Dulux Trade announces its Colour Future findings for 2009

Dulux Trade has published this year's international colour trend guide, Colour Futures 2009, strengthening the paint specialists' position as the UK's leading expert on colour.

Compiled every year, the Colour Futures guide is the amalgamation of ongoing research, by leading colour consultants and specialists from across the globe, into the latest trends in colour and design.

Based on their research and predictions for 2009, the colour consultants also identify the colour that is the most representative or predominant in their research as the Colour of the Year. This year, in both exterior and interior decoration, jade green will have an important part to play. Dulux Trade has identified a particular shade of cool jade which has a sense of stillness, healing and balance. It works equally well with glass, steel and concrete as well as in a softer setting with warm colours such as plum, terracotta and nude pink.

It is one of our strengths that we can bring together leading global consultants with experts at ICI Paints and identify developing worldwide themes, highlighting new colours and trends.

By reviewing these trends, Colour Futures 2009 introduces readers to five lifestyle themes and accompanying colour palettes that can be used to create inspiring and contemporary colour schemes for interior design. Amongst the five themes identified for 2009 are Ecotecture, the dominant trend for 2009, and Equilibrium.

Ecotecture examines the relationship of a building to its inhabitants, focusing on sustainable, environmentally friendly construction and design. As an eco solution for a clean and green environment, it considers the structural impact of design and draws on the interweaving of man-made and natural elements, creating structures that are better not only for the ecosystem but also positively impact on those who live or work within.

Within the Ecotecture palette shades of olive and willow, aquatic blues and greens, sit comfortably alongside the slate greys, straw and stone colours of natural construction materials.

A second theme, Equilibrium, has been born from a new attitude to life and leisure, based on spending time with the family as well as also finding time for yourself. As a result, Equilibrium's colour palette is soft and gentle with colours such as jasmine, rose, moss and mint.

Indeed, many of the trends we predict from 2009 see a move towards colours that are soft and understated, but which still have very strong links to the built environment, our natural landscape and natural craft materials.

The three other themes identified by Colour Futures are: White Dimensions, a futuristic, highly engineered theme with a palette made up of chalky whites and muted shadowy shades; Living Legacy, a theme with a colour palette that is rich and varied with botanical shades enlivened by contemporary 'techno' tones; and Playhouse, which is all about fun in functionality. The Playhouse palette is full of vibrant, saturated shades of coral, kiwi and fuchsia, played off against softer graphite, ecru and khaki colours.

Colour Futures is an inspiring source of information for architects and designers featuring a wide spectrum of expertise and trend spotting, taken from sectors so diverse as design, fashion, retail and architecture. It's a fantastic collection of work and I'm sure the 2009 guide will prove as popular as its predecessors, concludes Ann.