Green building is a trend that is gaining momentum like a freight train. Natural materials used as both decorative elements and building materials are in high demand. Cost-effective, well-insulated buildings now come standard. Products made from renewable resources are well received and even demanded by buyers. CMG members involved with flooring talk about the new interest in materials such as cork, bamboo and tile flooring which combine not only the “natural” moniker but are also customizable, being offered in myriad colors and finishes.

Interiors are where you will find the most emphasis on color trends because so many interior products are closely related to fashion. Check out the colors in upscale women’s shops and you will soon see them in these decorative home items. Throw pillows, rugs, drapes and decorative items from lamps to candles have long come in fashion-forward colors because they are easily replaceable and not especially costly. This will continue.

Big-ticket color

The big news is the demand for colors in big-ticket items such as sofas and carpeting. These products traditionally have tended toward neutrals because they would stay in the home for long periods of time. The public’s desire for color in their lives has transcended its long-standing prudence to the point where you find bright green sofas and navy blue washing machines.

Indeed the trend in color today is not so much which color, but color in general. There is not a product sold whose color is not impacting its acceptance in the market. Of particular interest to home builders and designers is the kitchen — always a huge reflection of this key trend. Floors, cabinets, countertops and large appliances come in choices unheard of as little as five years ago. Again, customization prevails.

One trend of note in the kitchen is called counterscaping in which manufacturers provide bowls, utensils, linens and small appliances in bright, fun colors which punctuate kitchens using colorful combinations of counters, cabinets and the like. Add to this: tiles; multicolored, layered finishes; metallics and glass are new and hugely popular. Everyone is discovering that bright, strong colors on kitchen walls pull all these elements together. The kitchen is where homeowners now experiment with colored walls because there’s a limited amount of wall surface on which to make a mistake.