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Three top designers dish about the hues they're excited to mix, match and play with in the new year.
Good news everyone! When it comes to design and decorating (and yes, fashion too), this year it's all about color, color and more color! And with 2011 kicking off a brand new decade, it's finally time to bring a little happy into our homes. Here, three fresh color combinations we're noticing right now.
Photo: Courtesy of John Loecke
Honeysuckle & Peacock Blue, Honeysuckle & Taupe-Grey
It made perfect sense to us when Pantone declared Honeysuckle 2011's color of the year. This perky shade of pink represents the optimism that's finally peeking through across the country.
"I definitely think honeysuckle is an optimistic, playful color," says interior designer and color expert Eileen Kathryn Boyd. "Even the name sounds happy and fresh. It's also a color that I think a lot of people look good in."
Photo: Courtesy of Eileen Kathryn Boyd
Interior designer John Loecke agrees and points out its global influence as well. "Pink is the navy blue of India," he says. "Just like navy or denim is a classic American color, pink is a go-to shade in India because it's so flattering. Everyone wears it and you'll see it in all the homes and hotels there."
And what do they pair it with in India? "Strong shades like a deep turquoise or this peacock blue that is emerging as a hot hue," says Loecke. That seems just about right for what's happening here too.
Boyd is also using peacock blue with honeysuckle. "I'm actually working with this color right now with a client," says Boyd. "I really love this peacock blue, this green-cast turquoise we're seeing right now," she says. "Since honeysuckle has a pink cast, it stays light and fresh with that greenish-blue shade."
Boyd also recommends grounding such a vibrant hue as honeysuckle with a fresh neutral such as grey. "When you're using such a bold shade, you need a neutral and grey is sticking around," she explains. "But it's warmed up, think of a taupey grey, which grounds all that pink perfectly."
Peacock Blue & Oregano Green
Author and interior designer Elaine Griffin has also fallen for peacock blue and is having fun pairing it with a color she's calling oregano green. "It's not a celadon, not lime, but a brighter green that looks and feels fresh and is going to take the place of last year's orange as the accent color of choice."
Photo: Courtesy of HomeGoods/Elaine Griffin, Courtesy of Little Green Notebook
We've noticed her prediction coming true already as bloggers such as Habitually Chic and our favorite shelter and fashion mags such as Canadian House & Home, House Beautiful and Elle are talking about and showcasing this shade of green too.
"I think these shades of blue and green just make sense -- it's a nod back to the sky and grass," she says. "No matter where that pendulum is swinging when it comes to color trends, nature is always an inspiration."
The blogger Little Green Notebook recently posted her entryway makeover featuring this exact color combination, with a few touches of warm gold, which Griffin is also predicting to be big this year.
Juicy Colors
Bright, bold colors in general are making a huge comeback. As evident by the color combos, we've already showed you, we'll see more of yellow for sure. Juicy shades of yellow and fuchsia will be making noise with the colors we've already mentioned (grey, oregano green, peacock blue) and you'll also see black make a comeback as an accent color as well.
Photo: Courtesy of Eileen Kathryn Boyd
"Yellow is being introduced again in fashion and in the home," says Boyd. "My favorite is that happy canary yellow. It's bright and warm, like a ray of sunshine and feels stimulating to look at. I am seeing yellow paired again, with that taupe-grey for a modern feel."
As for black, Boyd loves it with fuschia. "I love black. It is the absence of all color so it truly is a statement maker," she says. "I recently saw a spread in Elle Decoration UK and the room was painted in this fuchsia pink and all the trim was black. It was just so striking." Boyd also points out that using black as an accent is a great way to try a new, bold color at home without making a huge commitment.
"Shades of yellow, fuchsia, deep turquoise and even orange are all tropical, sunny colors," says Loecke. "There's this global influence that's helping to push forward these happy shades and Americans are embracing it. It's all about mixing them up in a way you're most comfortable with."
We agree. Just look at the living room Loecke recently designed. His use of big, bold colors and patterns is so inviting, we're ready to move right in!
Ready to welcome color into your home? Here are a few stories for more inspiration:
Pantone's Color Forecast for Spring Goes Home
Color Diary: Grey
Going to Paint a Kids' Room? We Found the Best Colors
For tips on choosing colors for your home check out this video!
Reader comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sorry but I'm just not feeling it.
ReplyAgree and thensome...andGBO...sure looks like LIME green on the lamp and GRASS green on the sofa with the fireplace a reminder of an ALGAE 'd pool or pond. The chair is rather a mix of salad greens and back to the lamp, POOL blue. The shades of pink in the print, tinged SALMON but the shade being ok, just NOT that print combo and WHY-oWHY a PINK ceiling ?
Moving to the next set up, another POOL shade for the walls but all in all kinda dorm feel/first apt ,low budget atempt.
Turquoise ring shade on the walls of the third, best part of the room,could do without the grey chair and the green throw rather avocado-ey .IF that IS someones taste for the wall adornments, hope it is because they really REALLY like/treasure and why displayed.
The last room view in the toupe greys at least got some relief with the accent colors of buttercup yellow and a touch of what looks lilke clear sky blue.
Agree with others, go with what YOU like NOT what some designer attempt to foist as THE TREND. Go WILD in color combo's if it appeals to you or do basic hues and enliven with accessories that can be easier to replace when YOUR whim decides tis time !!
it looks like a smurf... Puked!
You're not? I like the bright and cheery combinations shown here, especially in the top picture. So new and refreshing!
Some yes, some no. I'm not a fan of modern overall because it looks cold. Add bright colors and it's bright and cold. My problem with the photos overall is they show rooms that are just overdone with too much 'stuff'. The colors might work better if they weren't competing with colors in so much stuff. I get a crowded feeling about the whole thing. Like it's all really staged. I am in people's homes almost daily (my job does this) and I don't see all this bright clutter. Most of the best homes I have ever seen look pulled together with a minimal amount of stuff. The items are so well selected you can't imagine the room working without them. Never mind the colors. All colors work when everything is well selected and pulled together.
ReplyYou are right. Maybe it isn't necessarily the colors but the fact that it looks like they decorated from a series of garage sales. No continuity at all. A mish mash is all. A little too eclectic for my taste.
Overdone for sure...far too bright for American homes too. Maybe in small accents, with not so much going on. Countries like India, continents like Africa will pull it off because they are really matching their decore to their season and skin and hair tones. I am wondering what the big craze is over India?
Is it just Aim or is all the 'fashion world' going gaga with India. India is emerging economically, but hardly by selling these colors. Cheerful is needed right now in the USA...but, this is just too much, and when anything is done gaudy or over the top, it doesn't last long..and leaves folks, viewing old photos wondering what the heck they had been thinking.
I actually have a sunny yellow kitchen... the walls are yellow, but, I then contrast with just a tiny touch of orange or peach accents, and black, traditional black, not modern. Looks great, and doesn't jump out at ya.
Am about to do over the bedroom...am looking for something light and warm...not shocking. I will be doing the walls a shade of light tan. Accents will be light, but not bright and shocking. I plan on keeping it for a long while. given the light walls, I will have some dark features, as in picture frames.
Here's the entire thing about these "hot" colors, give them 5 years ( even less) and they are dated. Trust me I have that early 90's mauve everything. Stick to the basics, tan, white, black etc. Even black is iffy. Save yourself the grief of being dated
ReplyThe only way you will ever be dated is if you allow someone to tell you that your colors are dated. Paint and decorate with what you like and it is always in style and screw everyone else.
Sorry - I thought the article was about color trends for 2011 but after glancing over it - the title should be "Let's see how much crap we can squeeze into one room."
ReplyMuch, Much, clutter! To busy! Can't get an even eye on anything! Busy, Busy!
HATED IT!!
ReplyWhen is society going to stop letting some maufacturer of designer tell them what is the "right" or "wrong" way to decorate their own home/ Decorate they way you want with the colors and furiture you like and the hell with everyone else. Just because the designers say last years "in" color was blue doesn't mean that you can't paint blue this year if you like blue.
ReplyThe first few rooms made my head want to start spinning! The only word I can think of is tacky.
ReplyFunny but they made me want to throw up.
I like to always like to keep paint and furniture colors neutral or somewhat neutral. Then if I want to, I add accents in trendy colors so they are easily removed when they go out of style or if I get bored with them. You can even put them in a closet in hopes they will come back again lol.
ReplyI love the honeysuckle room! well, except for the lamps
ReplyI can't say that any of the rooms made me feel "invited to sit". I do think some color combos do look dated (hunter green, maroon and navy), I have this. I'm, now leaning towards neutral sofas with color accents (pillows, vases) These can be changed less expensively. I think a room should make you feel comfortable putting your feet up, while still being pretty.
ReplyLooks kind of like the 1950's robin egg hues so popular in homes back then. I don't like so much, prefer the natural shades of earth, sand, and grassy reedy hues.
ReplyI like all but the very first picture. That one makes me want to vomit. The others do use mostly neutral furniture, I like the idea of using paint to bring color into the room as well as accent pieces such as wall art, throw's and pillows, vases etc. Painting your walls can be easily changed fairly cost effectively. I would shy away from using wall papers. You can always stay with in the color family just on the lighter side if the darker more bold ones are not to your liking etc. I think many of us are afraid of color and it pushes many people out of their comfort zone, Embrace it, it is after all color. I also agree with what a few others have said. Screw what is trendy and go with what you like. Pick furniture that looks enviting and comfortable versus being very structured and rigid. The colors don't necessarily make a room cold....They can don't get me wrong but I think it more comes from the style of furniture selected as well as the accents selected. Does your home look lived in and inviting or does it look staged and like no one lives there. Are people afraid to touch things or sit places for fear of breaking or ruining something? Does the furniture look delicate or substantial. The first picture reminds me of a retirement home or some old ladies home...not the impression I want to make. The second and last photo look inviting and cheery enough to me the smaller two that are side by side seem to show how the colors could be incorporated on a smaller scale in condo type situation or where smaller type furniture would be appropriate versus larger scale furniture. YHou don't have to paint your walls some wild crazy color you can go neutral and accent with color or you can be bold. Over all I like it but I am a risk taker and I love COLOR.
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