Sherwin-Williams has announced its 10th annual Colormix Color Forecast, with a single master palette to inspire and help professionals and DIYers select the right color scheme for any project. The 42-color palette can be divided into six themes, or color journals, Shapeshifter; Wanderer; Aficionado; Enthusiast; Naturalist and Raconteur. Together, the journals are full of colors that are key for 2019 color and design trends.
“Every color in the Color Forecast, whether alone or when combined with others, tells a different story, a different riddle or different song, similar to the honesty found in a written journal,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “Our intent was to ask ourselves, ‘If this palette were a person, what kind of person might they be?’ making it important to bring forth a forecast that is aspiring, yet attainable, how all design should be.”
Wadden developed the trends with the Sherwin-Williams Color Forecast team by identifying colors from free-spirited wanderers and old-world storytellers, while drawing inspiration from every corner of the globe extending to the cosmos. The result, an organic and spontaneous palette.
Color Journals
Shapeshifter
There are those who always seem a little ahead of their time. This palette reaches into the cosmos and returns with a whole universe of inspiration. Shapeshifter’s aesthetic is about the mystical, from the deep sea to the galaxy and everything in between and is rooted by geometrics and clean lines.
“The color, grounded by blues capture the space between technology and spirituality found in the Shapeshifter palette,” says Wadden.
Wanderer
This palette is for the person who will not be fenced in, who needs to soak in the horizon and earthy tones of the high plains. Clays, caramels and browns come from canyons to worn leather and woven wool blankets of the new west.
“The Wanderer palette is warm,” says Wadden. “It brings you to a desert made of one part cowboy and one part Scandinavian style.”
Aficionado
Like a bookcase of leather-bound literary classics, this palette evokes nostalgia and traditions. Copper and gold anchor merlot and gray. The tones are classic.
“When we say ‘Aficionado,’ it evokes an emotion of what is well-worn and bespoke,” says Wadden. “It is ostentatious without being fake, and has charm to make it feel tasteful.”
Enthusiast
For those who go against the grain, break the rules or are more free-spirited than the status quo, the Enthusiast palette brings attitude. The proof is in this palette, which features pops of blue, green and red.
“The Enthusiast palette is a take on maximalism,” says Wadden. “It’s an opportunity to have fun and push boundaries with color.”
Naturalist
Nature lovers can connect with the wonder of the world in full bloom. The tones of this collection poke out from the rainforest as colorful tendrils. Ranging from mushroom to pink, the focus on botanicals is classic, with bold details.
“From conservancies to hothouses, Naturalist brings you into a French woodland,” says Wadden. “It’s a place where color doesn’t fade.”
Raconteur
From ancient rhetoric to the on-screen webcasts of today, there is a desire and appreciation for stories and the storytellers behind them. From Africa to the New World, human origins have been translated into this palette that spans time.
“From red to mauve, Raconteur represents storytelling itself,” says Wadden. “These stories are a reminder of how everyone is connected.”
Color Exploration and Selection
Learn more about Sherwin-Williams 2019 Colormix Color Forecast and other color selection resources at swcolorforecast.com. This experience provides a contextual overview of each color journal along with information about local Sherwin-William Colormix events for designers, which are eligible for continuing education (CEU) credit.
In addition, explore the Color Forecast and all of Sherwin-Williams colors using the ColorSnap Visualizer app, updated to allow customers to use augmented reality to make color selections. With Instant Paint, smartphone cameras instantly recognize walls in a three-dimensional space. Customers tap on any wall in their camera view to try on and see any of Sherwin-Williams 1,500 colors on walls in real time.