Color & Trend Forecast

The color palette in the market continues to follow the warming trend of the last three seasons. There are still lots of reds. These have evolved into more earthy colors, with more hints of browns and naturals. They are less vivid than before. Orange is seen as an accent, in hues ranging from bright citrus, for contemporary tastes and accessories, to the subdued "spirits" shades of cognac, brandy, and whiskey. These blend well with the new red tones.

Greens are again more muted this season. They have a "more natural, less green" appearance to them. Still strong, these beautiful new colors will fit into almost any room, sharing space with furniture and accessories, rather than dominating them. One exception to this is the very bright Granny Smith apple green that you will find in more contemporary themes.

Look for lots of pale, almost smoky, blue greens coming into play. The brighter "spa" colors are not quite as bright, allowing them to be more widely used and accepted.

The fabrics we see are growing more formal and embellished. There are new themes from crewel, to delicate embroidery on silk and faux silk, to intricately woven damasks and brocades. Velvets and suede (faux) are found in increasing numbers.
Paisley and floral designs are back, too. Many are often abstracted so they appear more graphic in nature. You will see strong contemporary floral designs, many in retro colors and with a more European color palette. Both of these groups lean more to transitional and contemporary interpretations.

And, Stripes, yes Stripes, are everywhere. From almost monochromatic fine pencil and chalk stripes to more boldly scaled regiment and even barber pole varieties, stripes are doing very well, thank you. They are natural "go with" designs that adapt and fit well with the larger scaled print and woven motifs.