Color is an elusive and yet very powerful component of our industry. The Hearst Publishing survey I wrote about in a recent post indicated many consumers need help and support in selecting color in their home. In the shelter and fashion industries, color forecasters work to understand what is happening in the marketplace now, and project forward to changes in trends and consumer demand.
Color trend forecasters do not always agree with one another, which is why it is important to take your consumer base and regional preferences into account. We absolutely should be showing what is new, fresh and aspirational in our design centers and model homes, yet we need to be cautious (from a sales standpoint and the cost of re-merchandising your showroom) about going overboard on the latest trend that may or may not stand the test of a full selling season.
Pantone is a multi-industry international resource for color, and also works to stay ahead of consumer forecast. You can subscribe to free color articles and color palettes here. The recent New York Times article by Cathy Horyn announces Pantone's 'Color of the Year 2008' - Blue Iris. As the accompanying photo illustrates, it is easy to overboard.
Source New York Times: Digital composite courtesy Image Bank/Getty Images
The Color Association is the oldest color forecasting service in the US. Since 1915, the Association has been issuing color reports in elegant, fabric-swatched booklet form. The Color Association is the only forecasting service that selects its colors through a committee panel of eight to twelve industry professionals. The panels continue to be a 'who's who' list of trend makers in the fashion and shelter industries.
The new Color Association Forecast for Environments and Interiors is available here:
This is an interactive tool you can drop and drag to see how colors look in a larger swatch.
Click here to open the CAUS Spring/Summer 2008 Interactive Color Forecast,
then click CAUS Spring/Summer 2008 Interactive Forecast, then click "Interiors/Environmental".
CAUS Interactive Color Palette
Reviewing the Color Association palette, gray stands out as an exciting addition to the palette. The 2008 forecast has no less than 5 different grays in a single forecast.
At Las Vegas Interiors furnishings market, grays surfaced as the new 'beige'. Warm grays, especially were well used in upholstered furnishings and flooring, and cool grays were abundant in decor and art. This was especially true in Contemporary and Transitional categories.
Pottery Barn has an entirely different palette, most likely geared to support their new assortment of tropical bright transitional furniture and accessories. Pottery Barn seems to be taking direction from the Pantone forecast rather than CAUS. Click here to get a fan deck of the season's Pottery Barn paints from Benjamin Moore.
Presenting color to the consumer is an important part of your role as a new home consultant and designer. Being knowledgeable and current in your design center presentation is important in this competitive market.
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The Design Minds at Hearth and Home Blog is geared to support design center staff and the new construction industry in selling options and upgrades to the new home consumer. Subscribe for updates. Contact Krisann Parker-Brown for merchandising or marketing support of your design center. She will be happy to work with you on your assortment and presentation to ensure you are on track for the upcoming decor trends.
Krisann Parker-Brown is the merchandising manager for Hearth and Home Technologies, the leading manufacturer and retailer of fireplaces and hearth systems. Krisann supports design centers and new construction builders in presenting Heat & Glo, Heatilator and Quadra-Fire hearth systems, and consulting on design center merchandising, point of sale and the consumer experience. Contact her at brownkr@hearthnhome.com or 952-985-6537
