The 10 Hottest Color Trends for Spring
The American Color Institute has released its 10 hottest colors for spring 2014, and the results are startling in their diversity and richness.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a list with this much variety,” says Nero Schwarz, ACI’s director of chromatic development. “Usually there’s an underlying theme, like in autumn 1996, when all the colors were pasty. This year, it’s all over the map.”
To arrive at its annual list, eight color prognosticators — or “colosticators” — travel throughout the country, gauging trends in hipster enclaves such as Brooklyn, Berkeley and Sundusky, Ohio. Then members meet in private behind a Norman, Oklahoma, Hobby Lobby to compare notes and advocate for their selections. In the end, only 10 hues are chosen, and there can be no duplication.
“Pretty soon, you’ll be seeing these colors everywhere,” Schwarz vows. “In cars, on televisions, maybe even cocktail dresses.”
Shadow. This is one of those in-between colors that seems to change hue depending on the time of day. In the morning, it registers a bit chartreuse, while at night, it looks positively magenta. Midday light brings out its cobalt undertones. This truly is a chameleon of the color world.
Coal. Not too dark, not too light, this is one of those all-purpose in-between colors that would look good with just about anything. “It’s the new black,” says Schwarz.
Pitch. Now for something completely different. This hue would look darling in a girl’s room or as the primary color at a spring wedding. Just imagine a bride’s bouquet assembled in this shade.
Night. A little edgier than most, this is one of those colors you won’t soon forget. Use it in small doses as an accent color, or mix up a matching sauce and drizzle it over the dinner plates at your next soiree. Then stand back and wait for the comments to flow.
Power Outage. I dare you to look at this color and not smile. It’s like being tickled by a dozen puppies wearing feather tutus and bunny slippers inside a vat of cotton candy.
Goth. Flashback time. Some of us might remember this one from childhood. Sure, this color has been out of circulation for a while, but it’s poised for a revival, proving that everything comes back into style eventually.
Graphite. This vivid shade sounds a wake-up call that can be heard from outer space. In fact, it sort of looks like outer space.
Crepe. If rainbows could mate and have babies, they’d probably look like this sunny scene-stealer. This would be perfect for a frilly bedroom or powder room. Or paint the exterior of your house this color, and your place will become a local landmark. “You can’t miss us,” neighbors will say. “We’re right next to the house that looks like crepe.”
Midnight. One of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it background colors that works with any decor, Midnight is the perfect neutral for any occasion, inspired by the calming color palette on Game of Thrones.
Slag. Versatility, thy name is Slag. Whether you choose it for a single piece of furniture or paint your entire room this color, you’re sure to be intoxicated by its quixotic charms.
“OK,” you’re probably saying to yourself, “but how would these colors look together in a room?” Through the magic of computer simulation, we were able to create a fantasy interior using all of 2014’s trending colors.
“You wouldn’t want to try this combination in real life,” Schwarz cautions. Somehow, though, the mix succeeds; proving, once again, that if you really love a color, it’ll work with anything.
Next: An Architect’s Guide to Color
