HOT COLORS FOR 2010

Color experts are hinting that green may be the "it" color for 2010.

Green, projected as the hot color for 2010, symbolizes the country’s eco-friendly spirit and inspires a restful mood.

Although fashion and décor gurus haven't officially announced the coming year's color palette, word is leaking that greens -- cedar green, pale celery, and sea-foam blue-green or eucalyptus -- will be as prominent in 2010 as yellow has been this year.

"Green has such meaning and symbolism," said Sonu Mathew, a Benjamin Moore Paints senior interior designer. "It represents renewal, and is eternally the color of spring and new growth. In recent years, it's become the emblem of the environment" and is the easiest color for the eye to see.

Despite how it seems, color trends aren't conjured up using a crystal ball, said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute -- a group of experts who traverse the globe in search of color clues.

"These factors include socioeconomic issues, technology, lifestyles and play styles, diversions, entertainment, and most importantly, the needs, moods, fantasies and aspirations of consumers," Eiseman said.

Pantone surveys top designers to see which way the fashion-color winds are blowing. In turn, manufacturers of everything from cosmetics to mixers take their cues from Pantone's research to determine which way the color wheel is spinning.

Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Paint Quality Institute, said color trends for 2010 are inspired by social and economic influences.

Because saving money continues to be a priority, homeowners are personalizing small spaces -- accent walls or niche areas -- with small doses of bold color, while using more subtle hues on their main walls.

Although Pantone hasn't anointed a specific color, its predictions for spring/summer 2010 include "Aurora," a green-tinted yellow, "Tomato puree," a classic red that can be paired with turquoise (another hot color) and "Eucalyptus," a cool, classic hue.

In addition to the greens, Benjamin Moore will introduce a sun-filled "August Morning," a cheery orange. "Midnight Navy" will be suggested as an accent color.

Pittsburgh Paints' "Voice of Color" program predicts home colors will reflect a need for change combined with a desire for something sustaining and timeless.

Pittsburgh's new colors for 2010-11 combine calming, classic neutrals with punches of exotic raspberry pink and bright yellow. The palettes are:



•"Canvas" -- soulful, dark colors such as deep gray-brown and asphalt gray-blue and a minimal, organic blend of beiges and chalky whites;


•"Grace" -- serene, elegant shades such as pale butter, metallics and creamy white;


•"Pink City" -- exotic, saturated colors from the Indian Pink City of Jaipur include rusty orange, stony gray, chocolate brown and, of course, pink; and


•"Zest" -- playful, sassy, contemporary colors such as bright yellow, pure white, steely gray and sleek black.
Richmond designer Deborah Valentine, owner of V (for the home), said homeowners have plenty of time to prepare for the new hues.

"There is a lag time," Valentine said. "We're just now starting to see the yellow and it was announced in January. The predictions are way ahead" of the manufacturing of products in the hot color.

By Julie Young