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It is well known that response to color can vary from human to human, age group to age group, gender to gender. Mostly, it is because human emotions are not stable and are hard to measure scientifically. Emotions change depending upon numerous uncontrollable stimuli, including hormone levels, environment, health . . . the list could continue for quite some length. But there are some givens: warm colors (red, yellow) make most people feel active and alive, and cool colors (blue, green) subdue and hearken to the natural world. Additionally, light colors imply or make people feel more alert and aggressive; dark colors, more somber and passive.

And colors mean different things to different cultures, too, making the analysis of color response even trickier.

In looking at the color trends for 2006, it’s a real mixed bag. On one hand, I see distinct movement away from the popular jewel tones of previous years—gone are the deep reds, blues and citrines—replaced by aqua, turquoise, coral, dark earthy browns and complex neutrals. And yet, there is also a resurgence of the jewels, seen in the influence of the upcoming (though two years out) 2008 Bejing Olympics, as well as global influences from India and Central America.

A WORD ON PAINT
Easy to apply, easy to clean up, paint is a quick-change artist that can provide a new look for a little bit of elbow grease and just as little money. Be sure to choose the highest quality paint you can afford—you will thank yourself for doing so. You may ask why one gallon of paint costs $16.99 while another tips the register at $39.99. It’s all in the amount of liquid present in the paint. The best latex paints contain 100 percent vinyl/acrylic resin, pigment and very little water. The result is a paint that will cover smoothly and more efficiently with less brush or roller strokes, will fade less and will be more resistant to dirt and stains. Also consider that you may only need one coat to do the job rather than two (more liquid present = thinner coverage).

While the color trends I will talk about next are pertinent to any kind of surface application, be it tile, wallpaper, fabric, paint or anything else your imagination conjures, paint has the unique capacity—as well as the capability of computer precision—to match/concoct/conjure whatever color you wish to apply. Let’s look at colors, then.

CMG COLOR INFLUENCES
According to the color professionals at the Color Marketing Group (CMG), www.colormarketing.org, there are six influences driving color in 2006:

1. Techno-Organic Balance: Consumers want to find a balance in their lives between the influences of nature and the pace of technological advance.

2. Breathing Space: Consumers want fulfilled and rewarding lives despite the demands of work and society. To this end, they seek serenity and calm in a space that is insulated from common daily stresses and emerging threats to safety, both in public and private.

3. Heritage with Heart: However clearly consumers remember the past, they sense a need to reconnect with it. Hope and optimism filter memories of past events and struggles are forgotten, ensuring that this nostalgic journey is warm and comforting.

4. Hybrid: The move to hybridization occurs in parallel with geopolitical and economic events and is a product of the proliferation of global unification in communications, transportation, manufacturing and services.

5. Über Luxury: As extravagance becomes accessible to the masses, there is a need to identify icons or symbols that convey a new level of status and sophistication. In response, icons of sophisticated craftsmanship and rare materials with high polish and burnished finishes will emerge. In the home, Über Luxury is defined as masculine, clean, simple and elegant.

6. Color Depth: Consumers seek bold colors and luminous materials that add glow and fluidity in product executions. Visually stimulating chromatic textures yield high-energy interest and excitement.

As for actual colors, the experts at CMG first look to reds, which they say are both cooling down and warming up simultaneously. They cite Rubino—a raspberry hue, which is a departure from the classic Marrakesh Red, as well as deeper pinks moving toward coral.

But while reds still dominate their forecast, blue tones, specifically those inspired by the environment, are leading the color grouping. “Aqueous,” says CMG, “is a sophisticated new introduction that bridges blue and green and is inspired by spa influences and ocean hues.” It is seen as both an accent color and a predominant color—a new retro that is often paired with brown.

PQI PICKS
Color trends are moving away from last year's bold, flashy hues into richer, homier shades such as brick reds, chocolate browns and deep blues, according to the Paint Quality Institute, the educational arm of Rohm and Haas, a raw materials supplier to the paint industry.

At The Paint Quality Institute (www.paintquality.com), its color experts revealed the heightened use of travel-inspired colors to decorate the home. Citing that consumers are suffering from “bright color fatigue,” PQI suggests that a palette, called Exotic Enhancements, derived from far-off destinations will unfold, with key colors of eggplant, deep browns and dark yellow along with ebony and ivory accents. They suggest these colors for family or dining rooms to add a feeling of warmth and excitement.

Skintone neutrals, another choice, take their inspiration from the cosmetics counter: just as a powder or liquid cosmetic, PQI says, can be used to enhance the skin or serve as a backdrop for brighter colors (think lipstick, eye shadow), so can the new skintone paint colors. “Neutrals coupled with some of those warm deep tones are fabulous for creating an enveloping living space,” said Deborah Zimmer, PQI’s expert on decorative paint techniques and color trends.

The softness of Mineral Spirits, another color collection, draws inspiration from lush forest landscapes in dusty shades of blue and lavender as well as rosy browns. These are especially good choices for the kitchen and bath.

Finally, Soulful Serenity moves beyond the traditional blue and white and into true pastels: soft pink, pale yellow and misty lavender. These tints, says PQI, offer a fresh twist on the spa concept, while still encouraging a relaxing atmosphere.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS
Sheri Thompson, director of marketing and communications for Sherwin Williams (www.sherwin-williams.com), cites five trend categories for 2006: Great Escapes, Fifth Avenue, Relaxed Retreat, Natural Living and The Sumptuous Browns.

Great Escapes buys into the travel trend in choosing rich, saturated shades of coral, pear, topaz, green and warm brown—hues you might find on a Tuscan hillside or at a Moroccan bazaar.

“Fifth Avenue,” says Thompson, “is a focus on ornamentation and embellishment, represented in a tasteful, sophisticated manner.” Think of elegant Old-World Flemish tapestries to visualize colors in this trend category: rose, Turkish coffee, plum, taupe and silvery gray. Other textile elements include opulent fabrics such as velvet, silk and damask complement polished glass, marble and metallic surfaces, while jewelry influences of pearl, yellow gold and gemstones add shimmer and sparkle.

Tranquil and soothing, Relaxed Retreat highlights soft colors such as palest peach, spring-fresh green, sandy yellow and watery blue.

The colors of nature—clear blue, loamy brown and night-sky indigo—united with shades echoing minerals and organic materials, including touches of coral and jade, deliver a gentle transition from outdoors to indoors in the Natural Living color palette.

Finally, whether you see it being as warm and comforting as a steaming cup of latte, as opulent as mink or as rich as dark chocolate, Sumptuous Brown takes a back seat to none. From the boldest, most vivid shades of espresso to the subtle, sublime shades of mocha, brown stands alone as beautifully as it serves as a foil for reds, oranges, blues and beyond.