For 2008-09 color sources are coming from the Far East, Indian Market and the New England Shores. We are seeing aged neutrals, landscape blues, greens and ivory and also scarlet and sky blue accents.
Christine Chow, Director of Membership, Color Association of the United States

During her Colorwatch Seminar at the Winter 2007 Las Vegas Market, Christine Chow, Director of Membership for The Color Association of the United States, spoke about the latest colors, textures and fabrications that will impact the home furnishings landscape, and explained how these trends will shape buyers’ purchase decisions in the coming months.

Be they fashion trends or home trends, color is inter-linked, Chow said. The outside is coming inside as nature influences a palette of moss greens, browns and stone grays that are aged and weathered. Hot accent colors include kabuki reds and sky blues.

For 2008-09 color sources are coming from the Far East, Indian Market and the New England Shores. We are seeing aged neutrals, landscape blues, greens and ivory and also scarlet and sky blue accents.

Home décor trends continue to mimic fashion trends. For example, Christian Dior’s haute couture collection for Spring 2007 is geisha-themed. And indigo is the new black, giving way to deeper blues. Deeper purples and purple-tinted browns are more sophisticated and intense. A Japanese theme is reflective of sober, refined plums, purples and olive greens.

Metallics continue as a new neutral. Today’s metallics are not flashy, but aged or patinaed, brushed, hammered or woven in hues of brass, pewter and copper. Metallics will be big in 2008, Chow said. “It’s not a trend, but a new neutral.”

The new cultural mood reflects a new optimism with more realism and less escapism. Full-spectrum color has been proven to make people feel happier and more energetic.

Expressionistic colors evoke bold emotions and lush colors. Chow pointed to Nama Rococo wallpaper studio as an example of dramatic styles that are coming into vogue. Another trend is sophisticated preppy with moody mid-tones of classic camel, teal, grass green and brick red.
In outdoor fabrics we will see unexpected color combinations, organic prints and patterns.

Besides the home, there is a fashion attitude toward multi-color in interiors evident in a new wave of boutique hotels and Indian influences are leading to lively hues with an earthy, warm feeling, such as olive with brown, pink with orange.

 “Color impacts us on levels both conscious and unconscious,” Chow said. She spoke about color combinations, adding, “Colors cannot exist alone.” Chow said the new emphasis on multi-color designs is reflected in an exhibit at the San Francisco Museum by Alexander Girard that runs through February 25.

Chow also spoke about how color can be interjected in the home in unexpected ways, using the example of functional items that have become decorative accessories, such as Apple Computers’ iMacs.