Personal style can be a deeply emotional form of self-expression, whether in collecting items for the closet or curating a custom design for a favorite room. Fashion and interior styles help us tell the world who we are through the languages of color, texture, proportion, and personal taste.

When we teamed up with inimitable American design icon Christian Siriano to create the Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams^® Color Collection, Sherwin-Williams Director of Color Marketing Sue Wadden naturally discovered a lot of common ground with Siriano.

The complete palette, featuring hues from Emerald^® Designer Edition™ Color Collection, shown here in gold.

The pair met in Siriano’s home to hand-select 30 natural neutrals for the collection, nine of which are Emerald^® Designer Edition™ hues, our finest paint formula crafted with the highest quality to create stunning spaces.

Beyond this mutual love of color and quality, we’re giving you a glimpse into the creative process behind this exciting new partnership, in Sue and Christian’s own words. Here’s what they have to say about this elegant new palette.

STIR: What is the defining theme of the collection? How would you describe it?

Christian Siriano: I want people to feel that this collection is modern and warm, but also elegant—just like my clothes. I’m going three places with color—I’m going really white, really dark with grays, blues, and greens, and now I’m starting to get into the world of balanced beiges, which I’m loving.

I led with whites, because I like a neutral space, and then I like to build on that. White can be really hard to find. So many people are always asking me for the best white to use. So I wanted this collection to have options for the perfect white that can be an anchor to your palette, working in bolder neutrals for the spaces you want to stand out.

Natural White is the new white and I’m obsessed. I want it on everything. It reflects so much natural light and creates this gorgeous clarity everyone’s looking for. It’s definitely my go-to from the Emerald^® Designer Edition™ collection.

Sue Wadden: I would say the overall vibe of the collection is “modern organic.” Christian selected a broad range of hues from sophisticated neutrals and organic blues and greens to warm pops of brown and pinks. It’s an inspired palette with a relatable range of hues for both designers and homeowners.

STIR: How have fashion trend cycles factored into color forecasting for Sherwin-Williams in the past?

Sue: Fashion is always a component in our forecast cycle. We look at the macro direction of the runway to help inform a point of view on style, but it is an important material and color story. Innovative materials and color start in the fashion cycle and often adapt to interiors, so fashion portends what’s to come in environmental design.

STIR: Sue, what was it like working alongside Christian Siriano on this project? 

Sue: Christian is a delight to work with—a true professional and collaborator. My favorite insight to share is that Christian’s fashion point of view is very different from his interior aesthetic. He favors natural colors and hues, organic materials and shapes in his interiors. His inspiration is heavily influenced by the natural environment, which is so important in today’s interiors. He clearly draws a distinct line of separation between his interiors and his fashion, and I really appreciated that sophistication.

Our Designer Peel & Stick Kit features six core Emerald^® Designer Edition™ colors, handpicked by Christian to tell a whole-home story. 

STIR: What does the full Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams^® Color Collection say about current or classic interior trends?

Christian: My clothes and my interiors are very of the moment, and modern, and now, because I’m that type of designer.

Sue: My favorite element to this collaboration is the juxtaposition between the superstar Christian Siriano and the real live version of the man, who is a real live working designer. That’s my favorite thing: that he really is a designer just like us! He evaluates materials and colors, he looks at the needs of his clients and wants to deliver the best possible product.

I think this palette is a great collection of colors that reflects where Christian is right now as far as interiors go. He is very inspired by the natural landscape, art, and midcentury modern design. He leans into luxe, but in an understated way—he wants to source quality materials but doesn’t overdo it.

STIR: What emerging home interior styles, aesthetics, materials, and finishes do you envision playing well within this color palette?

Christian: I love using dark colors in sanctuary spaces. You would think that makes them feel closed off, but for me, it feels very intimate, like you’re in your own little world.

Sue: Modern organic for sure. Tinted whites set the tone for his collection, and then he layers in warmer, darker, and natural hues to build an aesthetic balanced by warm wood tones, stone, metal, and glass. It’s slightly industrial at times, which could be the influence of art. The palette reminds me of our 2022 trend color palette, Method. 

STIR: What’s your personal perspective on color selection and individuality? What motivates your own color choices at home?

Christian: Even in my house, the outside is inside. The windows are so big you feel like you’re seeing everything. And when you see things that are natural, they’re not just one color—there are so many different tones at play.

We live our lives in our spaces. They’re our sanctuary, so they should be just as fabulous as when you put something on your body and walk out the door. Home should feel the same way.

Sue: My personal perspective on color selection is constantly evolving. I tend to favor warmer neutrals at home as they create a sense of tranquility and sanctuary. I look at color every day, so the place that I call home needs to be restive and balanced. 

I also love complex neutrals like terracotta, bronze, moss green, and charcoal. It makes sense, since those colors tend to be the most complicated. I describe my favorite colors with a food reference. It's like a gorgeous curry or mole sauce—there are so many flavors and spices and elements that combine to create a rich and complex flavor profile. That’s how I look at my own personal color favorites!

Order samples online or contact your Account Executive to bring home Christian Siriano’s top six picks, including a go-to white and natural neutrals in Emerald^® Designer Edition™ colors.