Every year, professional forecasters predict the colors that will dominate everything from appliances to fashion to window treatments. By trying to accurately read the "mood" of the country, forecasters note behavioral trends and associated color preferences.

According to Margaret Walch, director of the Color Association of the U.S. "Color is a highly subjective, intuitive, irrational kind of choice. So if you have all the world rushing toward pink, including men, that would be highly indicative of something, such as a wish to return to more secure times. The economy is on people's minds, and you're seeing men wearing that pink Brooks Brothers buttoned-down look from the '50s. Similarly, a current passion for purple, "the color of the mind," reflects the cyberworld of the new millennium."

What's ahead? Top color expert, Leatrice Eiseman reveals what her picks are for the colors you'll see everywhere in 2007. Eiseman is executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and director of the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training and has been selected by Fortune magazine as one of America's top eight decision-makers.

* Simply Elegant: "This is a prime example of the marriage of traditional and modern-day looks, with the unexpected blends of mahogany and silvered mink, silvery blues, elegant purples and deep bronzed tones set off by the glint of pale gold, frosty almond and copper."

* Classic Chic: "Tasteful tones are always in style. Here are glittery looks, a kind of glitz. Gray flannel is the fabric of the year--particularly soft gray. The year 2007 will be going into more grays in housewares and elsewhere. Plus, there's a little ripple of excitement provided by mineralized yellow. A classic palette would not be complete without black and white, often used with cappuccino brown."

* Lumens: "Here are luminous finishes interspersed with multi-faceted hues. In addition, I can't say strongly enough that bright white is a leading trend for 2007. People say white isn't a color, but the human eye perceives it as such. It's a very strong trend in fashion and the bridal industry as well as housewares with personal-care appliances and its concept of hygiene and cleanliness. This is also reflected in the stage musical, 'The Woman in White,' and the films 'The White Countess' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia' with its White Witch. White is a total tranquillizer for a tumultuous world."

* Mlange: "This is flavored by melon, apricot, strawberry and orange. The orange phenomenon is not going away for 2007, but there will be an infusion of blues, a toasty tan, a vibrant poppy red--all well grounded by a rustic khaki."

* Aux Naturale: "These are basic neutral colors, beiges and taupes, denim-like blues and chocolate browns. The kids' market reflect the natural look with browns in the movies, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' 'Curious George' (who is brown), 'Wallace and Gromit' and 'Cars,' in which a brown car is the star. There are also browns in children's clothing and the toy market."

* Grass Roots: "This starts with a variation on a green theme, moving on to mineral blue and various wood tones enhanced by unexpected mixes including grape, rose and terra cotta."

* Fresh Air: "The dictionary defines something fresh as that which is 'refreshingly different from what has been done previously.' These colors are real eye-catchers--vibrant yellow and yellow-greens, purples and violets, sky blues and snowy whites."

* Light Touch: "These are soft colors that many people want in their homes for a 'quieter' look in an increasingly noisy world. Modernizing a pastel palette can be easily done by re-inventing colors and combinations such as foamy aquas and greens, pinks and lavenders, powdery blues, and infusing them with a touch of champagne or a silvery gray."

Thus, color trends for 2007 emphasize a combination of change, transformation, and shift. According to color experts, the calming trend of color over the last few seasons will continue in 2007. The search for the perfect balance between fun and escapism, along with simplicity and moderation, is always a challenge, but the colors of 2007 promise to provide the perfect compromise between the two.

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Article by Payless Decor, your premier source for blinds, curtains, shades, and other window treatments.

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