As some of you are adjusting to the start of school, everyone in the design world’s sights are set on the trends that will take over in the months ahead—especially the colors we’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Sherwin-Williams is plotting a new course with its Colormix Forecast for 2023: Terra.
Presented as a collection of 40 colors spanning the spectrum of green and blue to brown, warmer neutrals, and even pops of yellow. Terra is separated into four palettes—Biome, Lore, Nexus, and Origin— collectively representing notions of connection, whether with the earth, our creative practices, ourselves, or our wildest dreams.
Biome
Drawing on the components of an ever-changing ecosystem, the Biome palette celebrates the similarities between an abundant Earth and a quest for balance. Featuring Sherwin-Williams’s 2021 and 2022 colors of the year (Urbane Bronze and Evergreen Fog, respectively), the Biome palette reflects design’s renewed interest in the restorative nature of the outdoors, as seen in the increased shift to indoor-outdoor living. This palette finds its inspiration in biophilia, organic minimalism, symbiosis and protopia.
Biome’s crisp Homburg Gray and Mount Etna, a rich blue-green, are fitting alongside light or blonde wood-toned cabinets, while sandy neutrals like Shiitake and Rookwood Medium Brown add an authentic bit of earthiness alongside stone tiles or other natural materials that have worked their way into kitchens and bathrooms.
Lore
The Lore palette draws inspiration across cultures and centuries. This palette’s hues invite re-connection with an intricate mix of ancient reds, powdery pastels and rich jewel tones. Lore is defined by saturated jewel tones, such as the light amethyst-like Wallflower, the deep Blue Peacock, and the ruby Toile Red, this selection is imbued with notions of joy and optimism.
Made for maximalists or anyone whose space reflects a keen appreciation for novel patterns, textures, or eye-catching works of art, Lore also contains golden shades like Serape and Nugget that can make an instant impression. Drawing inspiration from the Passion economy, the Lore palette is sure to make waves in the next year.
Nexus
Hidden places can often be the most healing and the Nexus palette lends a hand to help consumers find these realms of restorative energy. Grounding browns and soft, soulful whites complement various warm tones that exude love and kindness. Influenced by daily well-being rituals, Nexus incorporates natural clays and the sunbaked desert, like Reddened Earth and Likeable Sand, which highlight serenity and restoration.
Whether choosing the peachiness of Lei Flower or the hushed elegance of Malted Milk, this earthy palette summons good energy for use in spaces where caring for ourselves and others is top of mind. The selections also pair nicely with trendy design elements, such as rounded silhouettes, stone-slab tables, and 80’s style post-modern sculptural seating.
Origin
Finally, the Origin palette is where the imagination runs wild. A veritable rainbow of nostalgia. Mixing and matching to embracing hybrid living to the notion of metamorphosis, the Origin palette demonstrates the power of layering fond memories with future hopes to feel vibrant and joyful in the present moment.
Recharge with color that keeps making a comeback. Free-spirited brights such as Fabulous Grape, Peppery and Goldfinch are magnetic. When neutrals like Pure White or Skyline Steel are added in, the versatile, brilliant Origin can re-energize an environment. Go for the unexpected.
Commercial, Hospitality, Multifamily, and Healthcare Design
While Colormix itself is nothing new for Sherwin-Williams, its 2023 forecast marks the first time that commercial design segments will get their own separate report.
Showcasing how Terra’s 40 colors can enliven hospitality spaces, multifamily residential construction, and more, the paint brand’s aim is to help architects and commercial designers push boundaries and use color to embrace community and dive into a new era of living with 6 distinct palettes driven by industry segments.