Decorating – Can You Imagine Life Without Color?

When you stand looking through a window, you expect to see grass that is green, a sky that is blue, and clouds that are billowy white. If you are fortunate, you may also see birds of many colors including those big black crows. When you select an auto paint color, your clothing, or even your food, color plays a big part of the decision. Color science studies how color reflects your mood. Have you ever heard someone say that they were wearing a particular color to cheer themselves up or because they were feeling a certain way? Even guys who might not think that colour is important to them remark that red cars are hot, fun, and sexy while black cars are daring and dangerous. Interior decorators are not the only ones who think about color schemes.Color selection is influenced by our moods, perception, and yes, even our culture. Symbolism, our sensitivity, and the meanings we attribute to color impact our color choices. Color therapy uses color to make us happy. How does culture affect our color choices? In the US, white is for weddings; whereas, in some Eastern cultures, white is for funerals and the color for mourning. Do you think that there is a relationship there considering the divorce rate? Think about it; the wedding is the end of your single-dom.Did you know that colors are trendy? Many people associate the avocado color, a shade of green, with the decades of the 60s and 70s. Who creates the color trends?There are groups of people who study the color trends and report them to the fashion and furniture industries. The Color Marketing Group is the premier international association for color professionals whose mission is to create color forecast information for professionals who design and market color. The members specify color for paint, furniture, cars, and carpets. In buying clothes, have you ever tried to buy navy shoes when brown was the new neutral? There is a conspiracy against consumers dictating the color of products that are available.What are the top color trends for 2008 as reported by CMG and what is behind those trends? The concern for the environment is bringing attention to the color green. People don’t want to just think “green;” they want to wear, live, and drive the colors that reflect their environmental concerns for the planet. To be in style, you must look natural. Products will look hand-made, un-dyed and unbleached with lots of texture and natural imperfections reflecting true colors. Other color trends will include brownish-greens, off-whites, sandy, rock, and soil colors-the colors of nature.In the US, the presidential election is influencing our choice of colors and is placing an importance on the color blue. The color of sky and water, cool colors, will be prominent in our décor inspired by our environmentalism. The CMG also predicts that a new darker blacker blue inspired by technology will emerge. Technology will also influence the development of specialized finishes and warmer metals. No more brushed chrome and nickel; give me the colors of copper and bronze, warm colors.Globalization inspires our love of Moroccan reds and glowing oranges with the addition of rosy pinks, sunny golden yellows, and lots of turquoise in decorating color schemes. These colorful ethnic accents influenced by India, China, and Latin America will be harmonized with the more natural but rich browns as neutrals.Would you be surprised to learn that men and women have preferences for different colors? This partiality for certain colors can be attributed to cultural use of color and conditioning. Both love the color blue; however, men have a stronger preference for blue than women. Blue color schemes can be associated with authority, intelligence, and stability.

Men also love green as a second favorite in their color palette. It is cool, restful, and signifies growth, renewal, health and the environment. Some women may prefer the cool soft colors while men prefer the brighter shades. Men are reported to favor black only slightly more than women. Social and cultural norms may influence the strong preference for conservative colors such as blue and black. Fashion permits women to wear brighter colors while men’s attire is traditionally more conservative.

The two colors in the color wheel that stand out as feminine colors are purple and pink and they are chosen almost exclusively by women. Men also do not respond to the feminine favorites of lavender and turquoise. Pink is thought to be the color of little girls and men may be insulted if you try to use the color on them.

Here is another bit of interesting information according to polls on color. Preferences for green along with brown and purple decrease with age for both men and women whereas the dislike of orange increases. Did you know that color psychology has shown that preferences seem to be unconscious and that even when you were young you may have shown a preference for a particular crayon color or color game piece?

Now that you know what colors you will see in stores, showrooms, and auto dealerships in the near future, do you look forward to incorporating these color selections into your own life? Oh by the way according to Forbes Auto, silver has been the top automotive color choice in North America for six consecutive years and ranks as the most popular color for luxury rides. Will your new auto paint color be copper or bronze?

Patricia Thomasson, EdD is a successful Internet publisher and business professor. She operates YLC Associates. In addition to her professional background, Pat has many interests related to homemaking, parenting, home renovation, decorating, gardening, and classic cars. Please visit her website at http://www.beddingandbathluxury.com

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