Anticipating a Boost for Navy

Color studies done in the early 1940’s, and repeated many times since, confirm that blue is North America’s favorite color family. And why not? Blue has high appeal for both men and women. Another interesting fact is that the degree of preference for blue is high from the start. It increases a bit from childhood to adulthood, and then it takes a giant leap when we’re about 70 years old.

Navy blue has been on every decorating short list since Pantone named Classic Blue their 2020 color of the year. Now that 2020 has also turned into the year of the pandemic, I’m anticipating another big navy surge.

For at least the coming two years, I believe that consumers of every age will reach for decorating options that help them feel safe and grounded. Navy is the perfect choice. That’s because navy is seen as familiar, reliable and time-tested. It is as comfortable in traditional and global designs as it is in contemporary and transitional ones. It works for everyday and holiday assortments, too. Navy’s color-of-the-year endorsement is just the icing on the cake.

Whether teamed with white in patterns that feel porcelain-inspired, paired with watery blues in a coastal looks, used alongside gold metallic in designs with an incoming mystic sensibility or with black in Art Deco geometrics, navy-inspired blues will be indispensable for home interiors as consumers deal with the emotional toll of the pandemic.

To read more of my trend forecasts for color and design, follow @trendcurve on Instagram or LinkedIn.