The threat of global warming has been highlighted by many a TV programs and documentaries. Industries are making their moves to make their products more eco-friendly. Automakers like Toyota, Honda, and Ford are offering gas electric hybrid vehicles to consumers. This trend of going green is also expected to affect other industries as well.
Color Marketing Group, an association of color design professionals from different countries around the world predicted that American consumers will be going green literally in 2008. The group pointed out that the strongest influence to Americans buying trend is the protection of the environment. Thus green will be the color for the year of 2008.
In fact, James Stephens, the executive director of CMG went as far as pointing out that the group has rarely been wrong for more than four decades. He said that the association's members "specify color for everything from paint and furniture to cars and carpets. They track trends several years ahead, and they've rarely been wrong in more than 43 years".
With that track record, the CMG predicted that the year 2008 will be the year that consumers will be wearing and using things that look "green". That includes furniture and fixtures which in one way or another symbolizes going green. According to the group, people will be aiming to project the color green even if they are wearing, or using, or adorning their homes with things that are not of the color green. In short, consumers are expected to go for products which have that "natural" look.
This nature-inspired theme will be visible on furniture which will look more like the stuff that they are actually made of. It means that wooden furniture will be designed with imperfections. These imperfections can come from wood with not so perfect grains. This furniture will also have lots of texture as if it is made and delivered to stores unpolished. Earth colors will be in. Dirty white, linen, and sandy colors as well as soil and rock colors will become fashionable.
With the presidential elections on its way, the color blue will once again be used by candidates and their supporters. Blue has always been linked with trust and it is a favorite by candidates also to show their loyalty to the country. For 2008, the blue that will be fashionable is the color of sky and water. This salute to the blue of sky and water is inspired by environmentalism.
As earth tones will be more fashionable this year, CMG is predicting that consumers will be going for furniture, especially fixtures which are finished in warm tones like mahogany bronze or antique copper. Several furniture and fixtures manufacturer are already using these tones on their products such as chairs.
Since ethnic designs uses earth tones, CMG predicts that the year 2008 will see more focus on ethnic designs surfacing on the design of fixtures and furniture. Native American designs like Comanche and Navajo will be more popular this year. Apart from these, designs from China, India, and Latin America will be more popular in 2008.
About the Author
Chad Isenberg is an antique collector. This 33-year old is based in the Midwest constantly on the road looking for antiques. He is also venturing on his own furniture business. On his free time, he can be found designing new furniture/fixtures.
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