Last year’s Color of the Year selection process was striking in its synchronicity, as seemingly every leading paint brand chose some form of a pale-green neutral. That parallel thinking was a product of our time mired in the pandemic, and it spoke to societal desires to reconnect with nature and spend some time almost anywhere outside the home. Times have thankfully changed, leading to a moment in which what we’re looking for from color feels much more open-ended.
That notion of expanded possibilities certainly comes through in the various 2023 Color of the Year picks chosen by various paint brands’ in-house color experts and trend forecasters. From a cool color that gently nudges us away from last year’s dominant shade to a supersaturated hue that celebrates color at its richest, paint colors in 2023 will bring a range of design trends and moods into perspective. There may not be a single aesthetic theme, but as Behr’s choice of Blank Canvas suggests, the year’s defining color story is whatever you choose to make it.
So what are the colors of the year for 2023? Take a closer look at each paint brand’s choice to find some ideas and inspiration for the year ahead.
Terra Rosa by Dunn-Edwards
As its name implies, Terra Rosa is also in the realm of earthy tones, pairing rich terra-cotta with a bit of dusty rose. Part of the brand’s Life in Poetry palette, the color more than holds its own as a dominant ground, while its muted shade makes it a tasteful, timeless accent to almost any color palette.
Vining Ivy by Glidden and PPG
Photography courtesy PPGVining Ivy by Glidden and PPG
Representing a relatively subtle transition away from the neutral-ish greens that defined 2022, Vining Ivy successfully straddles the line between green and blue by incorporating jewel-like elements. Exuding the same kind of calm, grounding, natural qualities of a green while offering a bit of intrigue, Vining Ivy suggests that consumers aren’t quite ready to settle for just one color when the possibilities of the present feel so open-ended. “We’re really talking about how this color is both green and blue because, realistically, that’s how our customers are talking about color,” says Ashley McCollum, Glidden color expert, of the decision.
Blank Canvas by Behr
Photo courtesy of BehrBlank Canvas by Behr
While Glidden and PPG chose to offer up green and blue as their color of the year, Behr’s choice of Blank Canvas represents the starting point of a forked path: a journey towards a more colorful future, or one of a neutral, monochrome calm as seen in trending organic modern interiors. Despite the implications of its name, Blank Canvas is more than capable of standing on its own by offering a playful, warmer take on traditional white. And whenever you’re ready to design your masterpiece, Erika Woelfel, Behr’s vice president of color and creative services, sees Blank Canvas as “the perfect artistic color for people to start expressing their creativity.”
Redend Point by Sherwin-Williams
Illustration courtesy Sherwin-WilliamsRedend Point by Sherwin-Williams
A dusty blush-beige with a desertlike feel, Redend Point sits at the center of both the neutral spectrum and the emerging trend towards energizing earth tones. Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams’s director of color marketing, references notions of “empathy and care culture” when explaining the brand’s selection, so it only makes sense that Redend Point nicely adapts with its surroundings. “It’s a great option [that] plays well with other neutrals,” Wadden says. “If you put it next to beige, Redend Point really looks like a color. But on its own, you see that it really does act like a neutral, so it’s well-behaved.”
Raspberry Blush by Benjamin Moore
Photography courtesy Benjamin MooreRaspberry Blush by Benjamin Moore
Representing a conscious desire to leave 2022’s neutrals behind, Raspberry Blush is Benjamin Moore’s unapologetically bold choice for its 2023 Color of the Year. Warm and vivid, it’s designed to create an instant impression in both big or small doses, adding a touch of excitement and happiness to any space. “I think there’s definitely a wow factor,” Benjamin Moore color marketing and development director Andrea Magno says. “We just kept coming back to the color again and again and finding different things we really loved about it.”
Did the 2022 Color of the Year Forecasts Ring True?
Paint companies were strikingly in unison on the shade that would define 2022. Of course, outliers existed [such as Pantone’s Very Peri], but the manufacturers generally hovered in the pale green palette. Below, we’ve gathered a comprehensive rundown of the colors that companies like Behr, Sherwin-Williams, and more predicted would rule 2022.
Breezeway by Behr
Photo: Courtesy of BehrBreezeway by Behr
A silvery green suitable for everything from beachside vibes to modern, contemporary settings, Behr’s Breezeway “inspires us to fully embrace the hobbies or adventures, both near and far, that excite us,” said Woeful. A standout of the 20 shades comprising the company’s 2022 Color Trends palette, Breezeway functions as an intriguing and perfectly viable neutral for those ready to brighten a space by bringing the outdoors in.
October Mist by Benjamin Moore
Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin MooreOctober Mist by Benjamin Moore
Although the month that gives this color its name might conjure images of orange pumpkins or umber leaves, October Mist is among the soothing shades of green that offers a grounding connection to the natural world for 2022. Magno admited that October Mist “doesn’t scream green,” but much like the stem of a flower, this grayish shade blends in effortlessly while creating an opportunity for other dazzling colors to flourish.
Art and Craft by Dunn-Edwards
Photo: Courtesy of Dunn-EdwardsArt and Craft by Dunn-Edwards
Though visually a departure from the parade of pale greens other brands chose to define 2022 trends, Art and Craft—a highlight of Dunn-Edwards’s Naturrensing palette—maintains a similar connection to the earth and an ability to offer something more than just the neutrals of the past. “This is a versatile color that we expect to see applied across a variety of industries and disciplines throughout 2022,” said Sarah McLean, Dunn-Edwards’s color expert and stylist, of this light and airy take on brown. “Art and Craft is truly a down-to-earth color that signifies stability, comfort, and calm.”
Olive Sprig by PPG
Photo: Gross&DaleyOlive Sprig by PPG
As the name suggests, PPG’s Olive Sprig was another of 2022’s grayish greens. The culmination of bubbling trends that were accelerated by the pandemic, Olive Sprig is “usable and also aligned with the warm, colorful neutrals that we had seen rising in popularity,” as PPG senior color marketing manager Amy Donato put it. Tying in with notions of renewal and rebirth—a theme mentioned by multiple brands—Olive Sprig offers a chance to transition from cool grays to neutrals with a bit more personality.
Guacamole by Glidden
Photo: Courtesy of GliddenGuacamole by Glidden
While parent company PPG opted for Olive Sprig, Glidden advocated for a more festive and appetizing shade of green for 2022. Made for kitchens, Guacamole looks great against a white subway tile backsplash. And now that we’re cautiously entertaining more, it’s certainly a living room conversation-starter best discussed over a bowl of chips.
Breathe by Graham & Brown
Photo: Courtesy of Graham & BrownBreathe by Graham & Brown
Not content to let earthier greens and browns have all the fun, Graham & Brown’s Breathe shows that the idea of connection to nature can draw inspiration from the sky as well. The pale and powdery blue of Breathe also nods to wellness and sustainability, and the shade works remarkably well when paired with Restore Midnight, Graham and Brown’s deep blue, naturally-inspired wallpaper of the year.
Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams
Photo: Courtesy of Sherwin-WilliamsEvergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams
Another grayish green taking its name from thick, heavy air, Evergreen Fog is what Wadden called a “universally accepted, super-versatile” color that’s emblematic of “growth, rebirth, and joy.” Capable of merging the spirit of organic modernism with the aesthetics of the ’70s, Sherwin-Williams sees Evergreen Fog playing well on walls and cabinets at home, while also fitting in nicely with some of the interior design trends that the brand expects to define the commercial spaces of a post-pandemic world.
Bright Skies by Dulux
Photo: Courtesy of DuluxBright Skies by Dulux
Fitting for a year where forecasters latched onto the idea of brighter days ahead, Dulux’s Bright Skies is an airy, open tone that can reinvigorate any room through the sense of freedom and possibility it offers. Honored as the brand’s color of the year by a team of international color and design experts, Bright Skies is a fun yet functional option that pushes the boundaries of a neutral without flying too close to the sun.
Very Peri by Pantone
Photo: Courtesy of PantoneVery Peri by Pantone
Last but certainly not least, industry leader Pantone announced its color of the year for 2022 in early December. The selection was Very Peri, a perfectly purple blue shade of periwinkle. “For those who are gun-shy about using too much color and taking that first step, it’s a great color to use maybe just on one wall instead of all four walls,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, and it’s decidedly different from any pale or olive green.