Colour of the Year: Sherwin Williams
Leading paint brand Sherwin-Williams has revealed the 2023 Color of the Year – Redend Point SW 9081, part of Sherwin-Williams’s 2023 Colormix Forecast, is a warm, modern mauve that conjures a timeless elegance and is brimming with romance, without being extravagantly showy. And it just might be the calming colour hug we need going into next year.
The warm shade is a brave departure from the prior year’s cooler, more brooding tones (see 2022’s Evergreen Fog and 2021’s Urbane Bronze). Redend Point, which Sherwin-Williams describes as a “nostalgic mid-tone,” is pink-meets-gray-meets-beige. “We know neutrals have reigned supreme for the past 10 years, but now we’re seeing different interpretations of these hues,” Wadden says. “People are embracing neutral versions of greens, blues, browns—all hues that help us feel grounded. And we felt that Redend Point really broadcast how colour can be not only grounding but nurturing, reassuring, and familiar.”
In colour psychology, pink is thought to be associated with love and romance, even tenderness and empathy. In design, it has shown to have a calming effect on people. In fact, sports teams have painted the opposing team’s locker pink to gain a pregame psychological advantage against opponents, as the colour would make the players passive and less energetic. Aside from its nurturing associations, this soulful blush-beige also has roots in the natural world and in wellness. Don’t believe us? Take a look at the colour of all your yoga, meditation, and mental health apps.
Going beyond behaviorism, Sherwin-Williams’s decision to opt for this blushing hue is especially on point with our current moment. While bubblegum pink was the It colour during the early 2000s (we were here for it, Brittany), the rise of minimalism in design brought with it a new pink, a grown-up pink that eschewed the neon tones of our Barbie-loving years (at least until it’s nostalgic in a cool way) with a moodier, desaturated hue.
Wadden suggests pairing Redend Point with nature-inspired textiles, wood tones, metallic accents, or vintage accessories, which would really pop against this muted tone. Complementary green shades pair well with this hue. Rich reds, gentle greens, muted grays, and other earth tones offer eclectic colour combinations. “I’m loving the pastoral vibe with teeny little floral prints and almost a 1980s pastoral farmhouse look, but a Shaker style,” she noted. “This colour rocks with that.” Whether you’re going for a more glamorous luxe look in the tune of Mara Brock Akil’s stunning rosé room in Los Angeles, a playful Palm Springs style, or an earthy bohemian look, this shade goes with many design styles that are relevant right now.
Whether you’re considering adding a touch of Redend Point detailing for your cozy reading corner, or have a hankering to go for a continuous three-wall-colour situation, this year’s Colour of the Year offers a romantic moment for everyone.
