Color Trends dictate neutral palette with pop of rich color

By Stacey Enesey Klemenc Correspondent

Exactly which colors are going to be "in" in 2010 depends on whom you ask.

Answers range from eggplant-inspired hues, gold tones and basic black and white to wasabi green, an assortment of blues and the ever-present taupe.

The major consensus, however, is that grays will continue to gain ground in the upcoming year, They evoke a safe feeling and create a soothing backdrop when paired with just about any hue.

Based on her findings at the High Point Market held last fall in North Carolina, "Hands down, the grays are hot this year, like smoky gray, grayed purples and silvery shades," said Beth Gilbert of Virginia Beach-based Gilbert Interiors, a company she founded in 1996.

Added Kathy Browning, owner of Design Consultants, a 30-year-old Virginia Beach company that focuses on designing model homes, "We're not talking about battleship gray. This is a gray with a stronger tone that pairs well with a rich peacock blue," a blue with a more sophisticated look than teal.

And forget about the gray-mauve combo that was big in the early '80s, Gilbert said. People are steering clear of that.

As for punches of color, strong accent shades, such as spicy oranges and bold purples, are making a comeback. Hot pinks are not as prevalent.

On the subtle side, Gilbert said, blue-and-white combinations are popular in Hampton Roads, with nautical themes common. Green has been a good steady constant, she said, perhaps echoing the rising clamor for environmentally "green" products.

Reuse what you have

Finding fresh ways to design that aren't dependant on top-dollar items has found its way into homes across the region and the country.

"The new chic is to be very sensitive to what you're spending," said Barbara Richardson, director of color marketing for Glidden. "It's about taking something you have and redoing or reshaping that piece."

Rather than buying a new expensive chair, for example, people are having the chair reupholstered, and some are even learning how to reupholster it themselves.

"It's all about having that kind of mindset," Richardson said.

Browning said she's seeing interior designs that have less clutter and are more purposeful.

"Rather than buying 10 things to add color to a room people are leaning toward one main piece to bring in that punch of color. They are not looking for space fillers. It's more of a less fuss, no muss mindset."

Gilbert agreed. "I'm seeing more people using antique-like pieces they already have and not focusing on having matched collection of new things."

Returning to neutral

With money tighter and people thinking twice about how they're spending it, " one of the biggest trends we'll see in 2010 is a softer, warmer return to neutral," predicted Debbie Zimmer, a paint and color expert with the Paint Quality Institute in Spring House, Pa.

That applies especially to bigger-ticketed items.

According to the High Point Market Fall Fashion Report 2009, these neutrals include colors such as stone, oatmeal, warm mineral colors, taupes and, of course, grays.

"This is not to say people won't be dressing up spaces with other hues," Zimmer said.

It just won't be as flashy as in years past.

She also said she believes we'll see the use of black on broad wall areas.

"It's a very dramatic direction to take," Zimmer said.

"Coupling black and white can create show-stopping glamour," she noted, especially in foyers, family rooms and contemporary kitchens.

Whereas we're still seeing accent walls in strong colors coupled with neutral walls, Browning noted many people are opting for less.

They are adding an accent color by painting the backsplashes in their kitchens or the walls inside a book shelf.

The surrounding areas remain neutral, with color-matching accessories such as area rugs and pillows creating a new look at little cost.

For people who live in apartments or are otherwise restricted to color choices on the walls, Glidden's Richardson suggests buying a quart of paint and a canvas - or two or three - and painting each a solid color.

"Hang them up and you'll have a beautiful exclamation point of color in your room and you haven't spent a fortune to do it," she said.

Stacey Enesey Klemenc,

staceyklemenc@cox.net