Colour trends – are you a follower? Colour trends usually start in fashion and they then appear in interiors. You walk in to a shop and a particular colour or colours are everywhere. So are you someone who likes to keep up with the latest trends or do you ignore them? For most of us, I think it depends on whether we like it, few of us are slavish followers of trends. In interiors there is the additional consideration of cost. Whilst it may be fairly easy to follow trends in fashion where you can pick up a garment at a low cost, in interiors it can be expensive. Plus, decorating is also time consuming so you won’t want to do it every 10 minutes.
In this week’s blog I am going to explore some of the hot colour trends in 2020, the significance of colour and how to introduce colour trends in your home.
Blues, Greens and Jewel Tones
The move towards bolder colours has been creeping up on us. We see it in kitchen design with cabinetry painted in dark grey, navy and olive green. Embrace it in living areas to create a cosy cocooning space. Try a dark moody blue or green on the walls ( Hicks’ Blue from Little Greene is one paint colour to look at). lightened with furniture in a lighter colour and accents of jewel colours such as pink or orange. This look works well with a few opulent touches, think art deco.
For a look that’s more inspired by nature, blues and green are perfect, add furnishings in natural materials such as wood, wool and linen.
The Impact of Colour
Undoubtedly, colour has an impact on how we feel. You only have to think about the current period of bad weather that we have been experiencing in the UK. Day after day of dark skies and rain is makes us feel down. Contrast that we the sight of the cheerful daffodils and snowdrops that are appearing in our gardens.
You may notice a reaction when you walk into a room – it might make you feel energised or calm. It is widely acknowledge now that colour theory has a scientific basis. This means that certain colour trends may not work for you or not in certain rooms. For example, the bedroom is generally a room where we want to feel calm and relaxed ready for sleep so you probably wouldn’t decorate in bold primary colours such as yellow or red. However, in an office you might want to feel stimulated (depending on the nature of your work).
Warm Pastels
In recent years we have seen a revival of pastels, remember Pantone’s Colours of the year 2016 – Rose Quartz and Serenity? For 2020 pastels have a more earthy tone. Take your inspiration from nature – a Tuscan farmhouse, a misty landscape,or dried seed heads. Consider pale terracotta, beige, ochre and introduce caramel, dusky pink or coral to add depth. Refer to a colour wheel if you are unsure about combinations.
How To Use Trends
As mentioned in the introduction, furnishing a room can be expensive, whether it’s furniture, window treatments or flooring. We all know that trends come and go and who knows which trend is going to last and which will have longevity.
Generally, with big ticket items such as a sofa, curtains or flooring opt for a neutral colour. Paint is reasonably cheap and, depending on the size of room, if you want to change in the future it’s quite easy to do. If you like a colour trend then find budget priced accessories that won’t break the bank if the trend quickly fades. You can often find end of line rolls of wallpaper to create a feature wall and similarly remnants of fabric to make cushion covers. Reupholster a chair or stool.
I hope that you have enjoyed this blog. Need help with an interiors scheme? Call me on 07745 876182 or e mail me at judith@homestyle4u.com. I cover the Wirral, Cheshire and the North West.