2015 Sherwin Williams Colormix

This year's Sherwin-Williams Colormix conference held at the Houston Showroom gave a glimpse of what's to come in the design world in 2015 concerning color schemes, concepts, and ideas for interior environment looks. Design concepts and color schemes seem to be moving more toward the natural and ethereal, with a little edge. It feels progressive and modern while also classy with some vintage. The eclecticism and contrast of themes makes for new, innovative ways of creating interest. 

The "Crystalis" palette is all about creating an oasis of sorts for the busy, modern body that seeks a vacation and a soothing place of escape. Not only in color, though, we see this trend emerge with raw, transformative, and organic forms in furniture, wall coverings, accessories, and fabric. A couple of the biggest sights seen this past summer season in everything from runway fashions to skateboarding shoes to backpacks was marbling - the concept of something looking as if it were taken straight from a marble tabletop whose colors had been melted down and transferred, or perhaps watercolor paints twisted and smeared all over the place. Even more prominent was and still is the ombre trend. With it's beginnings in tye-dye and hippie-culture, ombre has made a huge comeback mainly in the form of a colorful hairstyle, but also all over interior furnishings and elsewhere. Reminiscent of the colors and qualities of a sunset, it's been a perfect trend among the surf culture and continually laid-back feel of interior design.   This, along with the marbling elements, are ideas of which both attribute their well-deserved popularity to their original, serene and organic qualities.

Along with the urge to return to organic elements and raw forms, is the idea of optimism and growth in a new era. Through social media platforms and the ability to research, we now know that opposite of what TV and older generations may teach us, that there are so many things happening in the modern world to be happy about. This new optimism among the youth in the world brings about the love for all things resilient and beautiful. Not only bright florals, but the interest and motifs of tropical climates reiterate the concept of escape and the curiosity of a new generation. These unique and bold floral patterns symbolize a new way of doing things and seeing things. It's been overwhelmingly decided, however, to go beyond mere depictions of the natural world; to incorporate green spaces and elements into our interiors and our cities all throughout and in unrestrained ways

With a continuation of the idea of escape and travel comes the "Voyage" palette. With the evolution of technology, we are no longer confined to our everyday plane. Space tourism and undersea resorts are no longer a thing of the past, and our design concepts should reflect these forward leaps. With major cosmic events making their way back around, our focus is on the skies and beyond. We look to these otherly places for colorful inspiration - supernatural shades and high-tech hues that shimmer and glisten.

Modern sophistication is no longer defined by perfect catalog homes and minimalist factory-made goods. There's an uprising in the design world characterized by an influential subculture wanderlust, travel, and celebration of other cultures and other trades. Anyone who hasn't noticed the aztec, bohemian patterns and colors in emergence since 2012 has been living under a rock, but it goes beyond accessories and trendiness. Designers and regular homemakers have been looking for inspiration all over the globe, fusing a nomadic, care-free spirit with modern sophistication, and upscale artisan purveyors are getting the hint. From fashion to furniture, designers are mixing luxury fabrics with artistic and unconventional colors and patterns to add their free-loving touch to this bold new world. 

I hope this post has inspired you to try something new. Whether it's a new color in your space, new vibe in your wardrobe, or elsewhere, and that you will have an unstoppable spirit of boldness come 2015! Cheers!

x-J