Seeing red

Color of the year is red and it reflects more confident U.S. consumer sentiment

According to the nation’s top color forecasters, the color red will take center stage in home décor this year. The Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Journal Sentinel recently noted the nation’s three major color predictors selected red—or a related pigment—as the hot hue of 2015:

O  Pantone Color of the Year 2015:  Marsala, a rich red wine tone

O  Color Marketing Group: Burst, a true red

O   Sherwin-Williams: Coral Reef, a mélange of pink, orange and red

“Forecasters think their colors as reflecting current consumer sentiment,” said Pat Bowling, vice president of communications for the American Home Furnishings Alliance. “They think red and its variations show the strength, confidence and stability that people are feeling today in America.”

Aimee Nemeckay, vice president and senior designer of the Fredman Design Group, with offices in Milwaukee and Chicago, suggests consumers introduce red in small ways, such as pillows or accessories on a coffee table or book shelf.

Other trends that experts predict for the year ahead include:

O  Rustic looks with industrial touches, such as corrugated metal

O  Unusual ceiling treatments, from contrasting paint colors to wood flooring

O  Wallpaper, especially large-scale patterns

O  Mixed metals or burnished gold metallics.