Earthy elements

While the green movement is growing, colors will follow suit in 2009, but with a less literal spin.

“Environmental concerns are on everyone's mind, there is not a corner you can turn without seeing the word 'green,' hear about global warming or some other issue that is impacting the world we live in,” said Leslie Harrington, director of The Color Association. “With this in mind, colors of the earth continue to be strong, not just neutrals, but stronger more chromatic colors that many do not think of as nature inspired.”

The Color Association's take on this palette is a mineral-inspired grouping called Rock Crystal and includes cool, ethereal colors such as shimmering grays, off-whites and slate blues. “We all are looking to make sure we do our part, and the colors of the environment are popular as a result of this increased awareness,” Harrington said.

Pantone Color Institute's palettes focus on reinventing color as “consumers continue to be more thoughtful than ever about what they are buying and the impact their choices are having on the world around them,” said Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman.

Breathe Easy is a Pantone palette that reflects the need to hold onto what we have in the world around us, Eiseman said. “Everyday concerns, not the least of which is environmental, plead the need to find a place of respite and relaxation — to unwind and rewind.

Cool tones invoke this calming effect the best, creating “thoughts of breathing easily, a constant reminder of the clear, clean blues found in a cloudless sky, sparkling over a blue-green body of water,” she said. Breathe Easy incorporates pure bright white and variations of the blue theme, including deep ocean and Provence blues, she said. Garden greens, muted vegetal yellow-green and the introduction of blue purple for a meditative tone, permeate this palette.

Trend Curve Senior Editor Michelle Lamb said green's manifestation will be seen in an array of blues. With a major focus on water, look for shades of clean watery blue, sapphire, peacock blue, navy and washed denim to be big, she said. Greens will go cool with the exception of a bright, neon hue called Laser Lime, she said.

Pictured in a Nordstrom's advertisement, the structured Yves Saint Laurent handbag is drenched in deep ocean blue.

A reversed relief glazing technique is used to create the subtle floral patterns on the Angelica table lamp from Currey & Company, showcasing an Azure finish and Ivory linen shade.

Botanical designs flitter across a pillow from Surya in deep tones of blue and varying shades of green.