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Find Out Which Color is the 2013 Color of the Year!

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Cherry Creek - Denver

One of the more interesting aspects of selling real estate as well as planning interior design is the choice of wall-color inside a room. Each year, Benjamin Moore chooses a Color of the Year from their elegant palette and here is this year's winner: Lemon Sorbet 

If you have ever tried to choose the best shade of yellow, you will soon realize that less is more when it comes to this beautiful choice.  Actually, most tones of sunshine tend to be one of the more challenging colors for homeowners to accurately select. Here is one reason why:  

As with any wall-color choice, the lighting of the room makes a difference when it comes to determining the desired tone and effect.  When light streams through a window, it often creates an unintended brightness which can be overwhelming. The same is true if there is not enough light and can make a color look rather drab. It makes sense, right?

There have been many homes I've viewed where owners have attempted to incorporate various shades of yellow. All too often, the effect is that of a yield sign or simply put, the color of Big Bird!  While a Tuscan shade of gold can be very rich, the traditional style of color trends are moving towards shades and tones which provide a more calming and lighter feeling overall.

A benefit of this worldwide trend with lighter shades of interior color is that this palette tends to be quite peaceful.  After a long day of work or fighting traffic perhaps...more and more each day we seek tranquility. What better way to mentally chill-out than choosing a comforting color for your walls...  

Take a look and let me know what you think!


Benjamin Moore 2013 Color of the Year:  Lemon Sorbet

Click photo below to view additional color trends

Kathleen Garvey - Color of the Year 2013

 

Kindest Regards,

Kathleen

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Mary Stewart
HomeTrust Real Estate, LLC, Homes for Everyone - Wilsonville, OR
Wilsonville and Surrounding Portland Metro Areas

Yellow of various shades has always been one of my favorite colors, and here at home we lived with it for many years, and changed it out this year.  It is a good color choice as it shows in your photo, not one I would choose again however after living with a similar yellow for many years. Feels sort of peaceful or cheery but not warming to me.

Nov 16, 2012 12:28 AM
Travis "the SOLD man" Parker; Broker/Owner
Travis Realty - Enterprise, AL
email: Travis@theSOLDman.me / cell: 334-494-7846

"Lemon Sorbet"....ok. A new version of yellow for me. Thanks for the link (click photo) which goes to some good videos.

 

Nov 16, 2012 01:15 AM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Nice color, soft and contrasts beautifully with other shades of blue, gray and green. You inspired me to paint my office with walls of lemon sorbet and evening dove. I hope it looks great after it's painted.

Nov 16, 2012 01:38 AM
Kathleen Garvey
HomeSmart Cherry Creek - Denver - Denver, CO
Denver's Neighborhood Expert - Listings & Sales

Such a lovely group of comments...thank you!! It's always a special treat to be featured on Active Rain because it allows more members to take a peek and read a post which otherwise might be missed.

With intention, I chose to write about the color yellow because we all have seen varied shades of the color...and mostly done in shades/tones which either lean toward being too bright, too green-y or just plain awful! Hahaha...right?

This lighter shade of yellow can be used on many levels.  Whether it's on the walls (my preference) or paired along with white or other neutrals as an accent...it provides an elegant background to show off the more interesting features in a room. (Trim-work, furnishings...even family members & friends can become the focus in the room!)

In general, I think most people want to feel relaxed when they walk into a home..whether it's their own or one which a buyer might consider purchasing. Having the proper shade of a color makes all the difference, don't you think?

Thank you again for such fabulous comments...!! Best always, Kathleen

Nov 16, 2012 01:39 AM
Kathleen Garvey
HomeSmart Cherry Creek - Denver - Denver, CO
Denver's Neighborhood Expert - Listings & Sales

Soon...I think I'll write another blog which will highlight how we can most effectively use color and incorporate it with the architectural style of a property. Contemporary vs transitional traditional vs traditional.  Keep an eye out for it!! :)

Nov 16, 2012 01:47 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Last Spring I painted a room yellow - and being very conservative, went too far. Sure just looks white to me!

In contrast, years ago I painted a room in a shade of peach. I can't tell you how many times I went to switch the light off in that room when there was no light on. It glowed all on its own.

I agree - Lemon Sorbet is a nice shade.

Nov 16, 2012 03:19 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Kathleen,  Actually, I like it !  At first I thought it was a bit too passive but it should work well.

Nov 16, 2012 03:56 AM
Ron Aguilar
Gateway Mortgage Group - Saint George, UT
Mortgage & Real Estate Advisor since 1995

that is a very safe color to use

Nov 16, 2012 07:12 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Not sure if it is my cup of tea but certainly yellow is a color that makes most people smile.

Nov 16, 2012 08:49 AM
EMILIA B COOPER, REALTOR® SFR.NCHSE.AHWD
LAROSA REALTY - Orlando, FL
Short Sales, Foreclosure & Bank Owned Real Estate

Kathleen, I like Yellow, My bedroom it's yellow... Great post, always!

Nov 16, 2012 10:09 AM
Rafi Footerman
Mid Jersey Inspections - Edison, NJ
Home Inspector, Mold Inspector, Radon and More!

Benjamin Moore was a client of mine for a few years and I never knew they had a color of the year.  It's a nice shade.

Nov 16, 2012 11:20 AM
Bruno & Noel Tarquinii
Bowie, MD
www.search4homes.us

I never imagine sthat yellow would look so cool for the eyes. I enjoyed your post. And for 2013, I bet Lemon Sorbet would be among the top picks of new home owners.

Nov 16, 2012 08:42 PM
Nan Jester
Exit Real Estate Gallery Jacksonville Beach, FL - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Realtor, Exit Real Estate Gallery

I am always interested in finding out what's what in the fashion and style industry.

Nov 16, 2012 11:18 PM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Kathleen,

Nice color, but I like a little more punch for my own home. I have seen a model, where they combined this color with gray and white, which looked nice.

Nov 17, 2012 11:14 AM
Catherine Ulrey
Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR
Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

Love it!

Nov 17, 2012 12:14 PM
Ric Mills
Keller Williams Southern Az - Tucson, AZ
Integrity, Honesty, and Vast Real Estate Knowledge

Being in the southwest, this is a well used color and never fails to bring applause.  Colorful but neutral.  Good choice.

Nov 19, 2012 05:39 AM
Brian Kuhns
Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber - Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne Real Estate by Brian Kuhns

Never been a big fan of yellow, but the tones in the picture present beautifully. Thanks for sharing

Nov 24, 2012 11:56 PM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Kathleen,

The lemon sorbet looks a nice color in the photo. We had a yellow laundry room which I wasn't a fan of but my wife really liked it.

Nov 29, 2012 11:40 AM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

Nice color. I like it when complementary colors are grouped together. It helps people make up their minds.

Dec 10, 2012 12:40 PM
Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

very pleasant happy color that works in many different environments!!! works for me!!  Yellow seems to be back and I am happy about it!!!

Dec 11, 2012 07:04 PM