Color Trends 2009

We designer types tend to use Benjamin Moorerich landscape, and the way that the light hits it,
paint when we are specifying paint colors. Theiryou start seeing the nuances of how those colors
paint has more depth of color than other brandsflip underneath it."
and covers very well.Benajamin Moore's "Simplexity" colors include:
Doty Horn, Director of Color & Design atThunder AF-685, Meditation AF-395, Amsterdam
Benjamin Moore, scours the earth in search ofAF-550, Carob AF-160, Caponata AF-650, Merlot
trends. She works on color trends a full twoRed 2006-10, Arroyo Red 2085-10, Dried Mustard
years in advance. Doty's PowerPoint presentation2158-10, Majestic Violet 2068-10, Hidden Falls 714,
of in- vogue happenings gathered from aroundButtered Yam AF-230, Gargoyle 1546
the world, showed everything from chairs thatPrivate Identity: With the "Private Identity"
look like nests to furniture made from meltedpalette, Horn said she and the other color trends
PVC pipes. Doty distills all these wacky, out-thereexperts were thinking about how we express our
movements into usable color trends for real life.individuality in such an overwhelming, populated
Horn's analysis identifies colors that will be popularworld. Here, the colors are bright, bold and
in everything from cars to appliances to homeunexpected.
accessories and interior design."You're your own person so you're going to put
Well,together a personal statement color," Horn said.
Here is the news:"You could do a bright red mixed with a powder
According to Benjamin Moore's Color Pulse 2009,blue and put a bold gold against it. So you've got
there are four main color trends that will bethis contrast of very bold color and then a very
dominating our surroundings next year andlight color and that gives it an unexpected twist."
beyond.Benjamin Moore's "Private Identity" Colors include:
Raw: Horn says this palette is derived from theDesert Rose 2094-50, Mango Punch 154, Perennial
push toward minimalism, pairing life down to its405, Pacific Palisades 762, Tricycle Red 2000-20,
most authentic. Horn said this palette is derivedBlushing Red 2079-20, Thunderbird 675, Lucerne
from unfinished wood, cinder blocks and otherAF-530, Fire and Ice 1329, Black Satin (High Gloss)
"make-do" materials and includes shades of white,2131-10, Silver Metallic Silver-20 (Studio Finish
sand and gray.color), Gold Metallic Gold-10 (Studio Finish color)
Benjamin Moore's "Raw" colors include: Chantilly(The symbols after the colors listed above
Lace OC-65, Mascarpone AF-20, Collector's Itemindicate their collection, so ones with an AF mean
AF-45, Fossil AF-65, Frappe AF-85, Hush AF-95,that they are part of the Affinity group of colors,
Jute AF-80, Tucson Winds 1024, Sterling 1591,OC stands for Off-White Colors and the ones
Storm AF-700, Steel Wool 2121-20, Gray 2121-10with numbers are in their regular group of classic
Urban Silence: Horn said this group of colorscolors).
reflects the changing delineation between life inDon't know where to start? Which colors story to
the city and life outside the city. "This is whereuse?
the trees become houses and the housesI think you can use colors that are in keeping with
become trees," she explained.the geography in which you live, the architecture
As more urban buildings incorporate rooftopof your home and most of all PERSONAL
gardens and shipping containers are convertedCHOICE. If you live on the 28th floor of a condo
into living spaces, the city becomes a softer,with a view of a major mountain and you over
more livable place. Horn said this palette reflectslook a river ...its all about the view. So keep your
these changes by mixing the gray tones of urbancolors to a dull roar. The color palette of RAW
living with vibrant, organic colors like green, rustmay be a good choice for you. If you live in a
and terra cotta.gray climate and want color, the rich hues of the
Benjamin Moore's "Urban Silence" colors include:SIMPLEXITY palette may be the right choice for
Shadow Gray 2125-40, Lapland AF-410, Yellowyou.
Tone 370, Wasabi AF-430, Winding Vines 532, OldI believe the real trend is personalization. People
Gold 167, Glen Ridge Gold 301, Rattan AF-375,are tired of others telling them what is good for
Rustic Taupe 999, Abbey Brown 1225, Bronzetheir home. When choosing colors think about
Metallic Bronze-30 (Studio Finish color), Copperwhat color looks good on you. What do you like
Metallic Copper-40 (Studio Finish color)to wear? What do you want to feel when you
Simplexity: To understand this color palette, thinkwalk through the door? Color defiantly evokes a
about the pixels that make up a computer screen:feeling.
thousands of tiny dots in different shades thatYou may want to buy a sample of the color you
come together to make a whole. These arewant to you use and paint it on "mighty board."
colors that have more to them than meets theit's a thin, ridged plastic 2x2 sheet of material that
eye.will not warp when painted. You can get it at
"The colors here are very complex, they have amost Benjamin Moore paint stores. See what the
lot of depth to them, but they're easy to use, socolor looks like at night and during the day, before
that's the simplicity part of that," Horn says. Foryou paint the whole room.
example, she said, think of a color that looksMost important, be daring - it's only paint. You can
black, but it's really purple. "It's almost black but iteasily re-do it for a few bucks.
has an undercurrent of blue and red runningHappy painting!
underneath it and it just has a rich texture and a