Trend forecasters point to shades of blue as a key color in 2014.
The Color Marketing Group CMG), a leading international association of color design professionals, predicts that Blue will dominate the color palette for the next few years – and they’re not alone.
Pantone® has named its top fashion hue for women in spring 2014 “Dazzling Blue,” which is similar to the shade of blue on Facebook’s signature logo.
The number of blue tones represented across all CMG’s regional color forecasts is a key indicator of its importance. What is driving its popularity? Blue is a stable, comfortable, and a well-liked color that is always present in a color palette, according to the organization. Global/environmental issues regarding water plus the political atmosphere are reportedly driving factors in the movement. As mineral blue pigment mines become scarce, CMG sees a push
toward the use and acceptance of synthetic blues that are “cleaner, mineral blues and more complex.”
Warmer, tropical, watery blues with a touch of green dominate the movement, notes CMG. Blues are regarded as relaxing and calming, but when not careful with tone,
can become depressive and distant. “Previous blues have been cleaner, more political, Olympic, and historical/traditional. Now people want warmer more aqueous blues. Blue is a popular color in many industries, but has met resistance in others. It is popular across ages and demographics and is a reliable color,” the group reports.
CMG is calling its Color of the Year: ReBlued. “Color needs to reflect our mood, desires, and state of mind. This fresh, true blue can be as energizing as it can be soothing. It’s just the right hue for moving forward,” observes CMG president Mark Woodman of Global Color Research Limited.
According to the group, the “RE” in Re-Blued plays on several key lifestyle trends: REcycling, REnew, REmember, REwind, REcalibrate, Reward, and REliable. Re?Blued works well with all colors of the palette from warm to cool.
According to the group, Re-Bled is “reminiscent of clear skies and warm seas with an environmental/exterior feel. Colonial roots give it a familiar feeling, but with a fresh face.” It is versatile enough to be updated with vibrant tones for a contemporary vibe or can nestle into a heritage look for more historic or traditional environments.
Pantone, a global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, has made its PANTONE® VIEW home + interiors 2014 trend forecasting book – containing the nine key color and design themes for home furnishings and interior design – available on its Web site. It provides color and trend direction for home furnishings or interior spaces and contains visual inspiration, suggested color harmonies, individual tear-out palette cards for each of the nine forecasted palettes, swatches of the 74 forecasted colors, and images from the forecast for use in presentations and storyboards. A summary page offers a comprehensive color overview and a look at other factors influencing the world of home furnishings and interior environments.
“Consumers are becoming increasingly color savvy and color aware,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “With consumers seeking distinctive styling and considerable substance more than ever before, it is critical that retailers and designers be aware of future color trends. To successfully entice consumers, colors and color combinations must be appealing, evocative, transformative and most importantly, on-target.”
To emphasize the color trend and underscore the store’s reputation as a fashion leader, lighting retailers can promote the hue through front window displays or create a central vignette using complementary lighting and accessories that visually tie the look together for consumers and inspire them to freshen up their interiors.
