Did you know that the paint companies follow trends to create the colors they make? This helps consumers find paints that match all the great new accessories and to easily create the look they want to see. I was able to talk to two color experts from Valspar the other day and got a lot of wonderful tips about paint trends and how to use paint colors in our homes. I thought I’d start with the heart of the home – our kitchens. Valspar color consultant Ann McGuire and Valspar color trends and forecast specialist Sue Kim both had some great advice for painting your kitchen.
Sue says that in today’s homes, the kitchen is seen as a second living room. People spend three or more hours in their kitchens. Because of this change, colors are changing, too and colors that are more common in master suites or living rooms are being pulled into the kitchen. This means that traditional reds and greens are being replaced by more tranquil colors, like Brushed Lavender or Baked Scone. Besides creating a relaxing atmosphere, these new colors harmonize well with stainless materials.
“We’re also seeing more open spaces that lead into family areas. People are asking how you transition from the kitchen to the family room. One option is to bring chalky, calming colors into the kitchen and have a transition wall into family areas. For example, you could have a scallion color in most of the kitchen and then transition to a bolder color on the wall leading into the family room space.”
Ann also stressed the importance of thinking about using color to transition from space to space. “Being able to experiment a little with an accent wall is fun. People will take a palette and put their own signature on it by using a bolder color on an accent wall.”
For people who are looking for a fresh, soothing color for kitchen walls, here’s Valspar’s spring palette that includes the colors these experts suggest for the kitchen:
Peaceful Optimism: This palette draws on the continued trend of purples/lavenders and yellows.
· Brushed Lavender
· Midsummer Twilight
· Baked Scone
· Churchill Hotel Ivory
· Lovely Bluff
Photo: SXC
Post from: Blisstree