Category Archives: paint color

Color of the Year, 2015

Have you noticed that certain colors are trendy? Some are ‘in’ while others are ‘out’. Many reincarnate as ‘vintage’ or ‘retro.” This brings up one question: what will the ‘It’ color be for 2015?

According to the PPG Pittsburgh Paints® brand, it’s Blue Paisley—a decadent shade that is almost royal blue but retains an identity all its own. Experts at the company predict that Blue Paisley will feature prominently in home decor trends in 2015, when homeowners are expected to favor vibrant and expressive hues that inspire and represent their hopes and dreams.

Nowadays, homeowners are turning to multiple regions and influences for decor inspiration, seeking to change their home environments into a celebration of worldly possibilities. By choosing colors like Blue Paisley, which represent global diversity, they inject an exciting and worldly aura into their living spaces.

Blue Paisley is featured in one of four new color palettes developed by Pittsburgh Paints to showcase the anticipated 2015-16 color trends. The company’s national color marketing manager explained, “We are experiencing the popularity of the soft blue shade across all markets, such as home decor, automotive and electronics, making it a clear PPG Color of the Year selection.”

PPG’s creative team of color stylists from around the world worked together to conceive and develop the underlying idea and philosophy behind the four new palettes. Homeowners are encouraged to choose color combinations that are representative of their aspirations for the coming year. At their disposal are friendly and vibrant hues such as Jewel Weed, fiery and energetic colors like Firecracker, and cool, sophisticated tones such as Copper River.

The four new palettes are:

  1. Good Life: This fresh and earthy palette represents harmony. Organic sources, such as floral colors, earthy neutrals, and crisp sea blues inspired this palette’s variety of naturally bold hues.
  2. I’m Pulse: Bold, expressive, and artistic, “I’m Pulse” represents creativity. Color traces of classic, pop, abstract, and digital art are reflected in the intense yellows, hot blues, burnt pinks and sultry greens.
  3. Co-Leidescope: This trend, which represents possibilities, has a color scheme designed to be “ethnicity-inclusive, culture-inclusive and co-existence-inclusive”. Purple and green in deep jewel tones, spicy reds, and shining yellows reflect a global essence that will appeal to existing and aspiring jetsetters.
  4. Introsense: Like Co-Leidescope, this palette represents possibilities but takes a much softer approach with ‘zen neutrals’ such as gentle blues and indulgent pinks. Soft tints add a factor of serenity and sensitivity, resulting in minimalistic styling that blends clean designs with quiet nature.

PPG’s national color marketing manager added that the growth and strengthening of global connections has increased overall desire to adopt the unique features and colors of natural surroundings.

Portrait of smiling young woman“Whether it’s recognizing the contrasts of our manmade environment versus what nature provides as a way to identify the simple, earthen spirit through natural muted tones, or embracing the bold and expressive hues of a self-centric and artistic being, the desire to recognize the possibility of what’s ahead is appealing.”

Which of these four palettes do you prefer? Let us know by responding in the comment section below.

Read more Segmation blog posts about art and color:

The Colors of Fall: 5 Shades for a Stylish Season

Pantone’s World of Color

What Color Should You Paint Your Home?

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Make Your House a Home with Color Blocking

One artist’s faux pas is another person’s masterpiece.

Make Your House a Home with Color Blocking 1Adding bold color to a home seems like a mistake to some. But to others, it is a creative challenge. Lots of people love to build up their home décor with vibrant blocks of color.

If you enjoy bright rich turquoise, feel happy in the presence of mustard yellow, and want the freedom to change your design in a flash, you may want to make your house a home with color blocking.

A Brief History of Color Blocking

The art of color blocking began when Piet Mondrain, a Dutch painter, started to create wall work in the 1920s. His trademark painting was made of oil on canvas and included geometric squares and rectangles. Some of the shapes were filled with colors (usually red, blue and yellow), while others were left blank.

After introducing this technique to French and American markets, color blocking, the art of putting contrasting colors together in patchwork, fashion, and interior design, became a hot trend.

Barbara Schirmeister is a modern day color expert who consults for companies like Hunter Douglas, a company that specializes in window treatments. She raves about color blocking, saying it “…adds movement, drama and the opportunity to surround yourself with more of the colors you enjoy. It lets you give a room not just personality, but your personality. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself in your home.”

Tips for Color Blocking Your Home

In a recent Marin News article, Schirmeister explains how to successfully incorporate color blocking into your home.

Make Your House a Home with Color BlockingChoose a color theme – Before purchasing furniture, paint, and throw pillows, create a list of your favorite colors. Try not to consider what the shades will look like in your home. Simply identify which hues compliment your tastes and lifestyle. From there, choose three hues that go well together, even if they don’t flatter each other. As Schirmeister likes to say, “The colors have to get along ‘and be happy together.’”

Keep walls neutral – It is trendy to have accent walls inside your home. These walls have been painted vibrant colors that stand out from the other walls, which are kept neutral. Accent walls are perfectly acceptable and encouraged in color blocking schemes. But be sure to selectively choose which walls to paint. In rooms where you plan to use large colorful furniture, like a pink couch, it is wise to keep wall color neutral.

Stop while you’re ahead – Less is more when it comes to color blocking. To ensure you achieve the right balance, step back and take a good look at your masterpiece once and a while. Can you picture it featured in an edition of Real Simple magazine? Or does it seem a bit busy? One benefit of color blocking is that it is easy to move the colorful articles around so you can recreate your space in a flash.

Are you looking to liven up your home with a splash of color? Have you been thinking about what you can do to redecorate? Color blocking is good for projects of all sizes. Read the entire interview with Barbara Schirmeister to discover if this art trend is right for you.

Read more Segmation blog posts about designing a colorful home.

Office Paint Colors and Effective Employees

What Color Should You Paint Your Home?

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