Mother Nature inspires 2023 Colors of the Year

After the pandemic caused so much upheaval and unpredictability in people’s lives over the past several years, trend forecasters believe that many are now searching for support, connection, inspiration and self-expression. Experts say that trend leads to looking outdoors at nature’s beauty to find solace, causing neutrals, earth tones, and sun-drenched colors to take center stage as the colors of the year for 2023 and beyond.

Pantone is scheduled to announce its color of the year for 2023 in early December. Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute has declared a particular Color of the Year. Twice a year the company hosts a meeting of representatives from various nations’ color standards groups. The results of the meeting are published in Pantone View, which fashion designers and others use to help guide their designs and planning for future products.

In the meantime, several other paint and trend forecasting companies have already made their color predictions for the coming year.

WGSN/Coloro

Trend forecasting company WGSN and its sister company Coloro, which predicts the future of color, announced Apricot Crush as its Color of the Year.

“Invigorating, mood-enhancing and vitamin-balancing hues align with self-care rituals, which have become ingrained in people’s lives,” said Clare Smith, color strategist for WGSN. “There is a focus on restorative colors that are mindful and help to bring balance into the everyday. Apricot Crush is the perfect hue for a world seeking calm and optimism, bringing a necessary pick-me-up as consumers continue to grapple with a range of emotions.”

The choice of this color signifies the importance of orange as a versatile, trans-seasonal shade, according to Smith. Reflecting WGSN’s commitment to color longevity and sustainability goals, Smith said they believe Apricot Crush’s restorative attributes will appeal across interiors, fashion, beauty and consumer tech.

“It’s exciting to see orange, with its gender-inclusive and trans-seasonal flexibility, gaining — and maintaining — momentum as a key color,” said Sansan Chen, managing director at Coloro. “We are seeing brands take ever more care in choosing palettes with lasting appeal to minimize environmental impact. Apricot Crush is a highly achievable color that can also deliver an emotional lift to consumers in uncertain times.”

Sherwin-Williams

The 2023 color palette for Sherwin-Williams, Redend Point a calming blush-beige, is inspired by the natural interweaving of people and spaces.

“We are on an intentional journey to experience beautiful, living color as we evolve,” said Sue Wadden, the paint company’s director of color marketing. “Our connection to the earth, fondest memories and future hopes are what will influence our global outlook in the months to come.”

Wadden added that embracing the idea of terra in design has inspired a new way of living that will be defined by balance, presence, support and enduring joy.

The global forecast team of color professionals at Sherwin-Williams conduct extensive research each year to build the forecast and set the stage for the conversation around color in the year to come.

All kinds of trend topics are considered – from climate change to mental health – and emerging trend topics are then thoughtfully translated into defining colors and cohesive palettes.

The 2023 Colormix Forecast features rich earth tones, natural clays, sunbaked sands, restful neutrals, and powdery pastels with the main forecast featuring 40 hues within four curated palettes: balanced Biome, passionate Lore, serene Nexus, and vibrant Origin.

“Redend Point was inspired by the idea of finding beauty beyond ourselves,” said Wadden. “It is a heartening hue that invites compassion and connection into any space. The color is a natural choice for those looking for a warm and joyful neutral in both interiors and exteriors. Redend Point is a beautiful color, and I can’t wait to see how consumers play with it and style their spaces.”

To help ignite consumers’ imaginations and inspire them to create warm and inviting spaces using Redend Point, Sherwin-Williams and Etsy, the global marketplace for unique and creative goods, have curated a selection of complementary home décor items as well as art and accessories from Etsy sellers.

Products include bedding, stoneware vases, hand-poured candles, modern wall art, hand-printed linen napkins and more.

“Redend Point is an ideal choice for bringing a sense of serenity and nature into any space,” said Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy’s trend expert. “The unique, handcrafted items we’ve curated on Etsy can complement this soulful hue in almost any room — or even enable you to bring the color beyond your four walls with accessories and gifts.”

Wadden said Redend Point embodies the idea of a destination worth moving toward, igniting the spirit of discovery and inspiring deeper connections with others throughout the world.

As neutrals continue to warm up, Wadden expects this blush-beige to be a versatile shade seen across residential and commercial spaces in the years to come.

“Redend Point’s subtle pink undertones make it easy to incorporate into any space. It delivers an enveloping warmth that instantly makes you feel at home,” Wadden added. “Build on its earthiness by utilizing the hue alongside natural-looking textiles and wood accents or create a desert oasis by layering terracotta shades and clay materials.”

Behr

The idea of a blank canvas conveys the concept of starting over or of a fresh beginning. This is the intention being Behr’s 2023 color of the year, Blank Canvas, a warm white shade.

“As we look to 2023, we understand that comfort will still be a driving force behind design decisions and style statements,” said Erika Woelfel, Behr Paint Company vice president of color and creative services. “Blank Canvas effortlessly offers a clean and inviting blank slate that allows individuality and creativity to flow freely. This white easily harmonizes with a wide range of hues, including neutrals, earth tones and pastels for a charming and cozy appeal.”

Woelfel said Blank Canvas is meant to inspire feelings of tranquility and renewal, the answer to an increased consumer desire to be present, find peace of mind and embrace the future.

New research conducted by Behr Paint shows that nearly all U.S. homeowners want their home to be a space where they can completely unwind (92%) and believe that it’s important that their home feels like an escape from everyday stress (90%).

“White paint colors are our top-sellers at Behr. With so many options to choose from, we wanted to spotlight the one that we believe is most versatile, and truly the perfect shade of white for any project,” said Jodi Allen, Behr Pain Company global chief marketing officer. “In addition to inspiring renewal, positivity and a sense of calm, Blank Canvas always makes a design-forward statement, whether you’re a homeowner working on a DIY living space, or a professional painter seeking your go-to white to use on countless projects for years to come.”

As a go-to hue that designers can build upon, according to Allen, the warm white creates a serene setting, while being versatile enough to be used in shared spaces.

Krylon

Spanish Moss is the Krylon 2023 Color of the Year. The paint company said the familiar yet inspirational color balances cool and warm accents.

“This year’s color selection is inspired by the comfort and reassurance found in the past, as we look to find content

ment in the future,” said Ashley Banbury, Krylon senior color designer. “Spanish Moss is a timeless, organic hue that embraces the raw beauty of the natural world. Historically, green has inspired homeowners both indoors and out, and today, it continues to deliver a renewed and contemporary look to heritage pieces.”

The heritage trend style is increasingly growing in popularity, according to the company. The color is typically seen on upcycled, recycled, vintage and antique furnishings, and it inspires do-it-yourselfers to create inviting spaces full of comforting personal touches.

“Many of us find great comfort in the natural world,” said Banbury. “Spanish Moss embodies consumers’ ongoing fascination with caring for and enjoying the environment and speaks to the sustainability movement as well. It’s inspiring at-home creatives, while offering a dose of nostalgia and familiarity at the same time.”

Benjamin Moore

The Color of the Year for 2023 for Benjamin Moore is Raspberry Blush, a statement color that delivers delight and personality, according to the company.

“People are ready to bring color back into the home, taking a step outside their color comfort zones,” said Andrea Magno, color marketing and development director at Benjamin Moore. “Raspberry Blush transforms rooms for incredible results.”

To commemorate this year’s selection, Benjamin Moore enlisted a funk band named Chromeo to underscore the upbeat and optimistic tone of the palette and the dynamic role color plays in self-expression, music. Chromeo’s new song, ‘Raspberry Blush’ celebrates the positivity and enjoyment of life that both color and music can influence, according to Magno.

The Color Trends 2023 palette celebrates the use of color to influence dramatic transformations. As living spaces are often an expression of individuality and personal style, the palette emboldens designers and homeowners to take color to unexpected places.

Dunn Edwards

Paint supplier Dunn Edwards has named its 2023 Color of the Year Terra Rosa, a scorched-earth, approachable hue with rosy, pink tones and a touch of terracotta.

“We’ve moved from an introspection of behaviors to empowerment and action, independence and self-reliance. We’re putting health and wellbeing first, making time for escapism and embracing nostalgia,” said Sara McLean, a color expert and stylist. “In everyday life, this comes through as an appreciation of simple pleasures and a concerted effort to engage in more positive interactions. This translates to design through lush, sophisticated touches with equal parts prettiness and drama.”

Drawing inspiration from modern fashion, lifestyle and culture, McLean selected Terra Rosa as a refreshing neutral update to browns and burgundies that projects strength and vitality. A medium chroma, the cinnamon rose hue is positive and joyful, reflecting confidence, creativity and coziness, according to McLean.

PPG

The experts at paint company PPG have named Vining Ivy as the color of the year for 2023. According to PPG experts, “the bluish-greenish-something-in-betweenish” tone serves up versatile vibes, making it an on-trend addition to contemporary designs or a refined pop of color for those with more traditional taste.

“Consumers are seeking to simplify in this post-COVID era, as the past two years have shed a new light on the importance of serenity and little moments,” said Ashley McCollum, Glidden color expert. “Vining Ivy embodies this vibe perfectly. It is energizing yet grounding, and it works in literally any space. Its versatility takes the guesswork out of design, leaving consumers with more time to indulge in the things that matter most to them.”

This teal expertly intertwines bold blue and refined green to create a captivating color symbolic of deep water, according to McCollum. Vining Ivy’s jewel-toned hue can be used to set a calming mood in spaces, as its blue communicates feelings of tranquility while the emerald evokes feelings of balance.

“Those who love this moody hue but are still feeling in-betweenish on how to bring it into their space can treat themselves to the understated elegance of a teal accent wall or serve up a statement by featuring Vining Ivy on their kitchen cabinetry,” McCollum said. “Even the most modest spaces can benefit from the teal treatment. For those short on square footage but big on style, we recommend using this rich hue as bold contrast to a neutral palette, making a petite room feel plush.”

AkzoNobel

Inspired by nature and harvested crops, paint company AkzoNobel has selected Wild Wonder as it’s color of the year for 2023.

“Wild Wonder speaks to us in a language we instinctively understand,” said Heleen van Gent, creative director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center. “Nature is what inspires us and makes us feel better in our lives and in our homes. That’s why, for the first time in 20 years, our entire color palette is inspired by the rhythms of nature.”

Extensive research conducted by AkzoNobel, including color experts and international design professionals, identified the Wonders of the Natural swatch at the heart of global social and design.

This trend is inspired by nature as people are re-evaluating their relationship with the environment as the source of everything in their lives, said van Gent. Wild Wonder, a combination of pale yellow and olive green, captures the moment’s mood and conveys serenity and positivity after these recent years of uncertainty and despair.

Better Homes and Gardens

Lifestyle publication Better Homes and Gardens has selected Canyon Ridge, a subtle spin on terracotta, as the brand’s second annual color of the year. The color is described by editors as “skewing more sunbaked clay than cayenne pepper, for a near neutral ideal on walls. The warm tone infuses energy and comfort into any space.”

Canyon Ridge is a versatile design choice and works well painted across a full room or as a subtle accent wall. Editors say this year’s pick was also inspired by nature, playing off last year’s dusty green tones. Instead of lush greens, this year’s choice was inspired by sunsets over sweeping desert landscapes, like the red rock spires of Zion National Park.

“Cobalt has a vibrancy that makes this classic pairing feel modern,” said Jessica Thomas, BHG style director. “Rustic rooms may call for darker denim blue accents, so for traditional décor, make it navy.”