1/26/09

2009 Color Trends Reflect Consumer Aspirations, Reality

Economy, Nature and Fashion are Key Color Drivers

  • Enchanting and Beautiful
  • Personal and Handmade
  • Honest and Natural 

 


 

(CLEVELAND — January 26, 2009)  In 2009, budget-conscious consumers won’t abandon their dreams and desires for life-enhancing living spaces, they simply will seek lower cost ways of achieving them, using materials such as Krylon® spray paint to invigorate attic treasures and enrich bargain finds with eye-catching color and texture.  Donna Schroeder, Color Marketing and Design Manager with The Sherwin-Williams Company,  offers the following insights into color trends in the coming year. 

“During economic slowdowns, we see more conservatism in decorating, but today’s consumer, who is better educated about color, will continue to seek out brighter color and richer texture to accent use of neutrals,” says Schroeder.  Budget-conscious consumers won’t abandon their dreams and desires for beautiful living spaces, they simply will seek lower cost ways of achieving them, using materials such as Krylon® spray paint to invigorate attic treasures and enrich bargain finds with eye-catching color and texture. Other top drivers of color trends today are fashion and nature, Schroeder says. 

Schroeder identifies five key color trends for 2009, and also suggests several Krylon paints and finishes that bring the trends to life:

Dream 
“Magical and enchanting use of color and style counters the bow to conservatism by providing an escape and fulfilling a real need for art, culture and beauty in life,” she says. Like a soft spring day, the palette is warm, enchanting and whimsical.  Examples from Krylon’s Indoor/Outdoor color palette are Purple and Jade, Raspberry and Hyacinth – floral hues that impart a dream-like aesthetic.  Other hues to consider are River Rock, Fern, and Ivy Leaf.

Honesty
“The green movement is in everyone’s consciousness, and consumers are exploring natural, honest colors and textures,” says Schroeder.  The colors of nature are truly beautiful unadorned, and include shades such as Pistachio, Greek Stone, Almond and Dover White from the Krylon Indoor/Outdoor palette, and Krylon’s new Exterior Semi-Transparent Wood Stain in Cedar, Honey Gold, Rustic Brown and Redwood.  Krylon Make It Stone!® textured paint in stone-like shades, including, Black Granite, Charcoal Sand, Rose Quartz and Jadestone, add a timeless, granite-like finish to numerous surfaces. 

Ancestry
Schroeder notes today’s more thoughtful consumers are also deepening family connections, exploring their heritage and embracing their own and other cultures through ethnic patterns, vibrant color mixes and warm colors.  Aged patinas, sun washed stucco, and the pure, true hue of a Mediterranean sky reflect a rich, global tradition.  For outdoors, Schroeder points to the wide range of Krylon Outdoor Spaces® finishes such as Metallic Copper and Hammered Brown, and new Krylon Oil-Rubbed Bronze Brushed Metallic Finish for indoor use.  Globally-inspired colors from the Krylon Indoor/Outdoor color palette include Almond, Avocado and Cherry Red.  

Hand-made 
As a designer in the craft industry, no doubt you are well aware of the trend toward authenticity and sustainability, a movement that proclaims “made by you” or “personalized by you”.  This high-touch trend brings the satisfaction that comes with saying “I made it myself” to today’s highly technical world, and warms our modern culture with colors that are natural and nurturing.  To reflect this movement, choose hues like Equestrian, Sweet Corn, Classic Gray, Hosta Leaf, Georgia Clay, Khaki and Bahama Sea from the Krylon Indoor/Outdoor line. 

Construct
Contemporary and well ordered, Construct embodies bold geometrics, strong lines and arresting shapes.  “This clean, spare look is highly graphic, creating order in an uncertain and unruly world,” says Schroeder.  Krylon metallic paints and finishes, including Brushed Metallic in six sleek finishes, convey a cool, contemporary scene.  Designers should also consider Mountain View, Hunter Green, Burgundy and Banner Red from the Indoor/Outdoor line.

For more information, call 1-800-4-KRYLON (1-800-457-9566) or visit the website at www.krylon.com.