Benjamin Moore's Lemon Sorbet

Every year various manufacturers and color experts select a color of the year, something they think will have an impact on the way people look at color and what they want to buy. I have researched three different colors. Which is your favorite?

Pretty in yellow? I think so. It’s Benjamin Moore’s Lemon Sorbet 2019-60, which the company has announced as its 2013 color of the year. According to Sonu Matthew, ASID, IIDA and Benjamin Moore’s senior interior designer, the color palette for next year will be dominated by pastels, which may provide some people a welcome break from the “super-saturated and strong hues” that are currently in vogue. I would love to see this color on the walls of a kitchen with painted white cabinets. Refreshing!

Pantone's Color of the Year: Emerald

Pantone, a world-wide color authority is famous for developing a standard language for color from product inception to manufacturing. Last year they predicted Tangerine Tango as their color of the year 2012 and I saw the color everywhere in fashion. This year, their choice is Emerald 17-5641 which they describe as verdant, lush, prosperous and universally appealing. I think this color will do well in home interiors and already am seeing tableware and linens heading in that direction. The continued interest in all things environmental make any shade of green appealing.

CMG's RE-BLUED

The Color Marketing Group (CMG) with headquarters in Alexandria Virginia is made up of color professionals from various industries that gather yearly in workshop-like environments to discuss color trends and influencers. Their color of the year is RE-BLUED. Blue is a perennial favorite of all demographics and ages. This year’s color gives a deep richness to an old favorite. The RE part of the name is tied to various trends such as REcycling, REnewal and REwinding.

How will these beautiful colors be used and which will you see in the market in 2013? Only time will tell.

Selecting a paint color may be one of the most frustrating projects for a homeowner. Recently a painter told me that he had been painting the same room more than once for many of his customers. Thereason? Once the paint was on the wall, it just doesn’t look anything like the paint chip. We probably all know someone who ended up with a school bus yellow room instead of the soft buttery yellow they had imagined.

My favorite tip for selecting wall paint color is to start by looking at the top color on the strip. Usually, colors are arranged from lightest (tints) to darkest (shades) and there-in lays the issue. We are drawn to the darker colors but they fool us every time. I also tend to select colors that are grayer rather pure in color. I find them easier to live with.

Today nearly every paint manufacturer offers sample cans of paint to test before buying it by the gallon. If there is any doubt about the color, it is a good idea to buy the sample and try it on several walls. Look at it at different times of the day to see how the room’s light affects it. It will be well worth the extra time to get it right.

Color affects most people on an emotional level. We have all walked into a room and felt relaxed or uncomfortable. There might be many reasons for this, but color is often a key factor. Here are some some thoughts on colors:

Black: In interiors, black is considered a mark of sophistication. Surprisingly it looks terrific in small rooms like powder rooms where quirky design is welcome and the room is seldom used. One of my favorite master bedroom projects had black walls, crisp white trim and filmy white sheers at the windows. There was no other color in the room and it was breathtaking. I have also heard it said that no room is complete without a touch of black so that really makes a big statement of its importance.

Brown: These earthy tones are comforting and yet can be very sophisticated. It is also neutral and combines well with nearly all colors. My personal favorite is taupe, cream and black. Neutral but elegant.

Blue: Because it’s the color of sea and sky, blue often has a calming effect. It is, hands-down, the country’s favorite color. Men especially like it. Blue makes a great color for bathrooms where a spa-like environment is desired.

Green: The color of nature is refreshing and calming. Some even feel green reduces stress and so it might make a great choice for a home office. Greens look great with light wood tones.

Orange: A warm color often used for an accent rather than wall color. Orange frequently cycles in and out of favor in interiors and is currently enjoying a resurgence in the form of the popular Tangerine Tango.

Purple: The favorite bedroom color of every young girl I have ever met is purple but it is a controversial color. People either like it or hate it. Tints of this color can be relaxing in bedrooms and have a sophisticated look when combined with gray.

Red: Often used in restaurants because it is considered to increase appetites. An intense color that can be yellow-based or blue-based but in its clearest form it is the romantic color or love.

White: Often given a bad rap for being bland, white is the cleanest and freshest background for all colors. Often used in contemporary homes, there are untold tints of white both warm and cool. In cabinetry, painted white has been phenomenally popular in the past few years because of its classic look.

Have a colorful day!