You know fall is coming when clothing retail stores have big sales on all their summer items. For all color lovers out there, did you notice the main colors used in most fashion lines? It is not a simple coincidence that fashion and home trends go hand in hand. Similar colors have already emerged in retail stores focused on home accessories.
For some people using color is an easy way of re decorating, because changing accessories like throw pillows, table mats and few lamps shades can change a room from season to season. For others repainting your space or adding wallpaper is what sets the tone for a brand new look!
Pantone, the global authority on colors and the provider of professional color standards for the design industries is always ahead of the game and provided the PANTONE® Fashion Color Report Fall 2010. “The report features the top 10 colors for women's fashion for fall 2010, along with designer sketches, quotes and headshots.”
“Mindful of consumers’ need for practicality, plus their desire for newness, designers offer many options for women to extend and embellish their wardrobes this fall,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “
After going over the report I was very pleased to see a wide range of color combinations easy to translate in the world of interiors.
“ Industry gurus highlighted in the report include: India Hicks, creative partner at Crabtree & Evelyn; Cate Adair, costume designer for “Desperate Housewives”; Collier Strong, celebrity make-up artist; Eric Sauma, owner of Mood Fabrics (featured on “Project Runway”); and Constance White, style director at eBay. Contributors from Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s also offer their insights.”
Are you planning to paint anytime soon?
Want to be in sync with the latest trends?
Here’s what the color experts have to say about their color choices for 2010 fall fashion trends PLUS my recommendation on how to use these colors in your room. Interesting to notice the similarity of color combinations used in some of the latest wallcoverings!
“Crisp Endive, a revitalizing yellow-green, adds freshness to this season’s top ten, and will enliven any wardrobe.” To me, this color can be that one perfect color to accessorize your bedroom, your den, all spaces that need to be brighten, perhaps a den lacking natural light would welcome this hue. Easy to pair it with shades of brown, grey, taupe or green.
“Reminiscent of a radiant sunset on a brisk autumn evening Golden Glow, an earthy, deepened shade of yellow, creates a retro look with Purple Orchid or Woodbine”. Why not use this color also by mixing it with tones of deep terracotta tones for creating a warm look or shades of brown.
“A softer, more inviting orange with a hint of pink undertone, Living Coral is the perfect complement to Lagoon, whether heading for a tropical destination or just fantasizing about it.” This is one of every season’s fall colors, easy to pair with rich hues of browns, taupe and a hint or a tones of off white.
“Lipstick Red, a deeper, more dramatic sensual red, makes its imprint on fall, particularly in cosmetics.” This is one of those colors that can be part of your home accessories during fall and winter seasons, can be paired with grey, white and even certain hues of brown just to name a few.
“Exotic Purple Orchid, a purple leaning to fuchsia, is an unexpected choice for fall, imbuing a bit of magic and vibrancy to the season.” Very dramatic color when used for large wall surfaces, much more safe to use is as an accent to anything from an area rug, throw pillows, curtains etc.
“Elegant Chocolate Truffle, evocative of delicious treats, is a rich brown with piquant plum undertones, that pairs tastefully with Purple Orchid.” You can never go wrong with this color, whether used for walls, upholstery, window treatments and accessories.
“Lagoon, this season’s turquoise – Pantone’s 2010 color of the year – is guaranteed to add a tropical splash. A great color for fall and winter escapes, Lagoon is a popular hue, especially in accessories, pairing dynamically with all shades of red.” My personal preference is to pair this color with earth tones or with white.
“Not your mother’s avocado green, Woodbine takes last season’s neutral greens to a whole new level, and when mixed with Purple Orchid and Chocolate Truffle, results in a stunning combination.” A safe color to be paired with a wide range of hues from earth tones to very light blues, lots of dark colors can be mixed and matched with Woodbine.
“Oyster Gray, a classic neutral that grounds the palette, is a lighter take on the traditional fall gray, as designers heed consumers’ concern about the economy and deliver investment pieces that carry through to spring 2011. “ I call this color timeless because it is one of those colors that can’t really go out of style unless you use certain textures and you pair it with other colors that come and go. Safe to mix it with anything from white to black, from brown to tones of purple, from red to copper tones, this color can tone down an entire color scheme.
“Rose Dust, a flattering beige, offers an ethereal, romantic, wispy option to span the seasons.” A very feminine color can become more dramatic when paired with darker tones.
"In the ever-evolving world of trends, it's important to look at color and styling influence through modern eyes. This especially applies to the interior and exterior details when trying to sell a home. You have one shot to make an impression, stand out from the crowd and evoke a certain mood or feeling when trying to engage a prospective buyer. This can all be accomplished with the right color combinations."
“Economy, functionality and privacy were the primary drivers in the design of this sixth floor home office studio. Meticulously detailed millwork provides ample storage, making this small-footprint apartment extremely efficient.” 
Great choice of colors and finishes- a mix between high gloss white and natural finish wood, create a cozy yet stylish and fresh looking space. “A bedroom loft creates space for a roomy walk-in closet below, while stair risers conceal a series of built-in drawers.
Every inch of the space has been effectively exploited.” Storage is the first thing I think about when I walk into a small space and this example is truly inspiring.
