Color Forecast for 2011

Here is some good news for all of you who diligently followed the color mavins guides for 2010 and re-decorated according to their forecasts. 

You don’t really have to change much to be on the cutting edge for 2011. In terms of color. Which means that the ‘what will the colors be for 2010’  forecast was almost the same as the current ‘what will the colors be for 2011’ forecast.

All the trend colors are still grayed (or muted, in real colorist terms); vibrant jewel colors are not found; blue is almost totally absent and the only real green is what I (irreverently) refer to as hospital wall green. The neutrals are greenish though, as they were last year; in one forecast they all reminded me of shades of putty, except the pinkish one..

The red this year is an orange red, last year it was more of a blue red, purple is still there although this year it is appearing quite a bit darker. ( No mauve anywhere in sight). Brown is  represented by an olivey brown - we called it ‘breen’ back in the day; and the  yellow is not  a striking, clear lemon yellow like last year; it’s more of a golden yellow. 

I kept a few shelter magazines from late 2009 and compared them to the issues of 2010 for this column.   In general, at a glance, I’d say that the major difference in the forecasts is that 2011 look like ‘ spring/autumn’ colors while  those that were used for the 2010 forecast looked more like  ‘summer/winter’ colors. Those of you who have 

had your colors done will understand what I mean by this.

Pattern will be big this next year. Mixing styles will be big too - everything is being combined with everything and the fusion names are a lot of fun but I’m still trying to figure out exactly what ‘Indie Chic’ is... 

There you are - your guide to color for 2011. I just have one more piece of advice. I would like to tell you to scrunch this column up and toss it in the garbage - forget this forecast nonsense and do what is right for you and your home. But I can’t do that. So scrunch it up and toss it in the recycle bin instead.

I wish the very best for all of you this coming year.