Colour forecasting — what’s hot and what’s not

Before you even plan your next summer vacation, colour forecasters are deciding colour trends for 2018. Using a mix of designing know-how, psychology, and a little magic, colour forecasters will base themselves on the fashion, automobile, and houseware industries’ trends to predict colours at least two years into the future. You will find these magazines at the runways, trade shows, and designer conventions in order to choose their picks that will influence decorating in the next year.

This year hasn’t been easy; the ongoing housing crisis as well as the unusual election in the US, combined with wars in the Middle East and the migrant crisis in Europe, this year’s colours offer stability and comfort, with some pop as accent such as ruby red and mustard yellow.

Neutrals will always remain a staple of decorating, especially when considering pricier items such as large upholstered furniture and carpets. The basic colour trends for neutrals go from charcoal grey to soft beige. Designers are leaving the accent pieces for the boost of colour, picking bright jewel tones for secondary fabrics and decorating items (cushions, lampshades, window fabrics).

One trend that almost all forecasters agree upon is the dark brown furniture and cabinets are on the way out, being replaced by lighter browns and blondes. Browns will no longer be dark chocolate, think more lattes and cinnamon.

For the first time, neutral grey has surpassed beige as the neutral of choice. You will find various shades and tones, going from dove grey to anthracite, even the metallics and pearls have a place in some more traditional decors.

Society trend towards greener living has also made greens more popular than ever. In all facets of design, vibrant green seems to be gaining ground.

In the last decade, red and pink have come to represent causes; awareness campaigns for breast cancer, heart disease and AIDS all use red or pink ribbons. This has inspired the decorating world. Reds are being used as a bold accent in monochromatic designs and pink has wormed its way back into bedrooms, bathrooms, and even kitchens. Pink appliances, sinks, baths have become popular in modern décors, inspiring nouveau retro design.

Purples are also back, or did they just never go away. Violets, wines, amethyst are all back in full force. The hair industry could have told you this a while ago, however the purples have become mainstream with celebrities embracing this funky choice from hair and makeup to fabrics and wall colours.

What are not popular are the gold designs, gold leafing, and golden ornaments. Sorry, but people are just not into Trumpifying their décors. Orange is another colour that has little popularity unless as an accent. Even then, corals and deep oranges are the preferred choices. Although purples are super popular now, the washed out lavenders and lilacs are a thing of the past and will be left in the 1980s. Pastels are also out; truer bolder colors are the new trends and will, in my opinion, remain.

One hot design trend is black, from front doors to kitchen cabinets and counters, black is back. Combined with white, this European influence is more and more seen in the designs, especially kitchens and flooring.

— Tayna Bardati is an Interior Designer and Home Staging Expert in Bromont (www.creationstayna.com), follow on Facebook @ Tayna Bardati Home Staging, or on twitter #deco21girl.