When you’re planning a new kitchen, bath or other room, color is probably among the first things you think about. But for years, many homeowners “played it safe,’ using neutral tones on major surfaces, and adding just a dash of color to items and areas that could be easily changed, such as a decorative tile backsplash, fabric at the windows or a wallcovering border at the ceiling. Today, however, color – including vibrant color – is emerging as a very important trend, often influenced by ethnic traditions in color and pattern.

Helpful Resources

A great source for color information is The Benjamin Moore Company (www.benjaminmoore.com). For 2007, the Benjamin Moore Company has divided colors into three broad categories, tying them to different times of the day when light levels are different:

Luminous Colors: Soft, muted hues recalling the gentle light of early morning. By their nature, soft, luminous hues lighten an interior, making any room feel more spacious. Like the quality of light diffused by early morning mist or summer foliage, they have a gentle, ephemeral character. At once muted and sparkling, they both comfort and liberate, inspiring a sweep of moods from calm and reflective to radiant and happy. Think of the colors of the bay with the shore, the golden sandy beaches. The palette of the ocean is an example of luminous colors.

Enveloping Colors: Mid tones are at their richest and most versatile in the bright, steady light of mid-day. Ever versatile, these colors work with all styles, lending personality without being overwhelming. The neutrals from the yellow and orange family can provide a perfect foil for the family’s belongings. For example, a warm brown or soft green does not compete with a gilded mirror: it lets it shine.

Dramatic Colors: Deep, mysterious and sophisticated colors that reveal their full strength at night. Imbued with sophistication and mystery, deep colors are associated with the night. While candlelight flatters them, sunlight reveals their subtleties and strengths. Thus, that ever-popular red living room or dining room. Now consider deep purple, stone browns or Vermont slate blues. It is these colors that give a room the “wow” factor that reminds us all that decorating should be fun. As one set designer said, “Rooms that are vibrant and alive make us feel that way when we are in them.”

In addition to these categories, a noted kitchen designer has suggested adding a fourth: the golden autumnal colors so popular in kitchens. These golden oranges, browns and beiges could be seen as corresponding to the golden, shimmering light of sunset and dusk.

Colors of the Future

Current trends are toward colors that resemble those found in nature, which may be a “back to basics” reaction to technology overload and everyday stresses. Kitchens and baths are featuring soothing spa blues and more natural greens, speaking to the interest in relaxation and the growing appreciation of “green” design.

Colors drawn from different cultures around the world are becoming more predominant.

Blacks and whites are making a comeback, but are very different from the hard-edged 1980s version. This time around, they’re soft, textured and paired with modern green, blue or red accents.

Brown will continue to be the new neutral, with taupe its partner. Browns will be the base with aqua and yellow based greens, as well as red and white mixed for a fresh approach to accent colors.

Green will take on greater meaning as consumers become more eco savvy. Greens will move to a blue-based orientation as the yellow influencing green recedes. Citrus greens like mint and glass greens with some subtle shimmer and a lot of clarity are gaining ground after having evolved from the sage greens of the 1990s.

Blue will either be richer, more aquatic in tone – or much more subtle so that it shimmers alongside silver tones. The spa blues and blue-based greens will be used in combinations. There are also more true blues, such as cobalt blue and even indigo blue, and less teal blue. A soft blue combined with shimmering silvers, pewters and nickels is on the horizon for new color decors.

Today’s purple features a bluer hue, such as periwinkle, berry or blacker purple, and one that’s brighter and hotter. The rich elegance of eggplant or aubergine as a dark, rich purple interpretation is on the horizon as well. Purple hues such as lilac seem to be hot picks for accents.

Reds will continue to play an important part as they develop in two different directions: the warm, yellow-based reds as influenced from India and Central America, and the blue-based cooler reds that are considered more sophisticated. A host of muted blue-tone, burgundy and berry reds add warmth.

Peach and deep orange hues stir nostalgia and excitement: they are great with darker complexions, and will continue to grow in popularity. Calm and collected, umber and ochre have been classics ever since sunsets and Italian paintings. They are rich, warm and serene. Paired with bright white stoneware they bridge the rustic to the refined. Watch orange - while sophisticated reds and browns have predominated our color palettes, orange is on the horizon.

In Conclusion …

There is no “crystal ball” in which we can see the future of color trends. However, current preferences for kitchen colors seem to be moving in two directions: a warm gray with brown, black and white accented with oranges for the urban contemporary look; or warm butter yellows, softened greens and blues for a more traditional approach.

If you’re making color choices for your home, look to the beautiful kitchens and baths shown in magazines. Browse through the furnishings and fabrics in your favorite stores. Visit your local paint store and look for prearranged color combinations that are now being presented by many manufacturers within their palettes.

Above all, select the colors that reflect your own personality, for a kitchen or bath that suits the way you and your family live.

Ellen Cheever & Associates
Courtesy Ellen Cheever, CMKBD, ASIDs