2011/2012 Colour Trends

Whether you are looking for ways to improve your current space, or whether you are sprucing it up in preparation for placing your home on the market, a fresh coat of paint remains one of the easiest and most economical ways to create a comfortable home environment. Colour, which invokes an emotional response in all of us, can be used to set a specific mood, feeling, and even a perceived temperature change in the room.

The 2011/2012 trends that suggest which colours we put on our walls are directly influenced by three major events: Global Economic Recession, Nature Under Threat, and Social Media. With our current recession, we will be seeing more subdued and monochromatic colour schemes emerging due to the need of "finding more silence and space in their lives" as quoted by Pittsburgh Paints and found in their 2010/2011 Harmony Collection brochure. With pressures on our environment, an awareness of sustainability is crucial, and top-quality environmentally-advanced paints have been introduced with increasingly lower levels of volatiles. Social trends indicate that we are a society of single parent households. Wherever the family can unite, we are creating multitasking areas within these spaces to pull family and friends closer. There is a strong need for getting back-to-basics, a need for finding a more simple and better way to live, and last but not least, a need for more involvement within our communities.

2010 is the year for the colour turquoise. Created by combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, it evokes thoughts of escape, soothing tropical waters, and restores our sense of well being. It pairs extremely well with woods finished in warm dark colours such as espresso, mahogany or dark cherry. Even though there is a lack of this lively turquoise in the colour forecasts for 2011 and 2012, this colour is not going away any time soon. What we will be seeing more of though is a very pale version of turquoise called seafoam. It is teaming up with rich golds and warm creams, and is accompanied with mixed metal accessories and fine antique furniture. See Pittsburgh Paint 402-3 Sea Sprite.

Orange is now considered the new "it" colour and ranges from earthy and rich, to hot and vibrant. Fushia is also coming on strong due to the ethnic influences of Morocco and Turkey, and we will be seeing a lot of it through 2012. Pittsburgh Paint 234-6 Salsa Diane pairs well with chocolate, creamy neutrals, mossy greens, and a splash of pumpkin.

Yellows are very popular and they too are becoming brighter. Pittsburgh Paint 212-4, Forsythia Blossom. More blues are on the horizon, and violet is going to become a popular bedroom colour for its soothing qualities. Violet is believed to have medicinal healing qualities and is known for stimulating the immune system, detoxifying the body, and reducing anxiety. I selected a soft violet for a client's guest room several months ago, and both she and her daughter love it. We used Benjamin Moore #1401, but check out the series from #1401, Nosegay to #1407 Mauve Bauhaus; it is a great sequence for showing the different values of the same colour, and any one of them would look great in a room.

The new neutral is gray - not the flat gray of days gone by, but rich in tones that feel warm and organic. Gray walls complement a variety of colours, and gains interest from metallic and pearlescent accents. See Pittsburgh Paint colours: 516-4 Ashen, 517-5 Phoenix Fossil, 515-3 Morocco Sand, 517-4 Gray Stone, and 517-2 Tear Drop.

Sage greens are becoming less popular and the new greens have a stronger yellow undertone, due to the shift towards eco-consciousness. Black and white rooms are boldly being accented with bright reds; and pink, which is gaining momentum these days, won't stop at the bedroom. It is becoming part of the modern girl's living room and kitchen - from cabinetry to appliances. Peach still doesn't show up very often, but don't be surprised to see rosy neutrals come back around again.

Our increased awareness of preservation and sustainability takes us directly back to Frank Lloyd Wright, who produced "the best all-time work of American architecture" - Fallingwater. Pittsburgh Paint has developed a collection of his inspired colours, aptly named Fallingwater that are restful yet vibrant, and by using them, you are truly repainting history.

The Hacienda Influence began in the United States in the seventeenth century when Mexico began to colonize the Southwest, and it has a very strong influence in today's decorating as well. It is a style that is grand in scale, but not overdesigned. Pittsburgh Paint has developed a beautiful line of alluring colours that "reflect the rustic elegance of Mexico's old-world country estates. Called Hacienda Style, it is a gorgeous collection for those that aren't willing to succumb to the safety of monochromatic decorating.

We'll be hearing more about Uber Luxury as people are wanting authentic heart-to-hand constructed artisan pieces....things that have meaning. Antiques are very desirable for the story that they tell. Upcycling - furniture companies are using leftover scraps of fabric to create one-of-a-kind chairs and sofas. High-end lamps and chandeliers are being created out of washed up plastic litter. The motto "It's not garbage until you throw it away" is encouraging people to recycle, enjoy unique pieces, and save the earth at the same time. Wabi Sabi is another term that will become familiar. In plain language it means "beauty in the flaw". Used and worn, found items, and items with imperfections - these can add to an item's character and it tells a story.

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