Using the 2023 Color of the Year: Redend Point

The New Neutral for Performance Coatings and Beyond

We’ve been eagerly awaiting the official reveal of the Sherwin-Williams 2023 Color of the Year: the alluring, intriguing Redend Point SW 9081 (195-C4). A shade warmer than trending neutrals, this surprising-yet-subtle color is set to push boundaries in design in the coming year.

Now we’re sharing what our experts consider to be the most inspired applications for this stunning neutral shade.

First Impressions

When the Color Forecast Team first met to discuss 2023 trends earlier this year, the prevalence of warm neutrals could not be ignored. Emily Kantz, our Color Marketing Manager and architect of the Commercial Colormix® Forecast, remembers how one showroom at NeoCon drew people in with a warm and comforting glow, and how beautiful it looked after years of trending cool tones.

^{Rose-toned neutrals embody an expanded sense of “care” and create warmth in communal spaces, like this waiting area in Redend Point SW 9081 (195-C4).}

Kantz says Redend Point SW 9081 (195-C4) was chosen in particular for its “sunbaked, natural quality,” reminiscent of “handmade pottery drying in the sun.” Kiki Redhead, Global CMF and Trend Manager for Industrial Design Segments, also noted the human element of this neutral, symbolic as it is of the current “Care Culture.”

While first glimmers of this color brought to mind “nostalgia, humanity, well-being, and natural earthen sand tones, Redend Point carries these macro connotations forward while pointing toward the importance of equity, equality, and empathy,” Redhead says.

^{The 2023 Color of the Year creates a subtly stunning effect in a variety of wood finishes.}

Lauren West, Director of Global Color and Design for Industrial Wood Coatings, loves how usable this color is. “Redend Point is soothing and familiar,” she says, “a color that comforts and nourishes, giving a sense of calm and wellness. It’s soft, welcoming, and neutral … a grounding, mood-boosting hug.”

The Many Inspired Interpretations of Redend Point

“The visual effects possible with Redend Point are endless,” says Redhead, giving us the following applications to consider for future projects using Redend Point.

This blushing-beige neutral resembles a rose gold if given a soft shimmer or low gloss with ultra-fine mica, perfect for luxe cosmetics packaging. For other luxurious uses, think powder-coated lighting and plumbing fixtures, or coil and extrusion for exteriors, and infuse a little metallic sparkle to make a striking accent against historic brick tones.

^{Click through to see a selection of inspiring formulation opportunities made possible by the warm neutral tone of Redend Point SW 9081 (195-C4).}

In automotive and aerospace interiors, soft-touch suede or velvet technology could be used to give the illusion of fine leather; with the use of a sand or wrinkle texture, metal office and outdoor furniture could impart the feeling of a tranquil beach or desert destination.

Lauren West sees no end to the opportunities for wood applications in residential interiors, with Redend Point used as an accent in the kitchen on islands or wooden hoods, a hint of Redend Point for flooring in a nursery or meditative space, and in accent case goods collections.

Kantz sees ample possibilities for commercial markets as well. “I can picture this color being used in a women’s health clinic, paired with trendy decor and creamy whites. In hospitality settings, especially in the Southwest, it can feed into the hyperlocal movement with its clay/desert vibes.”

^{Redend Point SW 9081 (195-C4) creates enveloping environments that feel both welcoming and soothing in any commercial application.}

A Warm Neutral for a New Era

There’s so much inspiration to be found in the intriguing must-have neutral that is the Color of the Year for 2023, whether unique finishes and surprising applications make sense for your project or you prefer to let the color speak for itself.

“To keep this color looking as authentically itself as possible, go with a matte or flat finish,” advises Kantz, “and pair it with warm or cool whites, such as Kestrel White SW 7516 (266-C5) or Pure White SW 7005 (255-C1), to keep it looking really fresh, or go with Homburg Gray SW 7622 (238-C7) and Foothills SW 7514 (248-C7) for a more eclectic look.”

No matter how it’s used, we can’t wait to see all the ways this beautiful hue inspires designers, architects, and specifiers in the year ahead. To explore the beautifully blushing world of Redend Point further, click here.