Excerpts From: Plunging Into Color - Hues Infuse Interior Design Trends - an article featuring Julea Joseph
In time when nothing seems black and white anymore, it only makes sense that home interiors would follow the same trend. While an uncertain world has today's consumers turning to the home for solace and security, there is one decorating trend that is pushing Midwesterners outside of their conservative comfort zone and into trendy territory - it's color.
Homeowners of all generations are finally abandoning washed-out white walls and are now playing in color, making bold statements in everything from walls and windows to fabrics and accents...
...Most homeowners are starting with paint, possibly the most inexpensive way to bring life to a drab room. "The cheapest, fastest and easiest way to decorate your home is with a gallon of paint, " confirmed Julea Joseph, owner of Julea J. Joseph Interiors in Palos Park. "It's so inexpensive; it makes such a huge impact; why wouldn't you do it?"
Still, there are still some that are hesitant to take the plunge, but Joseph says there are ways to ease into it. "I tell people to paint the powder room some wild color that's on the far edge of what's acceptable to them. That's their first introduction to color," she said. "Once people get the powder room done, and it's the craziest color of all, they find they can use colors like red and buttery yellow in their dining rooms and bedrooms."...
Joseph agreed (with other designers), adding that the current economic and political uncertainty are directly affecting the way people want to live, with homeowners creating a cozy environment of their own to contrast a rough reality. "Because we are in such unrest right now, we've shifted to a time when we felt secure," she said. "Instead of going back to the odd, which was very common in the 90's, we are going back to safe."
Colors are still bold, she said, but not as bright. Most have gray undertones, which soften colors for a warmer feel. According to The Color Marketing Group, consumers are turning to colors of the prosperous times - the 1920s and 1960s, with their glamour of the 1930s and 1940s. "Gatsby" colors such pearlescent white and silver-tinted taupes will be hot this year, accent with luxurious fabric's velvet and shimmery satin. Blue will continue to be a popular color for the tranquil and serene mood it emanates.
"Color influences a personality," Joseph said. "It's a psychological thing. So, it's important to understand what effect color in a room will have on you psyche."
Ethnicity is also playing a major role in color trends. Borrowing from Asian and other Eastern influences, expect to see copper oranges, rusty reds, regal purple and golden yellow on everything from window treatments to beaded pillows. The popularity of French country dÚcor is also inspiring soft, yet bold colors that have an Old World and Vintage ...
...(This type of) Versatility is crucial in decorating, Joseph said. Inexpensive window treatments can be spruced up with a colorful fabric border, and neutral furniture can be updated with accent pillows and a new wall color. "People think they need to replace their furniture, when all that they need is paint on the walls," she said. "In an age of technology, it's about instantaneous change. You can have paint on the wall in an hour and have instance change."
Joseph added that, in the end, color should be used to bring joy to both the room and the household. She suggested painting the inside of a guest closet or cabinet with a bold, "woo woo" color - just for fun. "So when you open up the doors, you have this brilliant hue that's a surprise," she said. "When you have a perfect room, there's always and element of surprise."
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