Color Trends 2006: Internationally Inspired Palette for Home

It delights me that more individuals are gaining color confidence and experimenting with bold colors in their homes. Although initially spurred on by the wide use of brighter colors shown on home decorating shows, design magazines and fueled by our love of travel to faraway destinations I hesitate to call this a trend. I believe that once someone lives with distinctive colors that they will never again want to live with plain vanilla surroundings. 

For 2006 bright hues are being upstaged by an internationally inspired rich color palette. The inspiration was not taken from a particular culture but rather gleaned from many regions and cultures. You can see this influence across colors showcased by the major paint companies:

Benjamin Moore suggest the deep lilac of Queens Wreath, a rich purple called Shadow; the rosy brown toned Stone Harbor, Currant Red, Vermont Slate; and Stone Brown.

Sherwin-Williams recommends Coral; deep orange of Bosc Pear; brown named Smokey Topaz, the dark cool Kendal Green, and the charred red of River Rouge. Pratt & Lambert Boucle is between teal blue and aqua and looks sensational with dark brown. 

ICI Paints, maker of the Glidden brand, has selected the green/gold of Golden Kiwi as its color of the year.  Duron chose Ablaze, a cross-cultural red and Peaceful Pines, a strong yellowy-green is a key color for Dutch Boy.

With inspiration from around the globe these rich saturated hues can give your home a sense of escapism and isn’t that exactly what we seek when we take refuge from the hectic pace of life in the comfort of our own space.

© 2006 Kate Smith, LLC All Rights Reserved