January at last! Time to compare notes on what the experts are saying is the next big thing in color.
But first, let's check last year's predictions. Every autumn I get a barrage of PR predicting color trends for the coming season, and this usually makes me pull a face. In collating this information for 2012 last year, I noticed several predictions: orange (New Age not 70's dishwasher), taupe, and neon.
How did we do? Orange: didn't really notice it at all. Neon: check, and everywhere (bikes, shoes, dresses, shoelaces, windbreakers and dog leashes). Taupe: check, as in taupe with yellow (not my thing). Also, this was the year of the Chevron.
This year I'm reading about several things. Pantone, the index of color that relates universally across all design industries, anointed Emerald (17-5641 TCX) the color for 2013. Sherwin Williams, too, named a green — Aloe (SW 6464), a little cooler and lighter. So far we're feeling green.
Benjamin Moore names Lemon Sorbet 2019-60, a pretty common pale yellow, I think indicating on their part that after our Neon Summer we'll cool off a bit next year. Perhaps, but in my mind there's nothing special or "trendy" about it — not like neon or chevron, and I'm having trouble picturing any significant trickle down effect from this suggestion. Lastly, Farrow&Ball goes in a completely different direction by naming four different colors of the year, two off-whites (French Gray 18, Cornfirth White 228), a slate-like Stone Blue 86, and more significantly Black Blue 95, a sumptuous dark color that looks dramatic compared to other the other forecasts. F&B seems to suggest we're still in a "grey decade," something that I'm not opposed to.
But what do I think? I don't listen to industry press releases as much as I like to keep my ear to the ground regarding the fashion pages. Last fall, I seem to recall the following trends: strong geometry and graphic patterns, pattern on pattern, shape and extreme silhouette, Baroque baubles and lace, futuristic space age, and color blocking.
I'm not sure what that means for colors for interiors, other than I think textures and color combinations will mean more than single stand-out colors of the year. Also, has anyone ever noticed it's never the same colors named two years in a row, like cerulean and then lapis?
Send us your thoughts; any color predictions of your own for 2013?
(Images: 1. Joshua's 'Vintage Primary' Room, 2. Chips from paint companies, as linked.)
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LOVE the black blue. Midnight blue was always one of my favorite colors in the big box of Crayolas.
The paint blob on the right reminds me of the institutional green typically found in old hospitals. I love that color.
Love that Black Blue and the emerald green. I'd definitely use either of those in my decorating and paint selections unlike the Pantone Color of the Year for the past several years.
Funny - the photo made me do a double take, mostly because it exactly matches the color of my office wall. I love my office. It was a leap of faith to go that deep and intense with the color, but it really is lovely.
As for orange - I see it all the time! Maybe just because I like it, though...
Loving a veridian type of emerald green so slight overtones of blue/peacock.
I've just mixed this as an ink for my fountain pen and wish I could write more!
Contemplating where I can use this in an interior space?
Very warm white works for me. I love that look of a perpetual sunset. .
Peacock blue. Specifically, Martha Stewart Plumage.
The previous tenant of my apartment painted one wall of the dining room dark dark gray. I'm not usually a fan of "accent walls" (because what are they accenting? I don't get it most of the time), but this wall is 2/3 covered with a white brick fireplace, so a dark color behind it really does look good, so I asked my landlord to leave it gray when I moved in. It's good, but I've been thinking I can do even better. My February project is to paint over the gray with Plumage. Can't wait!
Can we throw teal and mustard out the window?
I bought an emerald coat for the winter and an emerald moleskine agenda for 2013 and I have a bookcase painted with Talipot Palm (sherwin-williams). So I guess I'm trendy. I think when a color I like becomes trendy it's an opportunity to stock up on pillows, curtains and such. I don't think any single color will look dated although certain color combinations will (chocolate and pink, anyone?).
Orange! I'm keeping it alive in 2013. I've paired bright orange with pale blue in my home office (I've got bright medium blue with a bright orange stripe in my work office, much to my boss's chagrin), and my wife wants to pair a dark pumpkin with a medium/light purple in our living room.
Is it too late to buy an orange car?
I've lived with, and loved, my white, black and gray color scheme for over 25 years. Color for me is in accent pieces like books, plants, pillows and throws. I like light-reflecting white for walls and ceilings. I've even painted the woodwork glossy white enamel in the rooms I spend the most time in (kitchen, TV room and bedroom). Cool, pure white works for any room and is always MY number one pick.
@Parnassus that's exactly how I felt last year--I love orange! I went a little over budget for clothes and decor last year knowing that orange might not be so easy to find after the official trend is over.
@Edd Fear speaking of orange, I'd love to see your home office. We painted our living room ceiling orange when we moved in a year ago, and still love it. But the rest of our living room colors are all over the place. I got a light blue library ladder for my birthday, and I was thinking of bringing more of that color into the room and weeding some of the other colors out (ie, painting a ton of stuff).
I saw orange (well, that Tangerine Tango) plenty, I thought. I'm seeing mustard more lately, and I'll be happy to see more of that peacock blue.
I don't change interior colours nearly often enough to work in accent pieces in trendy colours mind you, so I only see trends in clothing, alas.
I definitely think blue-black and other dark similar hues will be big this year. The fashion industry is showing a lot of Asian-inspired looks, neo-grunge and sea punk looks, which can all be rooted in that moody hue. However, I think it has a lot of flexibility and we'll see it paired with more sea-foamy shades, and some bold accents. Red, fuchsia and electric blue have all been popping up on the street style circuit and it wouldn't surprise me to see these as accents in home decor.
Another vote for peacock and other oceanic blue/greens, along with electric blue and deep navy. And maybe aubergine, coral. Sort of a jewel tone theme I guess. Emerald is pretty but in large quantities just makes me think of Oz.
Absolutely love the blue-black, but the Emerald is just not a color I can live with in any qualtity. The Aloe is too neutral-gray of a mint to appeal to me either; I'd much prefer either a celadon or jadite color.
I really like this midnight blue on the wall. Is the window sill white? I'd like to see more of the room to see how other pieces and colors are incorporated.
I'd like to see the return of colourwashing no matter what colour is used. I'd be interested to hear what other people think too
I'd like to see the return of colourwashing no matter what colour is used. I'd be interested to hear what other people think too
Hologram and holographic and rainbow and prisms, no joke. This is my prediction!