As an increasing number of homeowners remodel, revamp, and spruce up their homes, color remains a key ingredient for creating moods, feelings of openness and coziness, and a way of conveying expression and personality.

Home color trends constantly change, and remodeling experts say that color plays a larger role today than ever. Homeowners want excitement in their homes, and a color change can sometimes inspire a full remodeling project, according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. But you need to think long-term when choosing colors.

"It is a basic economic trend; colors in the home improvement industry need to have longevity, compatibility and be aesthetically pleasing," said Kevin McNulty, executive vice president of NARI. "Unlike fashion, your color choices for the home don't change from season to season. They must endure, yet still make a statement about who you are as an individual."

So, in order for colors to blend in with the other items in the room, the home industry has responded with colors that they say are fresher, more optimistic, and take on a softer and more soothing tone.

For example, yellows are becoming popular for their warmth and comfort.

The Color Marketing Group, a not-for-profit association of 1,600 color designers who forecast colors for all industries, including home and architectural, says colors this year are lighter, softer, and more complex.

"The technology revolution continues to accelerate the pace at which color evolves in the marketplace," said Color Marketing Group President Hall Dillon. "While blue will maintain its enviable position as the most important color of the decade, orange is foreseen to the hue of optimism and happiness in 2002."

Meanwhile, another company that specializes in color forecasting, Pantone Inc., echoes what CMG is seeing. Specifically, if you'll be shopping for home furnishings into 2003, you'll see a lot of calming and comforting colors.

"The overall forecast for 2003 is one of more muted, traditional and classical shades," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Color Institute, a company that specializes in color communication and technology for a range of industries.

She said that people are turning to their homes as havens, spending more time there and looking at their home as a source of comfort.

"In terms of color, that means shades that are traditional and classic, not flashy or trendy," she said.

That doesn't mean there isn't some vibrancy, she said. More daring colors will be popular, but against a backdrop of more classical, conservative colors.

But if forecasts and trends are more than you need to know, you can't go wrong by following basic color principles.

For instance, Lowe's offers the following tips when deciding on color:

Published: July 15, 2002

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