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Color trends are all around us. They affect the clothes we wear, the furniture we buy, and the way we decorate our homes. Some colors may be popular year after year, but they eventually move on. You've probably seen a bathroom with some pink and black tile that was popular in the 1950s, and you hoped it was ironic.
After reviewing remodeling trends for 5+ years, I thought it would be fun to review color trends after discovering Pantone's 2018 Color of the Year, Ultra Violet. Pantone defines the colors used by printers (Cyan,Magenta,Yellow,Key (black)).
Who Determines Color Trends?
Who decided that Ultra Violet gets to be 2018's “Color of the Year?” Who's allowed to havethat much power? Apparently, it's not just one person, company, or group that determines color trends. Color is an integral part of pretty much every industry. The color industry is led by the Color Marketing Group (CMG) – I had no idea, did you? CMG holds meetings around the world to address regional and local color differences. In other words, color trends on the east coast are probably going to be different from those on the west coast.
Color trends are also determined by technology (now more than ever). Computers and smart phones are able to adapt and deliver color faster than anything else – faster than printed material, clothing, or furnishings. Retailers like Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn influence color choices through their ads, store displays, and the products we buy for our homes. Magazines and catalogs continue to influence us through ads. (Although what I found interesting was no mention of TV advertising…)
Where Do Color Trends Start?
Color trends start withfashion. From there, the colors trickle down to other things, like interior design. Commercial design trends lag behind residential design when it comes to color. Big companies need to work for larger groups of people rather than a single person.
I was also somewhat surprised to see that color trends start in fashion. I see pictures of high end fashion shows and just imagine these people blending into ridiculous homes that match their ridiculous outfits. On the less drastic side, I see somebody in their home with a shirt that matches the throw pillows on their couch.
Can Color Trends Influence Our Lives?
The color around you plays a bigger role in your life than you might imagine. While the list below is not complete, it paints a picture of the ways in which color can impact our lives:
- Color carries and connects ourhistory and values of past generations.
- Color guides us towards thefuture.
- Color is being influenced byenvironmentally responsible and sustainable design, emphasizing the natural color.
- Color theoryis becoming more important, with trends focusing on how and why different color hues are used versus single colors.
- There are significant differences in color choices between individuals, there are also general color trends acrossdifferent cultures.
- An individual'sexperience with objects will influence how they feel about the colors of the objects.
The (outdated) tradition of pink for girls and blue for boys started in the 1950s. There are lots of theories as to why this is – before this, boys wore pink and girls wore blue. This shows that color trends are subject to external influences, whatever they may be. What's more interesting is that men and women respond not just to the color, but to the name of the color. If you think that's cool, you'll find this article, His And Hers Colors: Men, Women, And Two Thousand Color Names, fascinating!
Can Color Trends Influence Our Emotions?
It is a pretty well-known fact that the reason so many restaurants are painted red is because the color red can make you hungry. Many people paint their bedrooms blue because blue can have a calming effect. The psychology behind color is intriguing. If you want to know more, either one of these articles is great: Color Psychology: the Emotional Effects of Colors or Color or Color: the Psychology of Color.
About Tina Gleisner
Tina helps women homeowners create homes they love, homes that support how we live today. Leveraging her experience owning 15 houses and running a handyman business, Tina offers a free Savvy Homeowner Report.
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In short, Pantone chooses a color that reflects the current cultural climate. In the following year, the color influences trends interior décor, fashion, food, and other facets of design. However, the color of the year doesn't apply to every brand or product.
Where do trends come from? ›
Cultural influences
It can be influenced by everything from art and music to politics and social movements. For example, the rise of streetwear as a fashion trend can be attributed to the influence of hip-hop and street culture. Similarly, political and social movements can also influence the emergence of a trend.
Who decides colour trends? ›
The Pantone Color Institute studies color trends throughout the year in order to decide on the next Pantone Color of the Year. They take into consideration all aspects of society: fashion, marketing, social media and even politics.
What are color trends researched through? ›
Color forecasters utilize cultural indicators in travel, art, technology, fashion, sports and entertainment to predict future trends. Color trends ripple through the market every year, which is why it seems that industries as different as fashion, automotive and tech are virtually in lockstep when it comes to color.
What is the color trend? ›
Today, the trend is to create multidimensional interiors using layered tones, deep shades, and characterful colors. 'I see the current color trend swinging towards cooler tones and brighter colors as people are becoming more daring with their interiors,' says Lucie Ayres, founder of 22 Interiors.
What is the main color trend? ›
According to color experts and trend forecasters warm, earthy tones such as brown, caramel and beige are tipped to be the top color trends in interiors for 2024, alongside pretty plaster pinks and sunbaked peachy tones. Warm and grounding, these trending colors follow our desire to create calming and comforting spaces.
How do trends come and go? ›
Trends tend to come and go in cycles: some thing–a product or brand or style–rises quickly in popularity, and then not long after, the trend falls (sometimes just as swiftly as it rose) as the next up and coming thing takes its place.
Why do trends come and go? ›
Social media, and the influencers at its stead, are to blame. The lifecycle of a fashion trend has five stages: Introduction, rise, peak, decline and obsolescence. This cycle used to take around 20 years, from the initial debuts on runways to the eventual shoving to the back of closets by the masses.
What are trends made up of? ›
Using trend analysis is an important aspect of technical analysis, but it's only one of many tools and techniques available. Trend is the direction that prices are moving in, based on where they have been in the past. Trends are made up of peaks and troughs.
Who creates trends? ›
Innovators are the ones responsible for bringing an idea to life. Early adopters, who have significant influence, then drive trends towards becoming a reality. The early majority are fans or followers of early adopters and constitute a big piece of the masses. The late majority don't easily jump onto a trend.
Color trends typically start in apparel and then move into other areas, such as the automobile and home-fashion industries. The thinkinghas been that if you feel good wearing a color, you'll feel good driving in it and living in it, too. The cycle used to move fairly slowly, but today it's at a much faster clip.
What is the key color for 2024? ›
It's no surprise that Apricot Crush, also named as Color of the Year in 2024 by WGSN and Coloro, will play a key role across consumer space in Fall 2024.
How do you explain trends in research? ›
A trend is a recurring pattern and trend analysis is the practice of collecting data in an attempt to spot that pattern. When the user needs and behavior are changing rapidly, trend analysis is a method that can act as a window into the future demands of users.
How do you analyze trends? ›
Trend analysis refers to the process of collecting data from multiple different periods (sometimes referred to as time series data analysis), before plotting the data on a horizontal line for review. By comparing data over a specific period, you can spot patterns and project future events.
What are trends based on? ›
Trends are sometimes driven by external factors (like a shortage of a certain product that creates a trend for something new), and other times trends are driven by internal consumer wants/needs (like plant-based dairy alternatives).
Who sets the trends? ›
There is no particular individual who "decides" fashion trends. It is a longer process than you think. There are several Fashion forecasters who keep a watch on the current affairs of the world, be it economic, financial or political.
What is the psychology behind trends? ›
The Psychology Behind Trends
"Participating in trends invites social interaction, admiration, and appreciation from others, and facilitates a sense of belonging for us while also allowing us to fit in with the crowd," Christie Ferrari, PsyD, also known as Dr. C, clinical psychologist and blogger, says.
How are trends developed? ›
How do trends develop? Trends are usually a reflection of changing social and cultural mood, so we start by evaluating the socio-political, economic and cultural landscape. How do we think people will be thinking and feeling a few years from now? What will life at home look and feel like?
Who Determines Color Trends?
Where Do Color Trends Start?
Can Color Trends Influence Our Emotions?
