Relaxed Retreat

This story tells itself most readily in the bath, which has long been a weary soul's last refuge for tranquility at home. The craving for peace and quiet only magnifies as we invite technology into our lives 24/7. So tired are we of being tired, of being "on," that we're visually cordoning off spaces within the home as "off" zones. Be it a sunroom or courtyard, hearthside niche or window seat, these private retreats elicit a sigh of relief.

As the story unfolds in the bedroom, this is one of the rare trends that's moved from residential into commercial design instead of the other way around. "People had high-thread-count linens, duvets, fluffy pillows, etc., in their homes first, and then they saw them in luxury hotels," notes Sheri Thompson, director of Sherwin-Williams' Color Marketing and Design department. (Likewise, residential sensibilities about conservation inspired the hospitality industry's move to display cards discouraging daily laundering of guests' sheets and towels, says Jill Reid, resource specialist at Mithun, a design firm in Seattle focused on environmentally friendly design.)

There's a just-off-the-clothesline freshness in the colors composing Relaxed Retreat. They're soothing, but with spirit and spark. Breezes seem to flow through them, much like the translucent materials that accompany their use. "Playing clean and warm blues off each other is directional," says Michelle Lamb, senior editor of "The Trend Curve". "This palette has a variety of values and personalities. It doesn't go into deep colors, but becomes more saturated. Some colors look luminescent."

From the pallor of societal fatigue comes a bright side. Says Lamb, "This collection illustrates the fresh way color is being used today. It's much more interesting than color has ever been in the 21 years I've been forecasting."

Due to individual computer monitor limitations, colors seen here may not accurately reflect Sherwin-Williams paint colors. To confirm your color choices, visit your neighborhood Sherwin-Williams store and refer to our in-store color cards.