Why Do We Love Animated Colors!?

Traditionally, many people feel they need to change their tastes and likes to reflect the age group they’re in or the lifestyle they live. For some reason, perhaps due to societal pressures, we’re forced to give up some things that seem more “child-like” as we get older, make more money and have more responsibilities. As a color specialist, I’ve never agreed with this philosophy (as you can tell by all my writings); it’s a fact of life that designers and homeowners alike may feel embarrassed to embrace animated colors, colors with energy, levity, and joy emanating from them. Well, it’s time to change all of that!! Colors do not care about how old or mature you are, where you are in the journey called life, or what title you hold; their only concern is matching the emotional intention of the space around them!

In this article, I will discuss animated colors, why we love them, and how they can still be used today. It’s time to set them free in our world, whether wearing them or decorating with them; this is all about taking a closer look at the colors that are all about JOY! 

What Are Animated Colors?

Animated colors (or simply fun colors) fall on the more “excited” end of the color spectrum. What do I mean by this? Animated colors have higher saturation points, are lighter in tone, and typically are not earth tones or neutrals. They are not too dissimilar from “loud colors.” Still, they differ in that loud colors have a purer hue/higher saturation point, and animated colors can have a white tint, slightly lightening the vibrancy. 

A great example I like to give when referencing animated colors are those found on a traditional birthday cake palette. Think of a creamy white vanilla cake with airy turquoise, and Barbie-pink sprinkles laden on top. The inside of the cake is a soft sunny yellow, and light tangerine-orange candle rest on top. Sounds dreamy and fun, doesn’t it!? You bet!

For me, animated colors extend beyond the colors themselves and the materials and surfaces they’re on. From the frosting on donuts and cakes to a shiny reflective metallic surface (pink/purple disco balls, anyone?), animated colors can accompany textural and “animated” surfaces – they work wonderfully together. Also, teal, pink, lavender, and lime green work harmoniously in unique animated ways, unlike other colors in the color spectrum.

Beat Those Steamy Dog Days With Cool Summer Colors!

Why We Love Animated Colors?

As I highlighted earlier, many people feel like they need to ‘box themselves in” to a design scheme/color profile that reflects their age’s ideal status symbology or simply follows their region’s standard design expectations. When everything becomes homogenous, plain, and uninspired, the human spirit gets pent up and wants to break free! Enter animated colors for animated occasions. 

Now, I’m not condoning or telling homeowners to throw pink and blue paint on every wall in their homes or change their wardrobe to neon colors, far from it. But, when the occasion or the space calls for it, animated colors can bring fun and life back to an area lacking color inspiration. 

When to Use Them?

As we enter the latter half of summer, use animated colors wherever possible! The spirit and presence of more animated colors work so well for fun times/gatherings and long, warm summer days. Arrange some pink and turquoise blue flamingos around the backyard patio! Create some lavender-pink lemonade to share with your friends in retro-cool glassware! Throw a Barbie-themed party as a wedding shower and go wild with all your friends! We need animated colors in our lives as a “release” from the expected colors and visual arraignment we see daily. 

If I have all but one goal for these blog posts, I want to help you open up to considering new options, taking a unique approach to color, and, more than anything, trying something new!

I was recently asked to comment on the color palettes of Barbie for the Washington Post as the hype for the film reached its zenith. I related Barbie’s pink color palettes to confidence and youthful exuberance. I feel this way about animated colors, they don’t project silliness but a sense of confidence in ourselves, and it shows an ability not to shy away from something because, at one point in time, it was child-like. Child-like is good occasionally, and it’s even better when you apply child-like fun and style in ways you never pictured before!

If you need help discovering fun, animated color palettes for the latter half of summer, please check out my helpful color app, Color911! There are many curated palettes to explore, and you can even create your own from your picture library. You’ll have no trouble finding colorful inspiration for your next gathering or your newest fashion statement! Try animated colors; they’ll be like wrapping yourself in a smile; what could be better than that!?