Color Trends From the 2019 Maison & Objet Design Show

If you’re ready for a change from white, gray or a single bold hue, you’ll like this news out of the Paris trade fair...

Homeowners and designers have been leaning on single colors, like peacock blue or anthracite, to spice up a wall or a whole room for a while. But at this month’s Maison & Objet trade fair in Paris, Houzz editors saw a much subtler use of color, with multiple harmonizing or contrasting hues playing off one another. Since 1995, Maison & Objet has been the international meeting point for professionals in lifestyle, interiors and design. Twice a year, it brings together more than 3,000 exhibiting brands and nearly 90,000 visitors, almost half of whom come from other countries. We visited the Sept. 5-10, 2019, show at the Villepinte Exhibition Center to find talent and identify tomorrow’s trends. As we head into 2020, here are the eagerly awaited color trends.

Photo by DF Habitat

Color Palettes Rather Than Monochrome Looks

Trendy and novel colors like burnt orange, olive green and blood red were well-represented. However, what we really noticed in the aisles of this September 2019 edition of Maison & Objet were the many color palettes. There were very few monochrome booths; many featured subtle color mixes based on analogous harmonies of three to five hues, combining primary and secondary colors, or triadic color contrasts. A triadic color contrast is made up of any three colors that form an equilateral triangle on the color wheel, like the three primaries — blue, yellow and red, as in Mondrian paintings. An analogous harmony refers to the combination of neighboring colors on the color wheel, such as wine red, burnt orange and blood red. These harmonious and contrasting combinations are sure to start appearing on walls soon.

Photo by Екатерина Владимирова

Warm Harmonies of Blood Red, Orange and Mustard

Harmonies of warm and invigorating colors — burgundy, wine red, blood red, burnt orange, mustard and golden brown — create a look that’s sunny, energetic and perfect for revitalizing interiors. These are clearly the novel hues for this year.

Photo by Francesca Pagliai Studio Fotografico

Cool Combinations of Khaki, Yellow-Green, Linden Green and Almond Green Among the cool spectrum, it’s impossible to ignore this combination of shades of green. Fir green, the big color of 2019, still appears here and there, while the new green on the block is tinged with yellow and tends toward being a warmer khaki-olive.

Photo by Eric Gizard Interior Design

We also saw a lot of verdigris, linden green and almond green, which have survived the Scandinavian era. A nod to nature is always welcome in homes.

Photo by Oliver Grahame Photography

Sweet Harmonies of Beige, Taupe, Greige, Honey and Fawn These colors are timeless classics rather than novelties. However, there’s no better way to spice them up than to combine shades of these colors. Taupe (and onward through the spectrum to brown) has made a big comeback, and there are also mustard yellow, fawn and sienna. These reassuring palettes inspire cuddling up under a blanket.

Photo by Madura

Spring Contrast With Khaki Green, Yellow-Green, Pink, Orange and Sienna This edition of Maison & Objet provided the answer to a crucial question: What matches khaki or olive green?

Photo by Ali Attenborough

For kicking these serene colors up a notch, nothing beats powder pink, peach, coral or mustard. These contrasting colors add warmth without being overbearing, like pretty flowers in a meadow. The color schemes create an atmosphere inspired by nature and evoke spring cheer.

Photo by Sunbrella

Classic-Chic Contrast With Bordeaux, Blue-Green, Anthracite and Beige The bordeaux-with-green combination needs to be used with caution. It can easily slip into being a Christmas color scheme, but it changes its register when skillfully matched with olive, linden green, peacock blue, anthracite or beige.

Photo by The Cool Republic

This palette is a surefire way to help create a chic family home.

Delicate Contrast With Blue, Orange and Pink

Photo by AGENCE MARN DÉCO

Among blues, we’re seeing peacock blue, Klein blue and denim step into the limelight. We’ve seen a lot of blue in the past few years, but now blues as a whole seem to be in decline.

Photo by AGENCE MARN DÉCO

At this edition of the fair, we saw a more nuanced approach to blue combinations, with touches of pink, sienna and fawn — which create a less aggressive contrast than orange. This trend is a delicate evolution of the ethereal pink-blue duo that we have seen so much of.

Photo by Farrow & Ball

Earthy Shades Carry On Matte, dull and earthy colors remain trendy, manifesting an affirmation of the desire for nature.

Photo by Georg Jensen Damask

Room for Interpretation And note that the color harmonies and contrasts discussed above work for dark and light colors alike. It’s up to you to choose your combination, whether it’s olive, orange and coral, or almond green, powder pink and peach. Without a doubt, the future promises to be colorful!

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