BOLD Color is Back! Trends for 2012/13

2012/13 Colors Inspires Intensity for Life and Unplugging from It All 

color wheelThe need for hope and happiness is drawing us to richer, brighter colors. Backgrounds can still be neutral but we’re adding some “pop” or accents to remind us that we’re alive, well and moving toward a more joyful future. Bright colors bring happy times. Muted colors are softer and less stressful. Dark colors calm us-although too much of them can be depressing.

Perhaps there is no such thing as a “new” color but at certain times, particular colors bubble to the surface to become the “now” color. Why?  Something about that hue or the way it’s paired with another color speaks to a fresh new attitude, and our emotional response is piqued and satisfied. You may initially balk at this “new” color; first you see it, hate it, then a few months later you love it, wear it, paint it . . . then a few months or years later you are ready for a fresh reflection of your new mood, interests and changing emotional needs.

 Of course, with interior design, it’s never about one color: The way colors are placed together creates a specific feel and energy. Color palettes are designed to create harmony, excitement or punch. A few years ago, for example, “avocado green” came back as a response to Baby Boomers’ need to feel safe, but instead of “harvest gold” we saw the avocado paired with a soft, pale blue to make it fresh and light.

Color for 2012 and beyond:  a Two-fold Quest

It’s time once again to live! Color is bringing back the eagerness and joy we need in our lives.  More than just struggle to survive, we want to boldly thrive. “The return to strong color will gain momentum this year,” predicts Dee Schlotter, brand manager for PPG’s Voice of Color. “Those of us who were reluctant in the past will take the leap into deep, vivid hues because our world has changed and we’ve recognized that there’s only one life to live and there’s no time to waste.”

“Intensity” is the key word and this quest is two-fold: A search for euphoria for some and, for others, a vivid longing for a sense of oneself. This intensity-although it may be only transitory-is positive; it brings energy, impetus and a self-sustaining enthusiasm. Living intensely spices up the tastes of the world, while reflecting and reconnecting with its quiet beauty, such as the small pleasures and modest instances of happiness-like the smell of moss in the underbrush, the feel of wind, a brilliant sky at sunset and the laugh of a child.

“Intensity is a survival strategy in crisis times,” explains Dee. “For some, it means seeking out extremes of sensation, rebelling against the bland existence that comes with cynicism and disenchantment. For others it means ‘unplugging’ in order to reconnect with a life they feel is fleeting.”

As a result, we may seek to amp up the chromatic density of our lives with vivid hues. We will go for colors that stir the senses and set them in motion. Our choices will be vibrant, optimistic colors that pack a punch and can’t be ignored. For those of us needing intensity, our spaces will be full of strong contrasts: heavy and weightless, shadow and light, hot and cold. Bold colors that help you stand out in a crowd and showcase your personality. Consider injecting your décor with deep indigos like Blue Tang, saturated reds like Rum Punch, big purples like Grape Juice and almost-neon yellows like Citrus Spice-just four of the 20 key colors presented in PPG Pittsburgh Paints’ 2012 trends.

For others of us feel our lives have become a race to the future at the expense of the present, we will turn inward, slow down and simplify. We will gravitate towards quiet, understated palettes accented by deep, rich colors that bring mystery and invite intimacy.

 Find Yourself Here:

View the four new trend palettes in PPG Pittsburgh  Paints’  Voice of Color program for 2012-2013 and if you don’t fancy these, read on below:

PPG 2012 Local Revival
Local Revival Color & Design Palette
is natural, solid, in rhythm with local beauty.

 

Local Revival

This trend is about unplugging from a complicated life and living more simply, in harmony with one’s community. It’s about reconnecting with the rhythm of the seasons, homegrown foods and the materials of the region. Craftsmanship is valued. Materials are strong and classic: leather, wood, aged metal. Design forms are simple and familiar: antique-industrial and retro-mechanical. Folkloric patterns tell the stories of generations. The palette is a mix of red berries, stone gray and solid brown refreshed by a creamy white. PPG colors in this palette are Rum Punch (231-7), Burnt Red (133-7), Pralines and Cream (117-3), Earl Grey (522-5) and Poppy Pods (526-6).

 

PPG 2012 Beauty Queen
Beauty Queen is Sophistication meets Disco, sort of like Princess Diana dancing with John Travolta

 

Beauty Queen

This palette speaks to the unapologetically confident woman. It’s the return of glam with  disco sophistication. Beauty Queen strikes a feminine note but doesn’t exclude her suave, charming man. It’s high-intensity color that can turn light and airy on a dime. Lush and mysterious, soft and fresh, girly but not; the built-in contrasts sensation-seekers want. Ultra-slick surfaces like Lucite and mirrors capture the best spirit of the 70s. Sharp fuchsia pink and juicy purple are softened with cosmetic pink and freshened with this year’s brighter teal and white. PPG colors in this palette are Grape Juice (240-7), Tutti Frutti (138-7), Whirlpool (202-3), Candlelight Beige (216-1) and Brandy Alexander (535-3).

 

PPG 2012 Quiet  Tech
Quiet Tech is soft, quiet, and richly intellectual.

 

Quiet Tech

It’s impossible to unplug without a place to escape to, so minimalism is the foundation of this trend.  Rooms have visual interest without complication. Details and embellishments are kept to a minimum. Pale and mid-tone wood tones don’t overpower the space. Shapes are rounded and tactile to keep rooms from feeling barren or cold. In the palette, ink blues play with earthy and calming neutrals.PPG colors in this palette are Gray Stone (517-4), Blue Tang (449-7), Chinese Porcelain (449-6), Earthy Ocher (315-5) and Spice Delight (215-2).

  

PPG 2012 Deco Candy Voice of Color
Bold color and power packed punch,
Deco Candy is just plain fun and alive.

 

Deco Candy

Bringing together vibrant colors and fun design, Deco Candy transforms a home into an intensely joyful playground. A vivid harmony of citrus accented by this year’s bright blue, clean green and tangerine, the color scheme is irresistibly optimistic. Stripes and color-blocking bring a sense of organization to what could otherwise be too boisterous a spectrum of hues.

Colors awaken the senses. PPG colors in this palette are Mother of Pearl (513-1), Persian Blue (153-5), Hearty Hosta (208-5), Tangerine Dream (123-7) and Citrus Spice (110-7).

Choose Your Colors: Get Advice in Your Home

You can now get color advice in your home by color experts!

ExcitingColors! Certified Color Consultants are available in select cities throughout North America to help you choose just the right color for your home to bring you years of happiness.

http://excitingcolors.com/