Collecting vintage color charts is a fun and economical way for Americana enthusiasts to enjoy home improvement ephemera. Additionally, they’re a valuable source of decorating inspiration.
The best advice, when collecting color brochures, is to buy what you like. Further, make sure that they are in as close to mint condition as possible. Nobody considers a torn, dirty, or damaged color chart interesting or collectable. The key is to have perfectly clean color chips on a clean brochure with sharp corners.
Collectors tend to focus on a particular theme, like brand, type of paint, or era. Some people mount vintage color charts to use as wall art. Others enjoy strolling down memory lane and connecting with the marketing art, design, furnishings and colors of bygone decades.
Keep in mind, color charts were produced as advertising tools to display trending colors, and they were meant to be in circulation for a year or two at most. Moreover, most have actual painted color chips, so handle them carefully because they are delicate and get dirty easily.
From soft pastels of the 1930s to vibrant hues of the 1970s, vintage paint swatches provide a time machine journey through the decades. This lets designers, homeowners, and collectors tap into the color schemes and popular trends of bygone eras. Pictured here is an immaculately preserved 1966 Sears Color Scape Exterior Color Chart. The chips are bright and clean; and the brochure is crisp. Vintage color charts can be purchased from $10-$50 each depending on condition and paint company.
(2) Sears Color-Scape Exterior Brochures
Pittsburgh Paints Colors of 1971
This vintage color card is perfect for those who enjoy mid-century decorating inspiration. It has three color palettes. The House & Garden collection has 18 elegant, trending colors. The upper left palette has the most frequently purchased colors based on store sales. The bottom palette, of 24 colors, were the most appealing hues from the complete Pittsburgh Paints collection of 720 colors.
Sherwin Williams 1930’s
Pictured here is a Sherwin Williams Vintage Color Chart from the 1930’s. Paint store color charts provide easy inspiration for creating color schemes that are classic and on-trend. Historical color charts are like a time machine letting you travel into bygone eras and history. They can breathe new life into contemporary spaces, adding depth, character, and a sense of nostalgia.
One advantage of using vintage color charts for inspiration is their classic color combinations. Shades that were popular in the past can evoke a sense of nostalgia and comfort, making them a good choice for creating inviting and stylish aesthetics. By incorporating them into a modern color scheme, decorators and consumers create spaces with a fresh take on traditional favorites.
Additionally, antique color charts offer a look back at shades that may have fallen out of fashion but still have charm and allure. Whether it’s the soft pastels of the 1930’s-1950s, the earth tones of the 1970s, or the vibrant hues of the 1980s, these colors can provide unique design inspiration that feels both retro and modern.
All Los Angeles Painting Company, Inc. 310-470-9218 provides home and office paint color consulting.
