For the painting contractor that follows color trends and keeps his eyes open to what is happening in the painting and decorating market, he can't help but conclude that color is more important to the homeowner than ever. If you have some doubts about this, then just browse through some of the most popular home-furnishings stores. There you will find up to date color charts and books from the leading paint manufacturers to help customers coordinate colors that are in vogue with their furnishings.



Paint Manufactures Depend On Accurate Color Forecasting.

Paint manufactures spend tremendous amounts of money on studying and interpreting color trends. If they get this wrong, then their sales will greatly suffer while their competitors who got the trend right propel themselves in this highly competitive market. Not only will the paint manufactures loose direct sales to the homeowner, but they will lose a lot of sales to the painting contractor looking to make their customers happy. Getting their color palettes right is paramount.

Paint manufactures determine color trends through the study of the following social dynamics.

1. The economy

2. Politics

3. Technology

4. Lifestyle issues

5. The green Movement

6. Pop culture

The above list is only some of the dynamics that are considered in their studies. From these studies one thing has become clear about the year 2009; color is going to be very popular.

Leading Paint Manufactures Are Introducing Similar Color lines.

As a painting contractor I am exposed to the similarities between the new paint palettes of the leading manufacturers of paint. There most certainly has been a recent shift in peoples taste in color. If you compare the color forecast of Rohm & Hass Paint quality institute with the color palettes of Benjamin Moore, Pittsburgh Paints, Porter Paints, and Sherwin Williams you will find there are a lot of similarities in the colors offered.

An international association of design professionals called The Color Marketing Group, who are responsible for keeping their finger on the pulse of color trends, forecast that in the spring of 2009, consumers will be moving to pinks with a bluish tinge, earthier greens, and the bright yellows, turquoises, magentas and the brightest whites.

The Green Movement Is Having An Impact.

Environmentalism has had a major impact in almost every collection of colors. For many Paint companies green is becoming the new neutral tone. Eco friendly colors of hues of fern, palm, sage and pine mixed with clear blues or aqua to give a sense of outdoors. The intermingling of sandy tans and warm browns to give an eco friendly aura will be popular.

Another example of the trend is a Benjamin Moore color called Split Pea. Split Pea is forecasted to be one of their hottest colors in 09.

The director of color marketing for Sherwin Williams says that peoples taste for the color green are shifting to greens with grayer hues.

Similarly, the "Voice Of Color" program of Porter Paints and Pittsburgh Paints features the following very diverse eco palette of colors.

1. Fair trade warm organic colors

2. Eco Techno balance between core colors and neutrals

3. The EcoLoco colors of bold pink, blue and orange meeting acidic green symbolizing expressions of freedom

4. The Vintage colors featuring a wintry palette of pale, spidery blue to paper-turned-creamy-yellow with age

Rich and Restful colors are going to be popular. Rohm & Hass has a palette of colors called Returning Home that features rich cranberry reds, pumpkin orange, warm browns and deep-toned blues. Similarly Benjamin Moore has a palette of colors called Homey which includes color names such as Cherokee Brick, Gypsy Pink.

Plums and violet colors continue their regal influence, however orange is becoming more muted and a bit more elegant looking.

Designers and architects who generally lead the fashion pack are putting more importance on cleaner less muddled colors of dark greens, periwinkle, mauve and medium neutral with clean colors of red, yellow, green, peach and blue.

My recommendation as a painting contractor to the trend conscious homeowner is to first find out when the new color charts will be on display in your leading paint stores, and then compare the colors of 3 or 4 different paint manufactures. An analysis of these color palettes will give you an idea of near future color trends.