Entering the New Year, color experts predict an optimistic outlook expressed in calming, comfortable, cozy shades. Reflecting the trend toward warmer, less saturated colors, softly tinted hues lead the 2024 color palettes for architectural coatings. With names like “Limitless” by PPG, “Sweet Embrace” by AkzoNobel and “Upward” by Sherwin-Williams, these color choices are intended to soothe and inspire us, while conveying a sense of peace and well-being.
Colors of the Year
Limitless offers a fresh, honey beige shade that “contains both the power of a primary and the essence of a neutral. It is strong enough to stand as the leading color of many products, yet works equally well as a supporting tone to both warm and cool shades,” according to PPG.
Sweet Embrace delivers a pastel pink shade “inspired by soft feathers and evening clouds that contributes to create a calm and welcoming environment,” notes AkzoNobel.
Upward presents an icy blue appearance with an undertone of violet. Sherwin Williams describes the color as “a breezy, blissful blue” and a “tranquil and uplifting blue-gray that encourages boundless creativity. This color of classic comfort speaks to a desire for personal progress and peace—an outlook and effort that allows us, individually and together, to move up and rise above—ever ascending.”
Color Palette Collections
To expand on their Colors of the Year, coatings manufacturers curate color palettes with dozens of complementary hues. PPG’s 2024 Design Trends pairs its signature color of the year with floral pinks, juicy violets, spicy reds, chocolatey browns, rooted garden greens and a broad range of blues.
The Sherwin-Williams 2024 Colormix forecast organizes its selected colors into four overarching trends. “We’re predicting an update to the traditional pairings of blue and green with neutrals for a functional and clean or more artisanal and pigmented aesthetic,” explained Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams.
She noted that design aesthetics have been trending toward warmer colors, coinciding with the rising popularity of earth-aligned browns rather than the cooler, grayed-out browns. Mixing in hues from the red and purple family creates atmospheres of groundedness and balance. More muted and clay-inspired pigments, pink-beige neutrals and true purples may take the lead.
The purple-infused pink of Sweet Embrace already is moving this trend forward. AkzoNobel presents its 2024 complementary collections as three color story themes: warm, calm and uplifting.
These immersive, softer, warmer hues provide a comfortable canvas to envelop and accent our homes and living spaces. Look for 2024 color trends to reflect personal expression, while remaining considerate of our neighbors.
