COLOR TRENDS & FORECAST
exterior space. The biggest pop of color
change a consumer can make is probably
to their front door—a great spot to
change with the seasons.
Lawlor, Kelly-Moore: Interior color
trends change more frequently and offer
a wider array of colors. Exterior trends
tend to be more steadfast and limited to
a neutralized palette. Exterior colors
need to work well with existing elements
in the natural surrounding as well as
with neighboring architecture. In the
Western region of the U.S. with a lot of
exterior stucco substrates, recent color
trends have been very colorful. Color
combinations of yellow, golds, tans, terra
cotta, reds, olives and blues are commonly used on commercial properties. New
home communities have also become
more colorful, incorporating very deep
and dark earthy colors on the exteriors.
Photo: Kelly-Moore
This ultra formal living room has a dash of the unexpected placed behind the sleek entertainment area. Kelly-Moore’s Trim HL4241-1 Stocking White; Wall 1 HL4263-3 Hammered
Pewter; Accent Wall HL4204-2 Martini Olive; Ceiling HL4257-2 Land Rush Bone.
Warman, Resene: Exterior colors are
tending to remain neutral, though there
has been an increasing use of darker finishes and blacks. Part of this is technology driven with new substrates that can
cope with darker topcoats and new paint
technology, such as Resene Cool Color
technology, that enables the coating to
reflect more of the sun’s energy keeping
it cooler than a standard color.
Kim, Valspar: Traditionally, there are
two different mindsets when it comes to
interior and exterior space. For interior,
it’s a personal story where we want to
express who we are in full. So the colors
are diverse and expressive on many levels. For exterior, there is added the
anchor of being a good neighbor and the
exterior colors are like a family picture
for everyone to see. So color selections
are more cautious and more regionally
appropriate. However, with outdoor living trends and consumers’ love of green
garden space, we have pushed interior
colors to the outdoors. Outdoor furniture
and décors are becoming more interior
inspired.
Mantyla, California Paints: Color combi-
nations—interior and exterior—are
what our customers are requesting. Both
bold and monochromatic schemes are
still the trend for interior and exterior
projects. Exteriors utilize brighter clean-
er whites while interiors showcase more
neutral whites with a tendency to go
gray. Interior neutrals are all the rage
while the definition and range of neu-
trals has changed dramatically. Darker
shades of gray, beige and tan once con-
sidered accent colors are now universally
accepted as neutral.
Prime, NCS Colour: Trend colors are still
used as accents. With exterior color you
also have to consider that you are stating
your color taste or style to a wider audience whether you want to or not. So there
is a tendancy to be a little more understated in this arena. You also have to
think about the fact that, outside, colors
change in perception. In daylight, an
already bright color can often be perceived as blindingly chromatic so some of
the brighter trend colors will not be so
suitable as they will become too bright to
appreciate.
Schlotter, PPG: Interiors can go much
more bold with color choices since it is
easier to paint interior spaces. Exteriors
tend to be more classic and convention-
al since we only paint exteriors every
10-15 years.
What are today’s “hot” colors?
Zimmer, PQI: Yellow and grey. Yellow for
optimism and grey as a fresh and new
neutral.
Lawlor, Kelly-Moore: When looking at
colors for the home, we are seeing that
the consumer has developed multiple
color personalities. Sometimes they want
the security of the safe and traditional
neutral with a little chameleon quality to
it. We are seeing a shift in neutrals from
the popular tans to warmer grays. The
consumer will also have a strong desire
to incorporate cleaner, brighter colors
that offer a sense of honesty—colors like
turquoise and copper.
Warman, Resene: Inside, while neutrals
are still very popular, bold colors are
also widely used for features complemented with accents of strongly pat-
