CIL Paints is one of those companies leading the pack with their opinion that green will be the colour for 2009.
“The desire to protect our planet is making its way into homes through colours that calm and revive both the mind and surrounding environment,” says Shaun Noble, Marketing Manager for CIL Paints, citing CIL’s Opal Silk (30GG 57/094) green as the brand’s 2009 colour of the year. “The growing popularity of green is attributed to increased interest in all things eco-friendly, as well as a longing for the soothing and energizing qualities of nature’s touch in today’s demanding world.”
Cool shades of blue-based greens – particularly jade or tea green – will be increasingly favoured in home décor, as main or accent tones, says Noble. Influenced by water, green energy and techno innovations, jade green carries a futuristic look and “promotes an atmosphere of healing and optimism,” she says.
For a contemporary feel, Noble suggests pairing this year’s hottest colour with muted aquas and taupes like CIL’s Still Waters (90GG 28/133) and Palm Springs Tan (20YY 39/130), or for a softer, more relaxed combination, with warmer hues like plum and nude pink.
Soft, sophisticated colours are prevalent across the 2009 colour spectrum, according to CIL and many colour experts. Like the healing greens, the paint palette of the coming year is dominated by “easy-to-live-with,” understated organic tones.
- Reds: Neutral pinks with warm coffee overtones will replace formerly popular deep and saturated shades of red. New reds – like CIL’s Mocha Cream (10YR 49/082) – are more natural and sophisticated, emitting a chic yet nurturing aura. CIL suggests combining Mocha Cream with Russian White (20YY 68/102) tan and Winter’s Silence (50YY 49/191) green for an ultra chic living room or bedroom.
- Oranges: Heavily influenced by red, oranges are taking on a more burnished, rusted appearance. Burnt coral-oranges, such as African Tulip (30YR 25/463), are muted and warm. For an eclectic and unique combination that enriches any space, pair African Tulip with Azteca (10YY 21/500) yellow-brown or Cocoa Mousse (48YR 06/091) dark brown.
- Yellows: Gold, mustard and bronze – like CIL’s Sable Sands (20YY 38/225) – will dominate the yellow family in 2009. Used on their own or as a complement to subtle neutrals like Roseroot (70RR 16/116) plum and Eloquent Ivory (45YY 75/110) cream, new fashionable yellows help bring the natural world inside to create a restful ambiance.
- Neutrals: Still the most popular colour family, neutrals are infused with more environmental shades than in the past. Tinged with tones of clay, bark and timber, 2009 neutrals – such as Eldorado Tan (10YY 61/36) and The Plaza (50GY 72/012) – combine well with all colour families. Chalk whites and subtle greys will increasingly be used in combination with muted shades and offset by stronger hues like dark slate, creating a futuristic look.
- Blues: Think smoky green-based blues like soft aqua, teal and turquoise, which are either linked to earth and space or are more shadowy and industrial in nature. Try marrying CIL’s top turquoise-based blue, Riverboat Cruise (30BG 33/207) with jewelled raspberries like Wineberry Red (30RR 12/281) and eco-greens like Precious Jasper (10GY 40/296) for a playful yet liveable combination.
- Violets: Moving away from the deep purple tones that dominated the palette in recent years, violets – such as Rose Stone (10YR 40/054) – are becoming more neutralized, understated and subtle. Emitting an air of sophisticated luxury, Rose Stone works well in both traditional and ultra contemporary rooms when combined with soft greys like Snowfield (00NN 72/000) and Silk Moon (30BB 83/001).
Within many of the colour families, there are still more vibrant options, although they’re softer than in the past, Noble emphasizes.
“More complex colours are best used in combination with subtle tones in 2009,” she explains, adding that saturated shades like coral, grapefruit, kiwi and fuchsia work well with the more subdued green, yellow and neutral environmental colours, creating “a sense of optimism, energy and adventure,” she says.
Donna Kakonge - I started writing seriously at the age of seven. My grade two teacher, Mrs. Chen, had the whole class keep a journal. I wrote a story ...
