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Why promising color forecast colors got left behind this year — and why it’s still worth considering them for your designs.
By Sue Wadden
Each spring the Sherwin-Williams Color Forecast team gets together to share observations, insights, data and more, ultimately identifying the final palettes that will define design and color in the coming year. This caffeine-fueled process (read more about that here) usually results in four palettes, but this year was different: one of the four palettes didn’t make the cut. So what’s the story with this mysterious fourth palette? Let me tell you!
The palette, which our team had named Verde, is filled with gorgeous greens, from deep, rich and loamy to verdant and tropical. Inspired by the earth’s natural environment, Verde takes cues from the design movement of bringing the outdoors in. The therapeutic and health benefits of creating a space with elements like green roofs, live walls, kokedama moss balls and terrariums heavily influenced this palette. Feeling zen yet? Good. That was the intention.
Globally, Verde was influenced by the movement of “going green,” especially in the transportation industry. With the rise in eco-technology and products like Tesla, Uber and apps that help drivers find a faster route, it seems as though everyone is embracing efficiency and environmentalism. Verde’s earthy greens, yellows and beiges speak to these environmental drivers.
Sounds pretty great, right? So why didn’t Verde make it into the forecast? The narrative of the other palettes — Unity, Connectivity and Sincerity — worked so well together that Verde felt like an outsider. Our color team felt the best way to present the influences was to combine Verde’s colors into the other palettes to tell a stronger and more cohesive color story. Connectivity, in particular, acquired most of Verde’s colors and influencers.
To capture the spirit of Verde in design, opt for organic elements such as bamboo, brick or river stones, paired with fabrics such as cotton, wool and linens. Plus, you can’t go wrong with filling space with plants — I’m loving ceramic pots filled with succulents and oversized fiddle-leaf figs. Anything that screams “eco-friendly” will encompass what Verde is all about.
