2010 Color of the Year

The international team of color experts for the manufacturer of our paints, AkzoNobel (formerly ICI Paints), has already posted their selection for the 2010 Color of the Year!  Here’s how they describe it in their Colour Futures brochure which can now be downloaded (click on Colour Futures link throughout this post to download the pdf of the brochure).

“The Colour of the Year is an airy and optimistic blue that symbolizes infinite horizons, new beginnings, renewed energy and a positive dynamic. This clear, transparent shade encapsulates a sense of purity and goodness – a hopeful colour full of possibility. It puts over an image of vast skies, breezy ozone freshness and the energy and essentiality of water. Given these associations plus the fact that it is a receding colour it will always create a sense of space.

Blue, in colour psychology terms, is the colour associated with sky and sea. Airy light blues are recognised as being refreshing, soothing and liberating. They are good in helping to combat mental strain and stress, physical tiredness and feelings of exhaustion whilst at the same time being re-energising and encouraging fresh starts. They are also thought to enhance powers of communication which can help to promote feelings of confidence.

A balance of the spiritual and the intellectual is represented by the allusion to air, sky and water – the freedom of the spirit married to the rationality of the mind; the vision of the artist to the knowledge of the scientist. Both in interior and exterior setting this blue has an important role to play. It complements perfectly the contemporary materials and modern neutrality of glass, steel and concrete, but also works with stronger and more traditional interior shades such as crimson, burgundy, plum, teal, pewter and gold.

This colour speaks of hope and clarity – a pure, clean and unpolluted direction for the future of our planet; a chance to reclaim possibility with renewed vigour and energy – the clear new horizon of tomorrow.”

–  from AkzoNobel Colour Futures brochure

(blue inspiration photo from Colour Futures )

One of my favorite, chameleon-like blues is “Gustavian Grey” shown in the photo below. It changes so much you are constantly asking “Is it blue? Is it gray? Is it green?”  Considering the great feedback I get about it, I’d have to say it’s my pick for 2010 Color of the Year! 🙂

All walls in this photo are painted Gustavian Grey, an atmospheric complex neutral gray, constantly shifting from green to blue.

Color is light and energy–one of the most powerful elements in design because it’s the most effective door to emotion, yet the least expensive element to work with. By simply changing the color of a room, you can literally transform your life.

Over the past year, we have added several new ethereal blues to our palette of  Full Spectrum Paints:  Alexandra Blue, Azure, Christine’s Cloud, Dusk, Gustavian Grey, H2 Ahh!, Sky, Seaglass, Slate and Wedgewood.

To discover the emotions and activities enhanced by other colors in our palette of certified “green” Full Spectrum Paints, visit us at ellenkennon.com. In addition to our Colors & Suggested Uses section, you’ll also find a Virtual Room Painter and a Photos & Reviews page with numerous photos of finished rooms sent to us by our valued paint customers.

For the latest on the 2010 color trends, see December 17 post (“Hot Pink!” and Other New Age Colors) and December 29 post (More on 2010 Color(s) of the Year)!