When looking at color trends, I like to start with the major paint companies. These companies spend a lot of time and money researching for a few years in advance.

Here is what I found:

At Benjamin Moore, the belief is that our economy’s gradual move away from the recession will be a driving factor in color selection, with eyes drawn to softer, more lighthearted pastels that speak of optimism and the promise of new beginnings.

“The palette is shifting from super saturated and strong hues to softer, lighter pastel shades,” said Sonu Mathew, ASID, IIDA and senior interior designer at Benjamin Moore. Mathew noted pastels traditionally “convey innocence and typically have a calming influence.”

At Sherwin-Williams, the attention is on modern-day race of stimuli and how we process it all.

“We know that people gravitate to personal preferences,” said Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “But we are being shaped by the divergent energies pulsing all around us.” Jordan added Sherwin-Williams Colormix 2013 “embraces these conflicts and shows how colors are about a process of combination, and creating unexpected harmony.”

Now you know what Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams think about 2013 colors. The fact of the matter is if you do not like the colors they or others have chosen, then choose what you like. I am a big proponent of this is your home and no one else’s. Choose what you like.

When choosing colors ask yourself:

What are my favorite colors?
What makes me happy?

I still find it amusing to see people pick room colors. Surprisingly, they invariably pick what they are wearing! Why, you might ask? Because we pick colors that we will look good in. No one wants to be in a room where they do not look good, especially in their own home.

So if you need permission to buck the trend: you have mine!

Be colorful!

This entry was posted in Kitchen Design and tagged 2013, color, design, kitchen, trends on February 5, 2013 by THblog.