If next year’s color palette is any indication, the world is getting smaller. From Asian reds, Indian golds, and deep Oriental purples, to Turkish coppers and cobalt blues, and Middle Eastern clay browns and khakis, global colors are the trend-setting style for 2008 and a top choice for Canadian walls, says leading architectural paint brand PARA Paints.

“With the increase in globalization, the world is shrinking and its colors are merging,” says Melanie Rice, Color Advisor for PARA Paints and a member of the Virginia-based international color forecaster, Color Marketing Group. “International business travel, purchases of foreign treasures, and the use of the Internet are on the rise, and this has created broader exposure to the colors of the world. Images of fashion, architecture, and landscapes from different countries have a major influence in setting the trend for the popular colors we’ll see in 2008 and beyond. Of these, color and style from international runways are the most dominant influence for the year ahead.”

A common thread of these global colors, says Rice, is that they are predominantly rich and saturated, filled with natural chroma. Still, like the cultures they represent, the 2008 hues are diverse and provide extreme looks from different ends of the color spectrum – from soft grays and neutrals to dark blues and purples, which look almost black. Think shimmering golden temples, luxurious Dubai sand, exotic spices, clay pottery and regal red robes.

Even the world’s focus on the environment is affecting the colors we choose, explains Rice. “We’re seeing a movement from all countries towards increased use of deep natural, organic tones, with a dash of color,” she says, adding that heightened interest in South Africa is also a factor for the increased use of earth, straw and pottery-influenced colors. Browns still occupy the number one spot in this category, particularly medium browns infused with red, green or yellow – which are lighter and more earthy-looking than the dark browns of previous years. “The 2008 browns are the most versatile color on the palette, not only because they pair well with natural materials like wood, metal, leather and stone, but they can also be used as a complement to almost every color family, both in neutral combinations and with stronger saturated colors,” Rice adds.

Making a comeback is gray, now cooler and more complex than the office gray of past years, and expected to be a strong seller in 2008. Oranges, which are becoming more earth-based and terra cotta-toned, taking on a “clay-mixed-with-copper” look, are also gaining increased global appeal, largely due to the rising interest in Bollywood.

Greens, with an Asian eco-influence, are moving in a yellow and brown direction, and blues are showing more gray and green influence than prior years. Reds – a hot color for the year – are present in every major culture, symbolizing strength and durability. Growing in popularity is mauvy-pink, a romantic rose often used as a base color for the Indian Sari. Yellows continue to take on an ethnic twist, with an antique gold look.

Colors with a shimmer, rather than shine, will be popular in the year ahead, as will “chameleon” colors, hues that change based on lighting or other colors they are paired with. Subject to one’s interpretation, for example, copper could be seen as an orange or a brown.

“Whether used for a whole room, on a single wall or as an accent, global colors add warmth and charm to any setting,” Rice says. “More and more, the future will be viewed from a world perspective, and color is no exception. Cross-culturalism is here to stay, and our homes will increasingly reflect this reality.”

This article was provided by Para Paints. Topping the list of PARA Paints colors for 2008 are red Fan the Flame (P287-8) and Mexican Spice (P413-5), orange Earthenware Tint 3 (P2043-3), browns Mushroom (P2611-1) and My Bungalow (P431-1), blues Blue Suede Shoes (P1910-5) and Blue Blazes (P14-5), purple Purple Sage (P1893-5), greens Herb Garden Tint 3 (P2071-3) and Chopped Chives (P1162-3), yellows Robertson House Gold Tint 1 (P2058-1) and Cheverie (P805-7), and grays Shadow Mountain (P1574-2), Cobblestone (P2203-4) and Rice Paper (P2225-4). More information about paint color trends for 2008, and selecting color schemes, can be found at www.para.com , by visiting your local PARA Paints dealer, or calling 1-800-461-PARA.