February 2007
How to pick the right paint color
Earth tones are in, though one hot color makes its case
You can dramatically change the look and mood of a room by painting it. While the names of some paints might send you into
fantasyland--Sultan's Palace, Pool Party, and Splash--choosing the right hue for your room can be a real nightmare. The colors
you'll see in paint books and chips appear darker on your walls, and the lighting in your local paint store or home center
can affect your perception of a color and make it appear different from what it will look like in your home.
But our experts can simplify the process. Our tips on how to choose paint. and information on which features to look for when you're shopping will help you find the best color for your project.
Whichever color you select, you'll get better results if you use one of our top-performing finishes. See the Ratings from our latest report on interior paints (available to subscribers).
What's Hot for 2007
The Alexandria, Va.-based Color Marketing Group, noting a growing concern for the environment among U.S. consumers, has predicted that earthy colors are in for 2007. The trade group's color experts see a trend toward softer, botanical greens, blues that conjure up images of water and sunny skies, and tans, beiges, and browns unearthed in stones and rocks. The CMG also hailed deep reds and warm oranges as accent colors.
The Paint Quality Institute, based in Spring House, Pa., also deemed back-to-nature colors a trend this year that connects people to the outdoors. The color experts at the PQI, the educational arm of Rohm and Haas, a raw-materials supplier to various industries, picked clear reds and deep plums as the palette for those ahead of the trend. "The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing will be an important venue," says Debbie Zimmer, a PQI color and decorating expert. "It puts a culture in front of us, and we take a piece of it with us. Red will be in front of everyone."
Further indication that reds will be hot comes from Pantone, the Carlstadt, N.J., company that provides color standards for the design industries. Pantone, which recently introduced its own line of residential paints, announced that its deep, spicy red Chili Pepper is the color of the year. Among the factors influencing that decision were trends in cosmetics, fashion, and food, and the continued significance of the AIDS-awareness campaign.
The wide range of colors now offered is an indication that consumers have developed a color confidence, says CMG member Leslie Harrington, a color consultant and former director of color and design for paint maker Benjamin Moore. "They'll say, 'I like orange and I don't care if my mother-in-law hates it,''' says Harrington. "When you ask everyone their opinion, you get just that, a lot of opinions. And then you get beige."
And that might explain why beige and other neutrals are usually the top-selling colors.
But our experts can simplify the process. Our tips on how to choose paint. and information on which features to look for when you're shopping will help you find the best color for your project.
Whichever color you select, you'll get better results if you use one of our top-performing finishes. See the Ratings from our latest report on interior paints (available to subscribers).
What's Hot for 2007
The Alexandria, Va.-based Color Marketing Group, noting a growing concern for the environment among U.S. consumers, has predicted that earthy colors are in for 2007. The trade group's color experts see a trend toward softer, botanical greens, blues that conjure up images of water and sunny skies, and tans, beiges, and browns unearthed in stones and rocks. The CMG also hailed deep reds and warm oranges as accent colors.
The Paint Quality Institute, based in Spring House, Pa., also deemed back-to-nature colors a trend this year that connects people to the outdoors. The color experts at the PQI, the educational arm of Rohm and Haas, a raw-materials supplier to various industries, picked clear reds and deep plums as the palette for those ahead of the trend. "The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing will be an important venue," says Debbie Zimmer, a PQI color and decorating expert. "It puts a culture in front of us, and we take a piece of it with us. Red will be in front of everyone."
Further indication that reds will be hot comes from Pantone, the Carlstadt, N.J., company that provides color standards for the design industries. Pantone, which recently introduced its own line of residential paints, announced that its deep, spicy red Chili Pepper is the color of the year. Among the factors influencing that decision were trends in cosmetics, fashion, and food, and the continued significance of the AIDS-awareness campaign.
The wide range of colors now offered is an indication that consumers have developed a color confidence, says CMG member Leslie Harrington, a color consultant and former director of color and design for paint maker Benjamin Moore. "They'll say, 'I like orange and I don't care if my mother-in-law hates it,''' says Harrington. "When you ask everyone their opinion, you get just that, a lot of opinions. And then you get beige."
And that might explain why beige and other neutrals are usually the top-selling colors.
