The Paint Quality Institute’s interior color trends for 2010

Regardless of the purpose, a fresh coat of paint remains one of the most economical ways to accomplish all three. No matter what paint color is used, homeowners continue to strive for comfortable, tranquil home environments.

“While over-the-top renovations aren’t the norm today, handy homeowners are tackling small manageable home improvements, such as the addition of a morning kitchen to a bedroom or home office,” said Zimmer.

With consumers’ continued desire to create both warm and functional spaces, the Paint Quality Institute’s Good Morning palette consists of hues that are fresh, clean and comfortable. The institute’s color recommendations include honey-like hues such as tan or pale gold; coral; yellow; and mineral gre.

For the Good Night palette inspiration comes from above-the ceiling, according to Zimmer. “Why sleep beneath a lackluster white canopy? Wrap any space with constant color by painting the ceiling in a tint, tone or shade of the wall color or add a softer touch by paring pastel hues,” she said. “From pastels to deep-tones, Good Night hues, as you might expect, are especially useful in bedrooms and baths or to ‘warm-up’ a family space.” Color recommendations include pastel hues, particularly pale blue or shell pink for ceilings; midnight blue; eggplant; and wine.

Lastly, home staging continues to grow in popularity, as property owners look for home sale assistance. For this trend, the Good Bye palette reflects an assortment of simplistic hues that work across a variety of spaces, creating a welcoming first impression and suitable backdrop for any living area, according to Zimmer. “Whether you’re saying ‘good-bye’ to one home or ‘hello’ to another, this classic palette is suitable for all areas and is an especially good choice for foyers, kitchens and family living spaces,” Zimmer said. Color recommendations include khaki paired with crisp white; mid-toned blues; off-white, bisque; and black.

“No matter which hue attracts attention this year, consumers continue to have an increased appreciation for paint quality and value,” Zimmer said.

The Paint Quality Institute was formed by Rohm and Haas Company (now a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company in 1989 to educate people on the advantages of using quality interior and exterior paints and coatings. The Paint Quality Institute’s goal is to provide information on the virtues of quality paint as well as color trends and decorating with paint through a variety of vehicles, including television appearances, newspaper and magazine articles and instructional literature.