As we greet a new year, it's out with the old and in with the new. It’s the perfect time to draft your plans to revamp your home's decor. Giving your walls a fresh paint colour is a surefire way to instantly make over your living space.

Sharon Grech, colour and design manager and spokesperson for Benjamin Moore Canada reveals some of the hottest hues in 2009 paint colour palettes to inspire your next painting project. Check out the year's hottest colour swatches here.  

styleathome.com: What paint colour trends can we expect to see in 2009?
Sharon Grech: We're beginning to see a downplay of brown. Where brown was replacing black in home fashion, we're seeing black creep back in (like Black Satin 2131-10) as well as sophisticated greys (like Night Train CC-720 and Gray 2121-10.) Over time, this change could shift the neutral category from warm beige to slightly cooler greys and taupes. Yellow comes down a notch as a wall colour, with the gentle and cheerful Vellum CC-200.
 
sah.com: How do 2009 colour trends differ from 2008's colour trends? Are there any similarities?
SG: We will see cooler tones transition in -- such as Blue Nose CC-800 and Gossamer Blue 2123-40 and cooler reds like Blushing Red 2079-20.

Greens are still in the palette. For 2009, green is raw and nature-inspired such as in Dry Sage 2142-40 and Pale Avocado 2146-40.  Greys tested the waters in 2008 and are comfortably in favour for 2009 as a popular neutral.

sah.com: What influences are you seeing in 2009 paint colour trends?
SG: Nature remains a strong component, influencing design elements, materials and, certainly, colour.  An 'anything goes' attitude prevails. Expressing your individuality in your paint colour choices can result in more unexpected pairings of colour, pattern and design styles.

sah.com: If I wanted to try a hot new paint colour for 2009, what advice would you offer?
SG: Paint one accent wall with a colour you absolutely love and then accessorize with it. Accent walls are still a popular way to introduce new hues. They provide a nice small dose of colour for homeowners who fear being overwhelmed. It's a great way to change the look and feel of a room in between the major re-paint periods!  

You can also breathe new life into a dated piece of furniture. If you have an old armoire, dining room table and chairs or a side table with an interesting shape, paint it in your favourite trend colour.

sah.com: What's your personal favourite colour from Benjamin Moore's 2009 colour palette?
SG: Night Train (CC-720) is one of my favourite colours for 2009. It works as a fantastic neutral; a more dimensional, livable, sensual grey.  It's a great backdrop to both warm and cool colours -- which makes it versatile.  It can also be positioned as a “colour,” feeling more like a slate blue-green rather than a grey when combined with deep browns and taupes.

Check out which hues other paint makers are showcasing for the next 12 months.

PARA Paints
Diversity is key for Para's paint colour picks for 2009. With influences such as technology, the environment and cultural fusion, you're sure to find the perfect paint colour to suit your decor scheme.

SICO Paints
Expect the unexpected in 2009 with unpredictable colour combinations leading the trends scene, according to SICO's colour forecast -- perhaps you'll see peach mingling with fuchsia or mustard pairing up with teal blue. Colour swatches on the next page.

Paint can help you to reinvent your decor and express your sense of style. With inspiration from the latest and greatest paint colours to emerge in 2009, try a new paint colour in your home and have fun while you transform the look and feel of your living space.

Feature image courtesy of Benjamin Moore

 Feature image courtesy of Benjamin Moore