2001: A Color Odyssey
Demographics and social concerns are determining the hues that we will live with.
Staff -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 12/1/2000
The current baby boomlet, aging Baby Boomers, concerns over our water sources, and the continued interest in gardening are among the trends that will influence color choices for home fashions in 2001 and beyond. That is the forecast of Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, the New Jersey-based company whose Pantone Matching System is the bible of the color industry. Eiseman also points to the revival of domestic classics-pressure cookers, fondue sets, martinis, and Victorian-style architecture-as another influence. She cites the television program Antiques Roadshow, one of the most popular programs in PBS history, as proof that Americans are finding comfort in the past. The increased attendance at museums across the country is also having an effect on color choices. For example, the Georgia O'Keefe exhibit that traversed the country in the 1980s accounted for the popularity of Santa Fe colors during that decade. Today, the warm colors of artist Francesco Clemente are being translated into shades suitable for home interiors.
The new baby boom of the past few decades has meant more remodeling, expanded living spaces, and new furnishings, according to Eiseman. On the other side of the age gap, empty nesters and retiring Baby Boomers opting for resort living are also contributing to increased sales of home furnishings. The needs of both of these demographic groups will influence color choices.
Eiseman also pointed out that, even though we may lose interest in a color over time, that color doesn't "just drop off the face of the Earth." For example, the 1990s heralded an interest in ecology and emphasized the color green, and that green has evolved into today's paler shades. And current concerns over the purity and shortage of water have made people respond to blues and blue-greens.
Metallics and pearlescent colors are still popular. Consumers are always attracted to something that glimmers, Eiseman noted.
Eiseman shapes her color forecast for 2001 from these seven palettes:
- H²0. Water and the colors associated with water, beach, and sand. Blue, turquoise, blue-green, sandy beige, and seashell pink.
- Fiesta. Influenced by Latin culture, music, and color. Shades of red (warm and cool), accented by purple and yellow-green.
- Melange. For consumers who want a sense of playfulness, but not the more vibrant "Fiesta" shades. Warm honeyed tones used with soft violet; apricot shades combined with yellow-green and periwinkle.
- Gossamer. Pastels that are soft and quiet, supporting the home-as-haven theme. Pale aqua, chalky pink, and lavender blue.
- Subtle Nuances. Light to mid-tone shades, somewhat grayed out. A bit more complex and masculine. Heralds the return of dusty colors.
- Resonance. The power palette. Deep, rich, and resonant hues. Browns (to the red side), combined with plum, olive, or teal.
- Elemental. The neutrals that are needed to mix with the other palettes. Gray, rosy taupe, blue-tinged neutrals, and warm golden beige.
