Living with color
Living with color
In a world of color, we are all impacted in ways we sometimes can’t possibly imagine. It’s no secret that gray has been a major player in the fashion and interiors world, and that is not changing anytime soon. I have seen, however, a shift towards more and more vivid colors, practically technicolor colors at international furniture and design shows, New York Fashion Week, and even at the retail points of purchase. From the fashion-forward color discussions t…o the more practical online consumer surveys, color matters and can impact the overall resale value of our homes.
Today.com reported that analysis of more than 50,000 sold homes from around the country by online real estate company Zillow Digs showed that homes with kitchens painted in warm yellow hues yielded the highest sale premium. The report said they went for $1,360 above expected values because potential buyers look at the blank white walls and are concerned about being able to keep it clean.
Consider this, we’ve seen a huge portion of homes shift from carpet to hard surface, and the carpet that is selling best oftentimes is a neutral tufted pattern, tonal or flecked product which definitely offers soil and dirt-hiding characteristics to the consumer.
The neutral palette is shifting in subtle shades yearly with the most essential neutrals — gray, taupe, sand, white, off white and camel. Neutral colors are cyclical and the pace of their shift was slightly thwarted by the recession and rebounding market. The best-selling neutrals of the pre-recession were golden neutrals, matching and coordinating with the vast hard surface materials like travertines and granites. Today we see a lighter cleaner palette strongly influenced more by calacatta marble and cerused or flaxen white oak hardwoods.
Color Marketing Group (CMG) releases a monthly color alert, many of which are already applied in accessories for the home like rugs, pillows and draperies. Note that the colors and neutral colors of the near future focus on how they make consumers feel. For example, CMG’s Zen color is, “tranquil, relaxing, mindful and calm…relaxed and unworried.” Who doesn’t want a little more “comfort” in their lives?