Colour Trends 2010

Once a year we bring together an international group of creative experts in the field of design, architecture and fashion, with an eye for trends and a passion for colour.

Their ideas about how trends and colours are developing are presented a year ahead in our Colour Trends booklet found at participating retailers.

This booklet presents all the trend colours, in eight colour families: Reds, Oranges, Yellows, Warm Neutrals, Greens, Blues, Violets, Cool Neutrals. Each colour family is highlighted the key colours of the year, and two recommended coordinating colours to help you create the latest look in your home.

Colour of the year: Blue

In keeping with our overall theme of ‘Reclaim’, we are focusing on the qualities of truth, integrity, openness and hope. The Colour of the Year is an airy and optimistic blue that symbolizes igniting horizons, creating new beginnings, renewed energy and a positive dynamic.

This clear, transparent shade encapsulates a sense of purity and goodness – a hopeful and chemical-free colour full of possibility. It evokes an image of vast skies, breezy ozone freshness and the energy and essentiality of water. Given these associations, along with the fact that this is a receding colour, it will always create a sense of space.

Blue, in colour psychology, is the colour associated with sky and sea. Airy light blues are recognized as being refreshing, soothing and liberating. They are effective in combating mental strain and stress, as well as physical fatigue, helping to re-energize and encourage fresh starts. They are also thought to enhance powers of communication, in turn promoting feelings of confidence.

A balance of the spiritual and the intellectual is represented by the allusion to air, sky and water – the freedom of the spirit married to the rationality of the mind; the vision of the artist balanced with the knowledge of the scientist. Both in interior and exterior settings, this blue has an important role to play. It complements perfectly the contemporary simplicity and modern neutrality of glass, steel and concrete, but also works with stronger and more traditional interior shades such as crimson, burgundy, plum, teal, pewter and gold.

This colour speaks of hope and clarity – a pure, clean and unpolluted direction for the future of our planet; a chance to reclaim possibility with renewed vigour and energy, creating a clear new horizon for tomorrow.

Key colours

The swatches below present all the trend colours in eight colour families: Reds, Oranges, Yellows, Warm Neutrals, Greens, Blues, Violets, Cool Neutrals. Each colour swatch highlights the key colours of the year, and two recommented coordinating colours to help you create the latest look in your home.

1 - Tea Dance * DL07
2 - Whisper Bluff * DL45
3 - Fog Grey * DL40

Red
A deep coral-based red – a ‘burnt’ quality gives softness and warmth that allows it to be used in many settings.

1 - Energize It * CP14
2 - Tutti Frutti * CP02
3 - Painter's White * CP42

Orange
An optimistic and sunny yellow orange that seems to radiate happiness and light – a little will go a long way.

1 - Newborn * CP17
2 - Roslyn's Blue * CP34
3 - Street Lamp Black * CP40

Yellow
A lovely soft banana yellow that conjures up a mood of quiet contentment – good for creating serene and relaxing environments

1 - Hale Village * SE47
2 - Del Monte * SE01
3 - Mauvelous * SE01

Warm Neutral
A deep earthy umber brown – the sort of natural pigment shade that is ultra-fashionable when combined with clean turquoises and teals.

1 - Spring Thaw * MC21
2 - Midnite Hour * MC51
3 - Sapling * MC20

Green
The palest yellow lime that seems to emit light and a sense of space – wonderful when balanced with cool neutrals and greys.

1 - Siesta Key * MC30
2 - Authentic Brown * MC41
3 - Council Bluff * MC42

Blue
Exudes a sense of ozone freshness and spatial airiness – a great shade for opening up small dark spaces where light is at a premium.

1 - Fashion Passion * DL38
2 - Angel Fern * DL20
3 - Mansard Stone * DL50

Violet
A dramatic and daring purple that is both traditional and very modern – a rich and intense shade that has power and warmth.

1 - Centry Blue * MC50
2 - Winter's day * MC49
3 - Fleecy Green * MC27

Cool Neutral
An atmospheric shade reminiscent of green slate – an ultra sophisticated grey to combine with neutrals or as a chic background to brighter accents.

My Swatches

Drag and drop your favourite to create your own unique CIL color palette

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