Generation Xers, those born between 1964 and 1980, are old enough to remember the fall of the Berlin Wall, but have primarily lived in a global economy. It's not surprising, then, that they show strong acceptance of the global color palette. Look for exotic greens from the Australian landscape, violet, indigo and Asian reds to add drama to neutral spaces awash in contrasting textures, as Generation Xers experiment with styles from around the world. For teen-agers, cool sophistication is the design goal, but don't expect childhood keepsakes to fade into the background. The best bet is to let teens, whenever possible, select colors for themselves.
Faux finishes can be useful in teen rooms to add drama and sophistication.
Children, though generally easier to please than teen-agers, are far more sensitive to color than adults, so their wishes should also be considered whenever possible. Children love neon-like colors, especially green and yellow and rich, tropical hues. Research on the visual preferences of babies has shown that high-contrast colors and simple patterns that encourage scanning, focusing, tracking, orienting and pattern recognition are not only favorites, they also help to stimulate physical and cognitive development. These studies indicate that red and blue are the colors preferred by infants. Though to some degree our reactions to color are psychologically and culturally induced, color experts say that clearly, age makes a difference in how you respond to color.