Color of the Month
Color. Our world is saturated with it, from the bright yellow of fresh daffodils to the dark rusty red of an exposed brick wall; color can change the whole look of a room.
In Designer Monthly's The Magic of Color, we look at a different color each month. As you learn in the first Unit of the Sheffield Complete Course in Interior Design, a designer has available an infinite range of hues, both natural and man-made. When painting, you can combine colors to form other colors, in an endless array of shades. Manufacturers of everything from throw pillows to lampshades can also produce this vast palette. And then you must also consider the artwork that will hang in the rooms you design.
Welcome to the world of color. Everywhere we turn, there it is the deep indigo blue of a favorite old sweater, the glossy green of rhododendron leaves in a rainstorm, the rich brown of the soil as you begin to plant your spring flowers. We hope you'll join us each month on this exciting journey, as we take a close look at a color we love.
2010 Color Trends
Aquatic, serene, zesty, and exotic are the key descriptors of the colors for 2010. To combat the stress and deep doldrums facing the worldwide economy, the design world has turned to relaxing colors of the ocean: turquoise, aqua, and deep blues. Other colors of the 2010 palette that invoke serenity include lavender and deep yellows.
Pantone, the color company, has chosen turquoise as its color of the year. Turquoise is a combination of blues and greens as reflected in the inviting tropical oceans. Turquoise is also an exotic gemstone from Persia and popular in Egypt, Turkey, and China. Historically, the gemstone was known for its protective properties bestowed upon its wearer and was usually worn as an amulet. Examples of the color are shown in the velvet pillow from Urban Outfitters as well as in the display cabinet from Gumps.
The aquatic palette is also composed of light blues such as the Jamaican Aqua and Gentle Breeze and the deeper blues such as the exotic Blue Lagoon and Caribbean Blue Water — as shown in the Benjamin Moore paint collection. The Mallory duvet cover from Bliss Living Home is an example of the light aquas and the Clara chair from Crate and Barrel displays the deep blues.
Another tranquil color is lavender. This color comes from the lavender plant, known for its soothing properties. Lavender will be very popular in bedroom décor where tranquility is an essential ingredient. The Shadow pillow below is made of lavender silk and the Amelie linens from Bliss Living Home have a lavender pattern.
The neutral colors for 2010 and still part of the tranquil palette are warm gray and warm beige — as reflected in Sea Haze and Bashful of the Benjamin Moore paint collection above.
To provide the warmth and zest to the color palette, warm yellows are the preferred choice. Golden Orchard from Benjamin Moore is a perfect example. Warm yellows in nature can be found in mimosa trees and forsythia shrubs. The armchair from AllModern has a warm yellow leaf pattern, as well as the flock rug from Bobby Berk Home.
The aquatic and serene palette of 2010 is a perfect refuge for challenging times. These colors can also be added to existing color schemes too and provide a refreshing lift to tired rooms.
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