Bright Paint Colours for 2010:

The nice surprise about the new trend colour forecast for 2010 is that there is actually COLOUR on its way! We've had many years of beige, chocolate brown and taupe as the trend colours in home decor. Those colours are now taking a step back and allowing beautiful bright oranges, blues and greens to emerge into the home.

Perhaps it has a lot of to do with our mending economy or the amazing colour we saw while watching the Olympics, but I know that I am certainly ready to add a little vibrancy to my beige walls!

There are many questions that people have about incorporating colour into their homes. Here are answers to a few popular questions that I get asked quite often:

How can I incorporate a strong colour into an open-concept home?

Paint just one wall a strong colour; that wall could run the length of the main floor of your house, or simply be a small return wall. Make sure that the other walls are painted a neutral colour that compliments your focal wall's colour. In other words, if you paint one focal wall of colour, chances are you will have to paint all the other walls a neutral that works with the bright colour.

Do all of my trims have to be the same colour throughout my house?

In most cases, you choose one trim colour (usually a version of white) to go everywhere. You can change up your trim colour in a separate room (where the door can be closed; like a bedroom, bath or kitchen). When painting the walls a very dark or bright colour, then try to use a dull, creamy or pale grey trim colour to minimalize the contrast.

Should the ceilings always be white in a room using a strong wall colour?

I always suggest that ceilings be painted white. A white ceiling is classic; if you tire of the wall colour, it's then much easier to paint it a new colour and not have to paint the ceiling again.

Here is a list of my favorite colours for 2010:

• Cedar Green, 2034-40: Fresh, crisp and inviting, this green helps to update and add life to all those lighter-toned neutrals in the home. Crisp white trims will give this colour its life and make it 'pop' on the walls.
• August Morning, 2156-40: A cheery, mid-tone orange with a bit of yellow to create a happy, yet sophisticated ambiance. Helps to update tired golden wood tones in flooring, cabinetry or furniture. Looks great in kitchens, bath and guest rooms.
• Opaline, OC-33: A warm but slightly drab grey, this colour will add calm to any room. A great colour to help cool-down all the golden-beige colours we've collected in our decorating schemes over the past years and helps us introduce grey colours into a room with ease.
• Violetta, AF-615: Rich, elegant and luxurious colour that when teamed with chocolate brown and deep grey can look masculine, while matched with pale pinks, greens and soft neutral tones, can take a feminine side. This colour instantly updates all the chocolate brown furnishings that have been so popular over the past few years. It's hip, yet elegant.
• Blueberry, 2063-30: A vibrant and lux blue that isn't too dark. A colour that will easily update gold, white, black or red furnishings to give a room the elegant look of Hollywood Regency. I suggest using paint finish with a lot of shine for a glamorous look.
• Claret Rose, 2008-20: A vibrant paint colour that looks great in a small room like a library, den or dinette area. Choose a beige, green or grey trim colour as bright white will add too much contrast. This colour will jazz up existing furniture colours like brown, green or grey.

Here are some infamous colour matches to keep your walls in classic high-style:

• Tiffany Box turquoise: Baby Boy Blue 2056-50
• Gucci Purse brown: Alexandria Beige HC-77
• Elizabeth Arden red: Neon Red #2087-10
• Avatar blue: Electric Blue #2061-40
• Hermes orange: Rumba Orange 2014-20

All colours quoted on today's blog are from Benjamin Moore Paints (www.benjaminmoore.ca)

COME VISIT ME IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO!

Going to be in South Western Ontario this weekend? I will be talking trends, easy home decor ideas AND answering your decorating dilemmas at the Ideal Home and Garden Show on Saturday, March 6th and 7th. Please visit www.idealhomeandgarden.ca for more times and location. I hope to meet you there!

Got a question, comment or segment suggestion for Karl? Email us at homedecor@ctv.ca.