Posted by
HGTV.ca Editorial Team
Friday, March 2, 2012 4:46 PM EDT
If you haven’t done it already, it’s time to say good-bye to boring beige. 2012 is going to be a big year for colour. From subdued and chic to bright and bold, here are five of my favourite colour trends that are easy to incorporate into your own home.
About Laura Stein Interiors:
Laura Stein is an award-winning interior decorator who has worked on HGTV’s Designer Guys and Style Dept. Laura's focus is on superb quality, fresh design, and lifestyle-based functionality. Her Toronto-based firm, Laura Stein Interiors, specializes in custom interior decorating and design for residential clients.
Patterns Gone Wild
In 2011 patterns made a comeback, and in 2012 they are breaking all the rules. Whether bold and vivacious or subtle and sophisticated, patterns and prints are showing up in unexpected places, in all sorts of colours and sizes. Look for classic designs like tartans, polka dots, herringbones, florals and damasks all reinvented in surprising colour combinations and graphic treatments.
EchoDesign wallcoverings from Kravet
These fantastic fabrics from Kravet are a great example of bold but simple patterns in striking colours. Use them as accents on throw pillows or window treatments. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, try using them on an occasional chair or ottoman. For a bit of extra spice, I love to mix in patterns from around the globe with ethnic influence and exotic flare. In 2012 there is no such thing as too much pattern. It’s all about mixing and matching, and lots and lots of layering.
Statement Colours
Colours this year have something to say. They are strong, but complex, with undertones that make them both evocative and serene. Look for yellows with muted green or grey undertones, nectarine, teal, indigo and coffee. Purple and pink are still feminine favourites, but have more depth, infused with brown or red and won’t make the men go running.
Clockwise from top: Benjamin Moore Paints: Autumn Purple, Royal Fuchsia, Slate Teal, Citron, Tangy Orange
To keep all these colours from shouting too loudly, I like to set them against quiet neutrals, like cream, mocha, or warm grey. These colours make a wonderful painted backdrop for more neutral furniture, or look fantastic on upholstery or accent pieces.
Here’s a tip: If you paint your walls a strong colour, include your baseboards. It will add height to the room.
Tangerine Tango
This deep spicy orange is the colour of the year, according to the colour experts at Pantone. It is bright, vivacious and screaming for attention. Tangerine Tango is a colour that definitely gets noticed. Use it in your home to liven up a neutral space or add a sizzling burst of colour.
CB2: Movie Pool sofa and orange chair; Echo Orange chair
Tangerine Tango works great as an accent with white and grey, and is stunning next to deep blue and cerulean. My favourite trick is to incorporate bold accent colours and patterns into throw pillows and accessories. It gives lots of punch without much commitment. You don’t need to go crazy with colour to make this trend work. Even a few well-placed flowers will do the trick.
Black and White
The ultimate in juxtaposition is back. Straight from the runways to home décor, black and white is making a comeback. This isn’t a trend of cold contrast, it’s the classic black and white of saddle shoes and wool coats.
Mission Kitchen from Paris Kitchens
Embrace black and white in your own home with a checkered floor in an entrance or Parisian-inspired hexagon tile in a bathroom. Try black and white tweed or houndstooth fabrics on chairs or throw pillows. For a stunning and striking kitchen like this one from Paris Kitchens, outline your white cabinets and marble counter with a bold black frame.
Grey on Grey
Take a little white, add a little black, and you’ve got grey. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve surely noticed a lot of grey around lately, and it seems to be here to stay. But grey isn’t all black and white. This year’s greys are infused with colour. A hint of blue, a touch of purple or a splash of brown all add some depth and richness to our favourite neutral.
Laura Stein Interiors
If vibrant colour just isn’t your thing, you can’t go wrong with grey. Find the one with an undertone that works with your existing décor and add it as an accent on walls, or in a patterned fabric with your colour of choice. Grey is the perfect neutral for large upholstery pieces and even painted wood furniture. Vary the shade from soft and light to deep and dramatic to create contrast and textural interest.
And that's a wrap! Stay tuned for March's theme, Spring Refresh, launching Monday!