Is the economy changing the way we decorate?

While the recession has been declared over, there's still a whole lotta doom and gloom out there. On a large scale, this means many of us are still holding tight to our wallets and maybe delaying some major purchases, but, according to a study by CIL Paints, all that financial turmoil has also been influencing our colour choices.

"Our research found that in good economic times, people tend to favour brighter colours, while in difficult economies, more somber hues like white, beige and grey are the preferred choice," says Jennifer Jones, the brand's marketing communications manager, in a release. Neutrals are often considered a "safe" choice, because they're easy to mix and match - which gives budget-conscious decorators some reassurance that they've invested in something that can last. 

And CIL says their top selling colours this year have been neutral tones, like off-whites, sandy shades and muted greys.

But, Jones says she sees more colour in the future: “Heading into the year 2000, for example, neutrals were predominant in home decor, yet when the fear and uncertainty surrounding the new millennium faded, more vibrant colours began to reappear in homes.”

I'm not so sure if the link between the economy and our colour choices is so concrete. I was a huge fan of purple long before it became trendy (as evidenced by my purple wedding), and have always loved palettes of moody greys and greens, regardless of how well the stock market is doing. What do you think?