How the Economy can Affect Home Décor Choices
Color Trends are Affected by the Financial Markets
Sep 2, 2009
Color is very emotional. It appeals to our sense of vision in the same way that music appeals to our sense of hearing. And the colors we dress our bodies and our homes in can be greatly affected by our moods.
With the downturn in the economy has come some interesting information about color and home décor. Recently paint company CIL did a study about color trends and came up with some interesting findings.
CIL Paint Color Research Findings
“Our research found that in good economic times, people tend to favor brighter colors, while in difficult economies, more somber hues like white, beige and grey are the preferred choice,” said Jennifer Jones, Marketing Communications Manager of CIL Paints.
The reason for this is fairly simple. According to Jenifer, “During difficult economic times, neutrals are popular because they are safe.” Neutral colors have a calming effect, but that’s not the only reason for explaining these findings. Neutrals are easy to mix and match with other colors and they never go out of style. Therefore, buying a neutral sofa, or painting a house in a neutral color makes people feel more confident and relaxed that they have made a smart, long-lasting decorating decision.
Changes in Color Trends
This information isn’t really new. Throughout history, color choices have always been affected by the economy and the state of things in the world. For example, at the turn of the millennium, there was a lot of fear surrounding Y2K, and what would happen to the economy. People were trying to play things safe. Around that time neutrals were very popular, not just in home décor, but in fashion as well (of course, the two areas often follow the same color patterns). As the fear faded and people started to have confidence once again, colors shifted to brighter hues.
CIL experts expect that as things improve financially, color trends will shift yet again. “We expect to see a move toward colors that are lighter in mood and more optimistic in feeling as people’s spirits lift in response to improved forecasts of the world’s economy,” Jones said. So as things improve, expect to see brighter pieces entering the stores. These changes often occur slowly at first, with items such as pillows, lamps, and other accessories being shown in bright colors, with the big-ticket items like sofas appearing shortly thereafter.
Having said all of this, anyone wanting to lift their mood during difficult economic times should think about decorating with brighter colors. While neutrals have a relaxed and calming effect, bright colors are cheerier and may fill one with a sense of optimism. Painting a room a sunny yellow, bright pink, or aqua blue can be an instant mood lifter. Since painting can be done very inexpensively, it’s a great way to add color. So if you’re feeling a little unsure about spending money on home décor items during difficult economic times but still want a change, paint is a wonderful option.
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