By ROUWEN LIN | Jan 10, 2010
starmag-feedback@thestar.com.my
Colour cheer
COLOURS have the power to make us hungry or hunger for a particular product. They fuel aggression or sap energy. They make us watch, listen, and remember. They entice us into shops. If they can do all that and more, why not use colours to bring a little cheer and goodwill into our lives?
Colour experts say we should turn to all things bright and cheery to perk us up after the economic rut and gloom of last year.
Looks like it’s time to replace those pale colours with vibrant hues to liven up your home.
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From left to right:
(a) Beige and brown will continue to be popular;
(b) You can combine dusty blue, teal and mineral greys to make a strong statement.
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Bright future
Colour forecasting does not provide you with a neat package of five hues to paint the five rooms in your house.
According to colour expert Denise Turner from the Colour Marketing Group, it provides information on the direction it is expected to take, e.g. are the colours getting lighter, darker, warmer, cooler or cleaner?
This year, the experts say colours will be more vibrant, bold and dramatic. They are lighter in mood and more optimistic in feeling.
Deep, intense hues such as the mysterious near-black with green undertones, brilliant blue-green, vibrant plum and highly-saturated red will be highly sought after.
Pink and purple, colours absent from last year’s palette, will make a comeback. They will be used most frequently as accent colours (colour used in small quantities to emphasise a desired effect) or paired with neutrals such as off-whites and greys.
The soft beiges of last year make way for deep, rich brown hues; earthy shades are predicted to linger for years to come as they reflect our increasing awareness of environmental issues such as deforestation, global warming and pollution.
Representatives of paint companies Nippon Paint Malaysia, Jotun Malaysia, ICI Paints Malaysia and Kansai Coatings Malaysia acknowledge the transition.
Regal return
“Last year’s earth-influenced hues supporting the environmental movement continue to play a prominent role. However, this year they are complemented with jewelled tones and fresh tropical hues,” says Gladys Goh, Nippon assistant general manager of marketing, via email.
While Nippon’s predicted greens are varied – earthy olive, classical, acid yellow-green and a green-grey – the blues head off in two directions; one has green influences and the other is inspired by minerals.
The reds come full circle with blue, violet and yellow undertones. The most popular orange hue is yellow- influenced while the predicted yellow hue is tinged with orange. These bright colours herald optimism and happy times ahead.
Working closely with Turner, Nippon welcomes purple back into the limelight. The colour of royalty, featured prominently on runways, is now expected to grace interior designs with its presence. Nippon recommends two deep, muted shades of purple to be used as accent colours in interior design: violet with grey undertones and a lighter grey-mauve.
“This year’s colour palette is safe colours with splashes of rich optimistic tones. Colour has a great effect on us and we could all use a boost this year. A fresh coat of paint is the easiest way to refresh any space,” says Goh.
Pepper and pink
After analysing colour trendsfrom European fashion houses and runways, interviews with fashion designers, and studying home concept magazines and fabric/furniture catalogues, the Jotun Scandinavia colour team proposes a range of colours inspired by mountains, water and the sophistication of urban lifestyles.
Nature is an obvious theme: go for white pepper matched with beige, grey and a fresh bamboo green for that clean, light look. Or turn to intense salsa red, rainforest green and olive borrowed from colours found in the tropical jungle, exotic food and hot spices.
For an elegant touch in your living room, patio, lounges and bars, adopt a dramatic flair with nearblacks and deep reds.
If you are after soothing vibes in the dining room or nursery, go dusky pink with a touch of grey and dark charcoal.
“When using pink, a dash of grey ensures that the overall look is not too cute or feminine. Use bold colours for places where people gather to socialise. Use softer shades for rooms where you want to create a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere,” offers Jotun marketing manager Heng Chooi Hong.
He is quick to add that these are general tips. Colour choice should be based on personal preference and you cannot expect everyone to follow trends, he says.
“If someone likes blue very much, chances are he will keep painting his house blue regardless of the trend. At the end of the day, what will impresss people is not that your wall is painted with the colour of the year, but how well matched the colours are.”
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From left to right:
(a) Purple, which dominates the catwalk, will make its way into more homes;
(b) Cool, light hues exude a feeling of relaxation and simplicity;
(c) You can take the outdoors into the house by using different shades of green.
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Paint it green
This year, go green – literally. Kansai marketing manager Carlee Liew says that according to the teachings of geomancy (also known as feng shui or environology), this year’s element, wood, is associated with the colour green, which symbolises growth, harmony, stability and hope.
“From working with professor master David Koh on environology colours, feedback from customers and research findings from the Kansai Colour Research Centre in Japan and the international marketing group, we predict the trend for this year will take on an environmental theme,” says Liew, adding that people will look to natural colours inspired by clay, soil and ash.
Turquoise and aquamarine, representing water and serenity, and red will feature prominently as well.
If you believe each year has its own colour, it might be of interest that each person is also matched with an innate colour – one we feel most at home with.
It is believed that colours affect our emotions and influence decision-making.
“If you are feeling angry, it is not wise to be in a red room. Red invokes a feel of rage and hostility that must be avoided and can cause disharmony and chaos over a long period of exposure to it. On the contrary, a soft blue or green environment will have a calming effect."
“If all the colours you see around you clash with your innate colour, then they will certainly evoke strong emotions,” Liew says.
As far as paint trends go, paint colours are occasion-driven, an observation supported by a surge in sales during the festive season.
“Green and yellow are very popular during Hari Raya; red and orange during Chinese New Year,” Liew says, adding that Indians prefer purple.
When in doubt about what colour combinations to use, go with the 70-20-10 concept selection, she suggests.
The dominant colour will go on your main walls. You can paint 20% of another hue on your feature wall – “use strong, bold colours” – and use 10% of a third hue for doors, windows and frames.
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