With the shaky economy and a new president in the wings, the nation is expected to undergo a period of transition and uncertainty in 2009. Which is why color forecasters predict that homeowners will turn to bright, vibrant colors that "offer a glimmer of hope" to their living spaces, especially kitchens and baths, said Doty Horn, director of color and design for Benjamin Moore, adding, "Consumers need colors to keep them uplifted."

The move toward bright, cheerful colors has precedence in past periods of economic hardship, which left consumers seeking relief in other outlets, such as entertainment or, as is the case now, in home environments that inspire a feeling of optimism. Ken Charbonneau, a member of the Interiors Committee for The Color Association of the United States (CAUS), agrees. "People need a form of escapism," he said. "During and after the Great Depression was Hollywood's best period of movies, which made people feel better. We think about that in today's products."

Observing current consumer trends, experts predict that kitchens and baths will soon reflect the demand for cheerier colors already seen in the latest fashions and home furnishings. "Color is the power of seduction," Charbonneau said. "It's part of what makes people buy something." And with budgets tightening up, painted accent walls may be the easiest and most affordable way to add color to a room.


FRIENDLY COLOR FAMILIES

Of the different colors expected to make an impact in 2009, yellow in bright and clear shades tops the list, said Horn and Charbonneau. According to Barbara Jacobs, an architectural color consultant for Integral Color Design for Architecture and Interiors, other popular choices include saturated blues; yellow- and blue-based greens; spicy, earthy oranges; red-based purples bordering on raspberry; neutral grays; and light mocha browns. Consumers crave colors that "stimulate the senses," Jacobs noted.

During times of economic distress, homeowners are also looking for safe, compatible color combinations that build upon the existing decor, while maintaining the resale value of the home, said Charbonneau. For example, a yellow accent would ideally complement a blue and white color scheme, he explained. In the kitchen, the new vibrant palette may also take on bold, ethnic accent colors inspired by Russia and countries in Asia and Latin America.


BRIGHT PERSPECTIVE

Beyond accent walls, bright hues are also popping up on appliances, in surfacing and on cabinetry. According to Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, cobalt blue and black are "great starting points" for upscale appliances, and cabinet finishes in shades of red, yellow or orange can "add an exhilarating touch to a space." If an entire remodel is too costly, she added, try red-painted cabinetry. For the bath, blue continues to be a popular choice for its associations to "the relaxing effect of water," Jordan said.

Classic colors with enduring appeal will gain momentum in 2009—a year in which design and color trends will continue to be influenced by the economic shift, predicted Charbonneau. "People want to be optimistic," he said. "Color provides optimism. It's essential to our lives."




































[1] Benjamin Moore’s St. Elmo's Fire 362 radiates warmth and energy with a zesty citron yellow. A hint of green makes this interior paint color choice compatible with the company's other hues, such as stone brown, ebony king and peony, a fuschia.

[2] Offering sleek, contemporary choices, St. Charles Cabinetry features 23 colors of powdercoated, cold-rolled steel for its full line of frameless, full-overlay, all-metal cabinetry in brushed stainless steel. Colors include chocolate, sage, iridescent blue, taupe, lemonade, apple red, graphite gray and racing red (shown).

[3] Providing more choices to coordinate with different tastes, Viking has expanded its major appliance finishes from 14 to 24 color choices. The new lineup includes metallic silver, sage, sea glass, graphite gray, black, white, golden mist, cotton white, taupe, biscuit, chocolate, plum, Viking blue, oyster gray and cobalt blue.

[4] With a rich palette of 26 contemporary colors, 3form’s C3 is available for three lines: Chroma (small); Varia, which is made with ecoresin (medium); and now Pressed Glass (large). These colors include Vitamin C, cobalt, raspberry, moss, ivory, boysenberry, marigold and violet.

[5] The exotic hues in the Global Tapestry Lifestyle Collection of paints from Sherwin-Williams bring together a patchwork of colors inspired by Russia and countries in East Asia and Latin America. Shades include alexandrite, a greenish hue; tigereye, a reddish brown; and umber, a neutral gray/brown.