Refreshing the Palette

Every year, paint companies and trend forecasters roll out their predictions for what's on the color horizon. The past couple of years have been dominated by "spa colors" of watery blues and greens, with splashes of melon and a blush of pinks. Teal blue and sable brown have been widely paired, particularly by traditionalists, as have creams and sage, and many brews of latte. The more adventuresome have jolted rooms with shades of orange, purple and the still-lingering lime.

January and February - when it's too cold to garden or start exterior improvements - is prime time for interior design projects, "especially now that the paints are more low-odor. It's a good pick-me-up," says Peggy Van Allen, color marketing manager for Pratt & Lambert Paints.

So, in the hopes of getting a heads-up about trends, we asked eight companies that manufacture and market paint what shades will be ascendant in 2006. As the color wheel spins again, their predictions spatter in all directions.
-- Annie Groer