ceilings? A ceiling can be just as expresses in a space as walls or flooring," says Zimmer. "What better way to incorporate color than to make the ceiling the hero of the room?"
She says that both commercial and residential designers are beginning to use this "jewelry on the ceiling" idea with hand-scraped beams, medallions on the chandeliers and now with actual paint.
"Good bye" is a collection of colors aimed at offering both a friendly welcome and a calm goodbye. Off-white, bisque, mid-toned blues, and khaki, along with crisp white, can be used to emphasize entryways and exits.
"Consumers are going to relook at their space and think about ways that they can economically improve the place they are at," says Zimmer. "It’s about creating an environment that is warm and welcoming for friends and family."
