Un-trending Colors

In the Bible it says “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them." Now this made me think in terms of color, as most things do. When two or more gather to talk about color, does that determine a trend?

I'm talking color “trends” today and how to un-trend the term. Let's talk about how to make color work for the every day person who needs color for their home.

So here we go, the dreaded “ T ” word - trend, as in color trend. The term “color trend” still doesn't sit well with me and here are the reasons why. 

To me and this is just my opinion, how is it possible for people to sit at a desk and guess, I mean predict the "trending" color 3-5 years from now. Sure you'll hear that they view politics, economics, social activities, political hoopla, blah, blah, blah. I just don't buy it. After all, what does turquoise (2010) 

Pantone

have to do with anything other than the fact that it resembles some of the most beautiful waters in the world which coincidently, most of us already love? No predicting there. And did you also notice when color trends are talked about they seem to mention just about every color under the rainbow? One is bound to "be the one".

Pantone

How about Pantone's "Honeysuckle"? Where did that come from? Well last year was a "blue" let's make it "pink" this year boy, girl - we're good. Maybe next year it will be green for those who can't decide if they like blue or pink. Just saying. 

Now Benjamin Moore chose another color which is "Vintage Wine". After reading the after math of that color, it's seems yet another color was chosen but most of us will use it  as an accent or in limited quantities because it's a color that we just won't put on our walls.

Benjamin Moore

Don't get me wrong now. I do like these colors, in small quantities and as a Color Specialist I know all the bells and whistles to use to make this work in a clients home but I just don't see how one color should represent the color direction that we're suppose to like for the year. It's like we're a herd of cows that are being pushed in one direction and are being forced to like and use a color that we just want to use "a little" of.

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Now let's talk color, REAL color that we can put in our homes not just use as accents or in limited quantities because it's too bright or too dark. Color that you and I would want to see in our homes and that would blend nicely with our decor so we can love it for years to come. 


How dreadful would it be to have painted a trendy color in your home, bought all the decor to match this color then tire of it 2 years down the road? Now I'm not saying that you won't tire of a classic color either but the classic colors are just more accommodating then trendy colors.


What do I mean by classic colors? To me, the classics are colors that have been used often and go well with most of our home furnishings. I'm talking greens, golds and some of the best home loving neutrals you'd want in your home - and they work!


GREENS

BLUES

YELLOWS

WARM 

NEUTRALS

colors are from Sherwin Williams

Accents - to give your room a boost in color, you can choose a color, even a trendy color, to add to one of these classics. It's your chance to have a little fun with color.

So to conclude, don't feel you have to use a trendy color - even a little bit if you don't like it. Classics, like anything else, have been around and been used for a long time, and for a reason! It's GOOD color and great color options for our home.

So is it this:

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or this:

Maria Killam