(NC)-If you're hesitant about taking the plunge to paint your rooms or even one wall with a vibrant hue, colour blocking - painting one or two colours in varying-sized 'blocks' on a wall - offers you a safe option. The technique is commonly referred to as adding a "punch" colour because of its ability to bring an extreme colour spark to your décor without being overwhelming.
"Colour blocking is the hottest trend right now as it opens up a whole new perspective about colour in a space," said Dominique Pépin, Senior Brand Manager of Sico and a Chairholder of the international colour forecaster Color Marketing Group.
"For example, you can create horizontal movement by painting the base of a wall a different colour. Or extend the line of a low table by painting a different colour zone from the top of the table up to the ceiling. With the right combination of colours, such as a mix of both light, and punch or dark colours, colour blocking can even take the place of artwork."
Pépin says that colour blocking can also be a great way to ease into the extreme colour theme that is emerging in today's décor. "The extreme theme is a license to have fun with home décor," she adds. "From painting a room with multiple shades of white, to using extremely punchy colours, such as sunny yellow and clover green or extremely dark hues such as the new off-blacks, to mixing light, vibrant and dark colours, the extreme décor possibilities are exciting and limitless."
If your home is an endless array of beige and grays don't worry, all you need is a touch of the latest extreme colours to punch it up. "The extreme theme can easily be incorporated into a neutral-coloured home gradually, by painting only one wall a dark or punch colour," Pépin suggests.
Among Sico's popular punch colours for 2008 - influenced by vibrant, exotic global colours from such countries as China, India and the Middle East - are Mururoa (6003-42), a sporty sky-blue; Dark Forest Green (6128-84), a vibrant clover green; Saxon Cobalt (6010-73), an energetic cobalt blue; and Echinacea Flower (6033-83), a raspberry magenta.
According to Pépin, the hottest Sico punch colour is predicted to be Rice Vinegar (6097-54), a vibrant sunny yellow that pairs well as an accent with new dark architectural grays. For larger surfaces, yellows like Sico's curried spicy yellow Toasted Almond (6115-64), will be big in the coming year. More information and advice on Sico's 2008 colour palette can be found visiting www.sico.ca.