Seems that one of the things that everyone asks me about is “what designer colors are ‘in’ right now?” I must admit that I do have my favorite “go to” colors, but there are so many factors involved in color decisions: the lighting of a space, the colors already in the room that can’t be changed, the homeowner’s favorite colors (often the colors found in their wardrobes), and many other factors influence which colors work and which ones don’t.
Sherwin-Williams regularly publishes a list of their most popular colors, which is an interesting way of learning what colors other people are using. The most popular SW colors of 2009 were:
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| Dover White | Kilim Beige | Antique White | Navajo White | Softer Tan |
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| Alabaster | Pure White | Latte | Nomadic Desert | Divine White |
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| Macadamia | Interactive Cream | Moderate White | Believable Buff | Biscuit |
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| Creamy | Ivoire | Blonde | Sand Dollar | Snowbound |
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| Accessible Beige | Whole Wheat | Bagel | Camelback | Basket Beige |
Lots of beige and cream – all good colors. And, of course, we are now enjoying a resurgence of all things gray – it’s the “new black,” so to speak. But, what’s in store for 2011?
Colors for 2011
Many of the paint companies are coming out with their 2011 color forecasts. In my next few posts, I’ll explore the color predictions for the future starting with Sherwin-Williams color forecast called ColorMix™ 2011. The 39 colors selected by Sherwin-Williams color experts for ColorMix 2011 are grouped into four palettes:
- Gentle Medley: Romantic, nostalgic, innocent, lack of pretension, youthful, and a yearning for better times (please!)
- Bold Invention: High energy, experimental, expressive; think neon! The colors of technology. Thoroughly modern and no boring beige!
- Restless Nomad: Eat, pray, love and paint! These are the exotic colors of far-away lands: sultry, exotic and primal.
- Purely Refined: Classic never goes out of style. Period. Elegant, clean, tailored and understated defines these updated classic colors.
… to be continued …
