The Coolest Colors for 2014
We’re nearly midway through the new decade and we’ve seen a lot of trends come and go. This year will be full of new trends and colors. Here are some ideas for what designers and color experts say are the coolest colors for 2014.
Where do these cool colors come from? Every year a company called Pantone releases its color suggestions for the year, and the fashion industry is always several years and seasons ahead. Paint companies, interior designers, magazines, furniture makers, curtain manufacturers … basically the whole world follows these trends.
One less industry-driven way of choosing popular colors comes from Feng Shui. According to this Chinese philosophy, 2014 is the year of the wood horse. That means shades of green and brown will be powerful in the coming year. This can be any shade of green from forest, moss to olive, sage to lime, fern, grass… even pale mint greens. Browns will come in all varieties as well – from cappuccino to mocha or burnt umber, walnut, amber, cinnamon, nutmeg, hazelnut, tan, mahogany, sienna or plain old khaki.
Not surprisingly, the Feng Shui actually bleeds into the fashion industry and green and brown are two big colors for 2014. The fashion industry also expects to see stark black and white along with icy pastels and light shades of pink trending for spring 2014.
Water elements are also important in 2014, so shades of blues and black will also bring luck — think royal and navy blues, which can be mixed with black despite what your grandmother may have advised.
In addition, earthy tones will be popular in 2014. Think rusty browns, dusty desert tones and warm russets, earth tones. Beige, brown and gray tie up the neutrals for the earth tones.
For reds, colors like caramel lust, crimson, and tomato will burst onto the scene in the New Year. Expect these colors to be out full force in the summer, along with citrus orange and daffodil.
Deeper shades of purple are also in vogue, especially deep blue purples to show passion, as are all shades of glowing, youthful pink.
For the home, shades of gray are the up-and-coming neutral color for interior paint colors. With an elegant backdrop of gray, silver is a nice accent for added pop.
White is also making a comeback – as more people are downsizing, they’re remembering that light-colored walls can open up a small space.
Look for always-popular blues and greens and also a newcomer: mustard yellow. Whether it’s used as an accent or a base, mustard yellow is opening the door to new possibilities for designers and homeowners alike.
Finally, in the auto industry: If the color “Rosso Corsa” doesn’t want to make you ready to buy a new red car, what does? There’s school bus orange “Dozer yellow” and “Stinger Yellow,” which may make you want to channel your inner Kill Bill Bride. “Peridot Green Metallic” is a new alligator-green color, and “Starfire Pearl” is a creamy, sparkly white that shimmers as you drive. The new “Grabber Blue” is a Montana-Big-Sky color that just may inspire you to take an epic road trip.
Whether it’s fashion, interior design, or considering a new car, there are beautiful new colors on the horizon for 2014 – a whole rainbow of possibilities.