Color Works LLC

The answer is yes, but with many caveats. The big color trend we are seeing in wallpaper is grays. Gone are the days of the “big yellow flowers with bird” print in your grandmother's bathroom, even though Pottery Barn is losing a lot of their market by trying to revitalize some of these patterns. What we are seeing is wallpaper that looks like faux finish paint, such as the sample above.

In addition, damask prints are back, but they are far from the English countryside patterns you are used to seeing. I have included a new damask print below for you to see a sample of what the latest patterns are looking like. Both the grays and damask prints are also sufficiently conservative to last beyond the "fad" cycle and stand up for a few more years than most trends.

An important note on geography: Most wallpaper in the Southwest is being placed in powder rooms. This helps create a small space, which creates a sense of security when guests are using this little important room. In addition, this rooms does not typically house a tub/shower to emit steam and challenge the glue of the wallpaper. If you are going to use wallpaper in a full bathroom, make sure and use your fan religiously or keep the doors/windows wide open. Many a manufacture will claim that their paper will “stand up to humidity,” but to obtain the best longevity from your wallpaper, make sure and stick by the rule of keeping the area well ventilated with little-to-no steam.

A wide variety of colors are found in nature, which can be invigorating and serve as an inspiration point for the creation of your paint color palette. Rather than focusing on all the various landscapes across our great continent, focus on your part of the country.

Here in the Southwest, you will find cacti greens, bright reds from cacti flowers, the bright pinks of the Bougainvillea, and rich purples found in Lantana. By the same token, the rust color of the dirt found in Sedona and even latte color of the sand on the Valley’s floor provide a great neutral palette. The best part of living in the desert is the ability to bring the outdoors in and indoors out through transitional living.

Regardless of whether you living in a warm climate, how do you create a seamless transition from the exterior to interior of your home? Through the use of color on the largest feature in your home, which is the walls. While you can delve into the deeper shades of the hues mentioned above, you can also choose small percentages of each hue to make a more “quiet” and harmonious palette. A subtle yellow or sage green allows for the perfect merging of nature and your habitat.

Whether you find yourself in Seattle or Saratoga, let the great outdoors be your guide!