2016 Color Cues & Design Direction

To keep our palettes fresh and our design solutions marketable, we maintain a constant, watchful-eye on color and design trends year-round in the WHA Color Studio.  Fashion, home décor and Pantone provide key indications of what’s hot and what’s not for color and design.

It’s always big news, Pantone’s Color of the Year announcement, the culmination of the color authority’s poll of décor and fashion designers, manufacturers and retailers on their color directions for the coming year.  For 2016, it’s a first ever duo of seldom chosen pastels, “Rose Quartz” and “Serenity” translated pink and blue.  Pantone’s rationale is pragmatic to philosophical, a business opportunity to make extra combinations along with a more “unilateral approach to color coinciding with societal movement toward gender equality and fluidity,” heavy stuff for two light colors.

Other trends we see provide additional color cues for 2016 and beyond.  Technological advancements continue to infiltrate our daily lives. We are on constant call in our digitally connected, sound-filled world.  Soothing, meditative environments are the antidote providing quiet simplicity from the noise with calming hues.  As we look around the color wheel, this trend is evident.

•          Red is pale, ashen pink, mauve (it’s back), and burgundy to Bordeaux.

•          Orange ranges from soft peach to tangerine, coral, salmon, terra cotta and ginger.

•          Yellow is acidic, infused with green, marigold, mustard and amber.

•          Green is emerald, peacock and teal.

•          Blue ranges from sea glass, Caribbean blues to periwinkle, turquoise, indigo and cobalt.

•          Purple is smoky, lavender to black currant.

•          Neutrals feature gray, “the new black,” white aplenty, cream and browns, camel to cocoa.

Juxtaposed against our soft, toned-down palettes, contrast prevails.  Today’s décor favors mixing not matching—industrial meets organic, materials mix it up and cross cultural exchanges fuse together facilitating the need for diversification and individualism.  Our watch has observed these design directions and favored materials.

Authenticity Quest

o          Folklore Motifs

o          Rural References

o          Northern European Vintage Colors

o          Place of Origin, Maker’s Mark

Retro References

o          Mid Century Modern Revival

o          ‘70s Inspired Furnishings

o          ‘80s Pastel Palettes

Rustic Origins

o          Salvage

o          Industrial

o          Barn

Furniture

o          Sleek, Modern, Angular, Bauhaus & Scandinavian Influenced

o          Sculptural, Undulating Art Nouveau Referenced

o          Integrated Wireless Charging & Lighting

o          Online Customization Opportunities

o          Small Space Scaled-Down

Lighting

o          Pendants

o          Statement Light Fixtures

o          LEDs Embedded Everywhere

Accessories

o          Big Art

o          Sunburst Mirrors

o          Artisanal Accent Pieces

Wood

o          Acacia

o          Beech

o          Birch

o          Maple

o          Walnut

o          Weathered to Highly Lacquered

Metal

o          Warm-Toned, Especially Gold

o          Mixes, Brass or Copper with Nickel

o          Black Stainless Steel

o          Hand Hewn, Imperfect

Fabric

o          Natural Fibers

o          Less Faux, More Real

o          Less High Shine, More Natural Finish

o          Highly Textured

o          Textural Mixes

Wallpaper (It’s back too!)

o          More Drama Than Paint

o          Intricate Digital Prints, Any Image

o          Hand-Blocked Organic Designs

o          Contrasting Textures & Colors

o          New Locations, Public Living Spaces & Ceilings

Lighten-up, mix it up and play it up with the broad spectrum of color and design trends for 2016.  Just be careful with that wallpaper unless it’s the latest, easy to peel off, removable kind.