Colour is light, travelling to us in waves. When light strikes any object, the object will absorb only the wavelengths that exactly match its own atomic structure and reflect the rest — which is what we see. As such, colour is inescapable.
Science has always recognized the link between colour and human behaviour and there are numerous studies that detail the subject, but many are inconclusive. It is important to understand that there is a great difference between colour psychology and colour symbolism. As well, cultural differences can effect how people determine their reactions to colour.
There are positive and negative associations with all colours. The slightest changes in tone and hue can greatly determine how colour is perceived. For example, gray can be neutral and calming, but also depressing. White can represent purity and cleanliness, but also sterility and coldness. Red can be seen as aggressive, but warm.
For 2018, colour trends from premier paint companies are inspired by nature, modernism and metallic sheens.
Beauti-Tone “Green Peace”
Beauti-Tone has chosen Green Peace as their colour of the year. A colour strongly rooted in nature, Green Peace is an interesting blend of an earthy camouflage green and a soft botanical green.
“As humans, we crave nature. It is there that we slow down, feel connection — become stronger,” said Bev Bell, creative director, Beauti-Tone Paint and Home Products Division, Home Hardware Stores Limited. “Since we can’t always get outside, the solution is to bring aspects of nature into our home to improve our well-being, productivity and creativity.”
PPG Voice of Colour “Black Flame”
PPG unveiled Black Flame as their 2018 choice.
“It acts like a black curtain, allowing your other decor elements to take centre stage,” said Dee Schlotter, PPG senior colour marketing manager. “It’s a fantastic blend of black and indigo, two classic hues. Black creates the silence we crave in an information-heavy world, while the indigo offers possibility and a deep hopefulness. The blend of two colours makes it incredibly versatile — use it on a statement wall, with a matte finish on a ceiling, with high gloss on a naturally-lit staircase, on cabinets, interior and exterior doors and in many more places. The versatile hue can also provide strength and a modern luxe vibe to spaces with a lot of whites, blush pinks and soft pastels.”
According to the colour experts at Pantone, intense colours are back and there are eight palettes that will inspire 2018.
VERDURE: Vegetal colours like celery are combined with berry-infused purples and eggshell blue, symbolic of health, in this palette.
PLAYFUL: Think Minions. Bright yellow, lime popsicle and all other things fun come together for this colour scheme. “People need to stop and smile,” said Pantone Colour Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman.
DISCRETION: Playful’s alter ego. Subtle hues such as elderberry and hawthorne rose offer a new sense of strength. “Pink has developed more power than ever before,” Eiseman said.
FAR-FETCHED: With warm, earthy hues such as corn silk yellow blending with rosy tones, this palette embraces many different cultures.
INTRICACY: A palette of neutral metallics (the new neutrals) with accents of dramatic holly berry red and yellow sulfur.
INTENSITY: This is an eclectic mix of colours that evokes a sense of strength, power and sophistication, all balanced with black and gold.
TECH-NIQUE: Bright turquoise, pink and purple colours anchored with brilliant white and frosted almond are a nod to technology.
Benjamin Moore “Caliente”
Benjamin Moore declared its Colour of the Year 2018 as Caliente, a vibrant, charismatic shade of red.
“Strong, radiant and full of energy, Caliente is total confidence. It is pleasing, passionate and makes people feel special, like ‘red carpet treatment,’ said Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore director of strategic design intelligence. “Whether used as one note or on four walls, the spirited personality of red turns heads, signalling surprise and adventure. The eye can’t help but follow its bold strokes.”
Sherwin Williams “Oceanside”
Sherwin Williams has focused on a relaxing shade of teal for their colour of the year. Oceanside is inspired by travel and the blue-green hue will add an air of mystery and elegance to any space.
“People today have a growing sense of adventure, and it is making its way into even the coziest corners of our homes. We are craving things that remind us of bright folklore, like mermaids and expeditions across continents,” said Sue Wadden, director of colour marketing. “Oceanside is the colour of wanderlust right in our own homes.”
For the past few years, whites and neutrals have ruled the world of paint colour. Behr isn’t one to follow the lead, which is why they named In the Moment as its first-ever Colour of the Year. In it, spruce blue, soft gray and lush green coalesce to evoke a sense of sanctuary and relaxation.
“In The Moment speaks to our society’s desire to disconnect and be present,” said Erika Woelfel, vice president of colour and creative services at Behr. “It crosses multiple design styles — global, coastal, modern — and pairs well with other subdued colours to create harmony for interiors or exteriors.”
SAMANTHA SANNELLA, BFA ID, M ARCH, is a designer, educator and principal at Urban Retreat Homes.
She is an expert in the field of design and construction and is a columnist for RENO & DECOR and editor of the Ontario Design Trade Sourcebook.
Kreoo Dora coffee tables collection, designed by Enzo Berti, consists of 3 models, each with marble or stone top sitting on a brass base. All are characterized by a roundish marble top, coupled with an open circular brass base.
An iconic source for leather and fabric seating and related furnishings since 1948, The Chesterfield Shop is a second-generation family-owned company which has five stores in the GTA and beyond.
Join us for an exclusive preview of 2019 Colour Trends and a peek into 2020 with guest speaker Rosamund Kavander, Board of Director for the Colour Marketing Group (CMG).
This year's Trend Showcase at the Canadian Furniture Show, May 25th to 27th, 2018 boasted a multitude of trends that we will see sweeping the retail industry in 2018 and beyond.
Designers often find themselves buried in administrative work instead of doing what they love, designing beautiful spaces. Luuma makes it easy to plan, organize, and present Projects and Products to your clients, team and trades.
Southport Outdoor Living is a Canadian retailer of quality-crafted outdoor furniture catering to the residential, trade and commercial markets. Southport has been dedicated to the outdoor furniture industry for many years and is a trusted source of customized luxury outdoor furniture, shade, grills, heating and decor.
Beauti-Tone paint is a proud Canadian company, available exclusive to Home Hardware stores across Canada. We manufacture a full range of exceptional high quality products with outstanding value. An extensive colour offering, including exclusive collections from Style at Home, Chatelaine, Simon Chang and Sesame Street. That’s why we are Canada’s paint experts.
Delivering dream kitchens for over 70 years. Caplan’s Appliances is a family-run business that specializes in selling premium appliance brands with a commitment to delivering quality, white-glove service. Our expansive main retail location features a variety of exceptional showrooms, including the Sub-Zero & Wolf "Living Kitchen." Directly across the street on Weston Road, is the Miele Gallery Caplan's, the largest retail centre for Miele appliances in the GTA. Part inspirational gallery, this unique location also features a live kitchen with an on-site chef, creating a unique shopping experience to help guests experience these premium appliances first-hand. We invite you to contact us to book a tour, enjoy a lunch and learn more about Caplan's exclusive trade partner program.
Allan Rug Co. has been serving the GTA builders, designers, architects and the public for over 50 years. Supplying a full range of commercial and residential carpeting in a wide range of colours and styles from leading manufacturers.
Crystal chandeliers, sconces, mirrors, accent furniture and accessories. Visit our 4,000 sq.ft showroom where we are proud to offer the most knowledgeable and courteous staff in the business. Crystal Design and Decor offers quality and value at reasonable prices while providing individualized attention and customer service. Customization also available to suit requirements and design preference.
Furniture Toronto hosts the largest online modern & contemporary furniture collection in Canada. Hundreds of dining rooms, living room and bedrooms available in our showroom. Open 7 days a week. Trade Discounts. Free delivery in the Greater Toronto Area.
Importers, wholesalers to the design trade including hospitality, healthcare, commercial and residential wallcoverings, fabrics, upholstery, drapery, trimmings, and drapery hardware. Custom capabilities for wallcovering, fabrics and hardware. Faux furs and leather also available.
Over the past 14 years Factory Tile Depot has become #1 for everything tile and stone. With 5 locations showcasing the latest and greatest trends in the tile industry, we have built the confidence of trade and retail clients alike. We are proud to offer well thought out showrooms, extensive selections of hard to find tile-stone, on site designers, and some of the best after care support in the industry. Experience the FTD difference on your next project.
We are proud to offer only the highest quality, curated brand name lighting products and keep our customers coming back with services and value that is second to none!
All-electric fireplace showroom and design centre with the largest selection in Toronto and York Region. Combining specialized expertise with over 20 years' interior design experience. On-wall, in-wall, fireboxes, retrofit inserts, mantels, custom cabinetry, stone and brick veneers. Residential and commercial. Trade and volume inquiries always welcome.
Fisher & Paykel incorporates the world’s most innovative technologies and produce the most technically advanced, efficient and contemporary styled appliances. DCS created the first line of high end, commercial quality appliances and expanded to pioneer indoor and outdoor kitchen solutions for the at home chef. TRADE ONLY.
ARD Outdoor is a retail & trade furniture division of the family owned and operated wholesaler Cana-Foam Products, manufacturing in Toronto since 1964. ARD Outdoor provides design professionals a source for quality outdoor furniture featuring innovative design and unique materials.
Bringing you impeccable attention to detail and quality as well as the most luxurious fabrics in the world such as Egyptian cotton, Bamboo, mircomodal and much more. Find everything for your bedroom and bathroom at David’s Fine Linens. New Location opening in Spring of 2018, Centro Square, 7777 Weston Road, Woodbridge Ontario, L4L 1A6.
A premium quality provider of architectural hardware including door handles, knobs, locks, hinges and more. All of our products are produced to the highest quality in brass and zinc materials.
Centurian Window Fashions brings together an exclusive selection of custom shutters, blinds and drapes in a wide range of colour choices. Our showroom provides an extensive selection so you can pick the perfect decor fit for your home. Our one stop shop location is made so you don’t have to go shopping around for different brands at different places.
Canada’s Biggest Paint & Decorating Supercentre! Benjamin Moore, Para, Pittsburgh Paints and more. Paint and Stain matching our specialty. Huge designer wallpaper and fabric library. Faux finishing products, including Venetian plaster, glazes, waxes and milk paints. NEW, we now make custom coloured caulking and spray bombs to any colour in the universe.
The St. Pierre home fashion collection offers a diverse collection of the finest linens and fabrics from around the world. Our goal is to continuously bring you the best in new design patterns, quality and value.
Largest selection of stone in slab and tile form and ceramic tile for residential and commercial projects of any size or style. Specialties including granite, quartz, onyx, mosaic, limestone, slate, marble and porcelain tiles as well as maintenance products. We also offer made-to-measure mosaics that are suitable for all your residential and commercial projects.
Cosentino is a global, family-owned company that produces and distributes high value innovative surfaces for the world of architecture and design, leaders in their respective segments such as Silestone® Quartz surfaces and Dekton® Ultracompact surfaces. Technologically advanced surfaces that create unique designs for the home and public spaces.
Masco Canada Ltd. is the Canadian plumbing division of MASCO Corporation and represents brands including Delta, Brizo, Hansgrohe, Axor, BrassCraft, Master Plumber, and Waltec. MASCO Canada Limited is dedicated to complete customer satisfaction and responsiveness to the unique Canadian marketplace.
Bring sophistication, functionality and handcrafted quality to your home! Stone Edge specializes in the design and production of natural stone kitchen countertops, vanities, fireplace surrounds and tub and shower surrounds. Granite, Marble and Quartz resonate the character of your home, and add that finishing touch that will last a lifetime.
