Muted colors top the list as consumers seek to create calm, nurturing environments.
Americans love the blues. This year they’re looking to create an atmosphere of harmony and tranquility in their homes, and blue delivers. In Ace Hardware’s 2011 consumer color preference study, blues and neutrals were the clear winners, followed by whites and greens (see chart for all results). Blues even showed up as tints in other color families, lending cool tones to greens, whites and grays.
The top three blues are soft, pale shades that convey a sense of calm as well as sophistication. “Pale colors create a serene environment in which people can de-stress and feel comfortable,” says Janet Davidson, marketing manager. “This year, the top picks in all the color families, including reds and purples, were subtle and muted.”
“It’s about creating warmth without weight,” says Davidson. We developed our new Clark+KensingtonTM paint with this kind of sensibility in mind. The palette is understated, and it’s clear from the survey results that consumers are drawn to these types of colors. They want to surround themselves with colors that are nurturing and at the same time optimistic, and desaturated colors are ideal for that purpose.” Another benefit of a restrained palette is that the colors are compatible, she says, “so that no matter which Clark+Kensington colors you combine, the result will be balanced and harmonious.”
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