Artist Paul Klee said that, for him, a happy hour was when “Color and I are one.” Designers are drinking in color this season, from the deep red of claret to the amber of scotch. Style-makers are looking through chartreuse-, lavender-, and rose-colored glasses, sending dazzling tones down the runways. Trend-watchers spied a shift toward the bright side a few seasons ago, according to Becky Stak, a senior designer at Sherwin Williams whose job it is to track trends and create new colors for the paint giant. “Color trends are cyclical and are affected by practically everything we come into contact with in our daily lives,” she says. “The fashion industry, from haute couture to street fashion, is very important in influencing how we feel about color, but travel, the Internet, books, and art also play major roles.”

Translating these trends into our homes, according to Stak, requires paying heed to the psychology of color. “Most people know that cool colors are calming while warm colors are more active and better suited to rooms for entertaining. That said, golden yellow is warm and inviting, while bright yellow can have an agitating effect; make sure you identify how you’re going to be using a space before you decide on a palette,” she says.

What hues does she think are on the horizon? “Yellowy greens are fresh, and the blue family is more prevalent than ever, from inky blues to playful retro aquas.”

Photograph: Peter Krumhardt
Text by Eliza Alsop
Produced by April Hardwick

Sources:
Background: “Aqua Chiffon” zero-VOC Olympic paint, $21 per gallon; from Lowe’s (lowes.com).
“Aviary” dessert plates, set of four, $28, and “Folk Art” dinner plates, set of four, $36; by Thomas Paul from Velocity Art and Design (866/781-9494).
“Kidman Orb Vases,” from $69; Arteriors Home (877/488-8866).
“Decorated Console” table with Travertine marble top, $6,986; Baker (800/592-2537).
“Lolita” key tassel, #35191; Houles (212/935-3900), trade only.