As we launch headfirst into the next decade, color trends reflect our changing values and rapid advances in technology. There is a renewed focus on design and what it can do to fulfill human emotional needs — with color as a pivotal element.

Our feature article forecasts how these factors play into the top color trends for 2010 and beyond. We’ll look at distinctive ways of pairing colors and using patterns to give meaning to a space.

And, for the first time, we’re giving you a glimpse into European color trends, with a report from the frontlines of some of the most respected international design shows: Maison & Objet, Heimtextil and Ambiente. We’ll explore the eclectic Continental influences that are shaping the way colors are being used around the globe.

Also in this issue, we’ll look at how VOC levels can be a misleading factor when it comes to determining paint’s eco-efficiency. We’ll also explain VOCs and their traditional purpose in paint. Most importantly, we’ll give you special factors to consider when determining which paint best meets the performance requirements of the job, with the least potential for adverse impacts.

Finally, if you’ve ever found yourself with leftover paint or not enough paint, you’ll want to read our article on estimating paint coverage, which outlines helpful tips and measurements to consider before stocking up on supplies for a job. Here’s to 2010 and the changes ahead. May you be in style, eco-efficient and on budget!

Sincerely,

Sara McLean
Color Marketing Manager, Dunn-Edwards Corporation
Allied Member ASID, CMG

Innovation, globalism and social movements are tinting the modern design palette. Some trends offer a subtle variation on past styles, while others have changed dramatically. In Color ’10, we’ll explore the use of patterns as a key element that gives stability and reassurance in these fast-moving times.

Read on! (Low-resolution 1.89MB)

Designers at the recent Maison & Objet design show in Paris churned out an impressive array of innovations and displays, hinting at a new vision for European style and color trends. Likewise, participants in Germany’s Ambiente show enthusiastically embraced themes of innovation and eco-sustainability.

At Heimtextil in Frankfurt, explorations of hue, texture and philosophy painted a fresh forecast for international style. We’ve compiled their collective efforts and will examine some of these European trends and their influence on color.

A return to community, the outdoors and education mark heightened priorities for 2010 and beyond. Combine this with a surge in population and increased urbanization and the widespread demand for “home as a retreat” becomes clear.

In design, the combination of chaotic andorderly elements provides visual interest and a symbolic map for stability. Bohemian styles are up-trending, incorporating elements from Eastern Europe, Russia, India and the Asian countries that bridge them like Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Moorish, gypsy and South American elements surface along with grillwork motifs to convey global themes.

Internationally, eco-perspectives influence the use of weathered and reused wood materials, twisted forms and organic shapes. And, as a nod to rebirth and recovery, flowers sprout up in decor, especially tulips and chrysanthemum blossoms.

Hearkening back to the anti-industrialism trend of the 1970s, designs are drawing significant inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement, symbolizing a return to handmade, personalized items, as well as slower, more thoughtful processes. Lace becomes reinterpreted in many forms, a wink to more leisurely times when etiquette and kindness were kings.

As these trends develop, they influence a new spectrum that speaks to global yearnings for harmony, reflection and personal fulfillment. Although perceptions of hue, saturation and brightness are subjective and determined by cultural, religious and personal factors, there are some effects that have universal meaning. Across the board, colors are chosen for their impressions on the psyche and their ability to make a statement and, in general, they are expected to do more for a space than ever.


Durable products, timeless design and recycled materials mark big trends at Ambiente in Frankfurt, Germany.

With navy and black as anchor colors, palettes deepen to dark and dramatic hues, providing weight and a feeling of safety. The old standby combination of black and white is down-trending, with preferences reaching more toward the simplified drama of pure black schemes.

Hinting at more abundance to come, lush colors make their way onto the scene. Purple is still a favorite — from pastel tints to clean and saturated violets — though it peaks in 2010 and then diminishes to make way for burgundy, berry, rose, mauve and wine. Reds of all kinds are showing up in warmer tones, with coral demanding more attention. A symbol of love and playfulness, hot pinks find themselves up-trending once again.

Blue provides clarity and tranquility with the emergence of crisp hues like ocean; glacier; aqua; and a cleaner, warmer turquoise. Look for periwinkle and denim to take prominence closer to 2011.

With a passion for environmental issues, it’s no surprise that the international community continues to incorporate green colors in design schemes. But deeper concerns give rise to richer compositions, with apple green, grass, shamrock and peacock fading from the horizon. While evergreen was the dark green of choice for intense color combinations, it is losing favor for more profound jewel tones like forest, fern, emerald and nori.

A brighter yellow conveys a figurative “light” at the end of the tunnel, and it provides visual contrast when used with blacks and grays. Popular hues include natural lime, marigold and mustard.

Often considered a “happy” color by psychologists, orange promotes self-esteem and the capacity to forgive. Lighter hues like peach, purported to help restore energy, are gaining prevalence.

Neutrals continue to provide a much needed middle ground, with gray growing increasingly popular, especially in warm tones. White gradually exits center stage to make way for browns, particularly beige with yellow-green overtones and hues such as toast and mushroom.

Unifying many of these color trends is a theme of balance. Whether it’s eclectic, Bohemian, crafty or subdued, the hues reflected in a space can unify elements by visually tying them together — or even pointing out their differences (creating a sense of unity from diversity). And, when the world outside feels out of control, the need for internal order is universal. With the right combination of carefully chosen colors, equilibrium is restored and problems appear more manageable. Perhaps Maison & Objet’s exhibit, “Antidotes, a 3-step itinerary”, described it best, “Faced with a disoriented world wavering from crisis to crisis, the home has become, now more than ever, a safety valve that leaves us dreaming of better living.”

As the green building trend continues to grow, architects, designers and builders are striving to create environmentally responsible structures that provide healthy places to live and work. This trend has generated greater demand for green building materials and products with higher eco-efficiency. Green paints are often rated on the basis of their volatile organic compound (VOC) solvent contents, generally measured as grams of VOC per liter of coating.

The amount of VOC in paint, however, is only a small part of the product’s overall eco-efficiency. When we look at the bigger picture, we can see that paint is inherently eco-efficient. Paint not only improves the visual quality of our built environment but, more important, it protects and preserves the substrates to which it is applied. Consequently, less energy and material resources are needed to maintain, repair or replace structures and their components.

Exterior paint resists the damaging effects of wind, rain and sunlight, preventing the deterioration of wood, metal and masonry so that buildings last longer and require less maintenance. Painting the exterior with light colors can even keep a building cooler, reducing the amount of energy consumed by air conditioning. Interior paint resists soiling, staining, wear and surface abrasion — which helps keep homes and workplaces clean and sanitary without excessive use of detergents and water.

The key to eco-efficiency of paint involves both what is in the paint — to achieve optimum performance — and what is not in the paint, to avoid adverse impacts on the environment and human health and safety. One drawback to using VOC content as an indicator of environmental acceptability is that it relates only to the amount, not the kind, of VOC in a product. Different VOCs have widely diverse properties, as well as various environmental and health effects.

For example, most paint manufacturers use ethylene glycol (EG) as a solvent in waterborne “latex” paints, even though EG is listed as a hazardous air pollutant and toxic air contaminant. Exposure to EG vapors may cause irritation to eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and EG may provoke allergic reactions. More than 25 years ago, Dunn-Edwards removed EG from all its products and substituted a non-toxic alternative, propylene glycol.

Given the concerns about certain VOCs, why aren’t all paints zero-VOC? Different paints are made for different purposes. The main appeal of zero-VOC paint is the lack of odor when used indoors. This characteristic can be important when painting is done in occupied buildings or around people with odor sensitivities. It may be less important, however, when performance is a greater concern. The VOC solvents used in latex paints work together with resins (the “glue” that holds the paint together and sticks it onto the wall) to achieve better performance in various ways, such as better flow and leveling, touch-up, hardness, abrasion resistance and stain resistance.

Formulating any paint is a balancing act — and trade-offs are generally involved, as one property may be enhanced at the expense of another property. To achieve the low-odor advantage of zero-VOC paint, some limitations in performance must be accepted. While zero-VOC paint may be equal to conventional paints in some performance measures, it is less in others. For example, Dunn-Edwards zero-VOC Ecoshield Interior Flat Paint has excellent scrub-resistance, but provides less stain resistance and soil release than our standard premium interior flat, Decovel. Accordingly, we recommend Ecoshield primarily for interior surfaces that are not located in high-traffic areas subject to excessive wear and tear. When used in appropriate areas, however, the durability of Ecoshield approaches that of conventional latex paint.

The best paint for any specific application is the one that best meets the performance requirements of the job, with the least potential for adverse impacts. That is eco-efficiency in a nutshell. But eco-efficiency also extends beyond the product, to the processes used in manufacturing and distribution. At Dunn-Edwards, we’re proud that, for decades, we have implemented best practices that reduce waste, avoid pollution and boost energy efficiency.

With a view toward continuous improvement, we invest heavily in research and development efforts to achieve even greater eco-efficiency in our products and we are constantly seeking new ways to be greener throughout our operations. Green is the color we choose to paint our world. Let us help you find your shade of green, too.

There is nothing more frustrating than running out of paint just as you’re about to finish a job. Likewise, having a lot of paint left over and no place to store it can be equally aggravating. Fortunately, estimating precisely how much paint you need for a project is fairly easy — all it takes is a few, quick calculations.

Take Measure

The first thing you need to do is get accurate measurements of the areas to be painted. If you’re painting a wall, measure the height and the width of the wall, then multiply. So a wall that measures 8 feet high by 12 feet wide is 96 square feet. If all four walls of the room are the same, multiply by four, which gives you 384 square feet. The 12-by-12 ceiling adds another 144 square feet, for a total of 528 square feet.

Most walls have doors or windows that are generally not painted. If there’s just a single window or door, you can leave it out of your calculations. If there are several windows or a door and a window or any other large item, such as a fireplace, you need less paint. In that case, just measure the lengths and widths of these non-painted areas to get the square footage then subtract that from your overall surface figures.



Paint Coverage

Look at the paint can label to find the spread rate — for most paints it’s around 300 to 400 square feet per gallon. Divide the total surface area to be painted by the spread rate to determine the number of gallons you need per coat. There are several factors — including the color you’re painting over, the condition of the walls and the type of paint you’re using — that dictate how many coats of paint you’ll need.

For instance, you probably need at least two coats of paint if you are trying to cover a dark color with a lighter one, or vice versa. Also, some surfaces that are heavily textured or very porous absorb much more paint and, thus, require a second coat to give a uniform performance.

Depending on the condition of the surface, a coat of primer may be necessary. If it is in good condition with well-preserved paint, you probably only need to wash it off and sand away any gloss. Primer won’t be necessary unless the new color is dramatically lighter. You should use a primer coat when the painted surfaces are deteriorated. This is especially the case if the substrate (i.e. wood, masonry, metal) is exposed. If you are using a latex paint over an oil-based paint, the best practice is to prime first.

Other Factors

The quality of tools used for painting can also affect paint coverage. High-quality rollers and brushes not only provide the right amount of paint but do so in a uniform manner that saves paint, time and trouble. It’s a good idea to check with your supplier for recommended applicators.

The time you need to complete a paint project can vary widely. Some people work faster than others, and some are perfectionists. On average, you can figure on covering about 120 feet of flat surface in an hour. For wood and plaster surfaces, slightly less. An average 12-by-12-foot room should take around four hours, including all detail and trim work; a second coat will go on faster.

It's a good idea to buy slightly more paint than a project requires just to save yourself extra trips to the store. Buying all the paint at once — and mixing it all before you start — also assures color consistency. And, if you have a little leftover paint, you’ll be prepared for the occasional touch-up job before it’s time to paint again.

For more information on choosing a quality paint, call (888) DE PAINT.