I get excited when the color trends are released. Almost instantly, I start putting together color palettes for room design projects that I don’t even have! Although I lean towards Benjamin Moore for my projects, I turn to Sherman Williams for paint color trends and forecasts.
Here are the 4 SW color trend 2014 categories and a synopsis of their descriptions:
Reasoned:
Browse through any design magazine or log onto Houzz and you will instantly see this Color Trend which is continuing through 2014: Gray is the new Black. A few years back, it was Brown but Gray has planted roots and continues for yet another year to be a foundation, a color staple in room designs. Gray will continue to be associated with math. Think maps, compasses, astrology. In other words, Restoration Hardware will still be a consumer’s go-to for design inspirations. Fortunately, I have been using a lot of gray in 2013 so my design inspirations will still be “in” next year! Some of my favorite grays are by Benjamin Moore, such as Edgecomb Gray and Revere Pewter.
Diaphanous:
Sherman Williams refers to this category as light, delicate and translucent. This is your “safe” palette, perfect for home staging and for clients who just cannot quite commit to a saturated hue. I must admit, I am intrigued by a few of the SW colors in this collection, such as Fleur de Sol and Steamed Milk. You might be seeing them in future Amazing Space NYC staging projects.
Intrinsic:
This collection is a melting pot of cultural experiences and crafts. You can hear the calypso drums and reggae rhythms, tribal drums and bustling street markets. The collection invokes an ocean breeze, the Serengeti, rolling hills and vast deserts. The colors are saturated and vivid with a palette that is deeply rooted in tradition. There are some gorgeous colors in this collection (the blues really captured me). Home stagers, this is not the collection for you. Designers, knock yourself out! This collection can add intense beauty to the walls. Picture an entire room of furnishings in white/off-white fabrics against a backdrop of one of these colors, coupled with pillows and accents that complement the culture and the hue on the walls.
Curiosity:
The SW description says it best: “…where mad science meets fantasy, and sweet dreams overlap with feverish nightmares.” There is a solemness to these brown-based colors, and while they are deeply saturated hues that will command attention, a feeling of despair washes over me when I look at them. I am sure this palette will find a home, but it probably won’t be in one that I design. It freaks me out!
No matter what the trend or forecast indicates, I believe we should use color to match our mood, our passion, our vision. But it is always fun to see what the color weathermen predict the trends will be. Hopefully, the color forecasters are better than the weather ones!
