How to translate a color trend into a mood board?

Today I am featuring the final mood board taking part of the three-month challenge we have been offering at the at{mine},community where I share tips&tricks when it comes to structuring and storytelling on your board. We have created a rather new mood board category, too. This time it’s all about

How to translate a color trend into a mood board?

I am just about to finish up my Salone del Mobile 2016 Report (this year I made a comprehensive, in-depth book out of it with more than 100 pages) browsing through hundreds of images. Color is always an important chapter, moreover with quite some changes going on in the color world.

It’s not about single colors anymore, but
  1. brands works with color combinations of 2-3 colors together (see the mood board featured today)

  2. brands use tone-on-tone palettes within one hue

I have to say color spotting is one of my favorite tasks on trade and design shows. As soon as I step on the fairground and start seeing a shade I believe is interesting/new/complementary, I start immediately taking pictures. Whenever I have observed this color three times, I assume, it’s going to be ‘something’. That’s an editorial rule, by the way.

Three times popping up the same style is considered a possible trend.

At the end, I compare all pictures taken and see if I can build a story out of it. Often I go back to see fashion shows for the current season (Spring/Summer 2016) and see if there is a common thread, too.

1// THE STARTING POINT

The starting point was the terracotta-curry check sofa by Moroso being the very first design I saw. I always start with this Italian brand when visiting the fairground. It’s not easy to say who are trend curators today in the Interior Design world, but Moroso is definitely one of them.

Moroso-salone del Mobile 2016

The colors found on this image and confirmed later on, were translated then into a color fan. The range goes from peach and blush to rust, terra-cotta, and now curry and sunflower.

How to translate a color trend into a mood board-Eclectic Trends

 

2// TRANSLATING COLORS INTO MATERIALS

The next step is getting different materials together that express this palette and see how to apply these in paint, fabrics and other surface treatments.

How to translate a color trend into a mood board- Eclectic Trends

Materials via JAB | Akzo Nobel | Farrow&Ball | Auténtico Chalkpaint | NCS | Yutes

3// CREATING THE MOOD BOARD

The former collage is more likely considered as a color or sample board. Since we have not included images so far, we would not call it a ‘proper’ mood board.

How to translate a color trend into a mood board- Eclectic Trends (1)

Images clockwise: &tradition | Moroso | Twils | Bla Station | Dedon | Kettal | Moroso

Integrating now all the images I took on the Salone del Mobile 2016, I can finally explain a story and show how the color trend has been used by several brands.

Make-up colors range from pale pink, to blush and peach. It’s a quite feminine but not a girly statement anymore. The palette looks more grown-up. Terra-cotta and rust resembling iron oxide can look sophisticated if combined with black and gold. Another option is to stick to a more natural palette with khaki and wood colors getting a more rustic look&feel.

At this year’s edition, adding a pop of yellow adds a fresh look and makes sense since the oxide hue is made of yellow, orange and brown. (I believe, orange will celebrate a larger come-back, too.) G, x

 

How about some extra inspiration?

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