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Commercial Color Trends for 2023
We asked Emily Kantz, Color Marketing Manager and architect of the 2023 Commercial Colormix® Forecast—the hand-selected unique color collections within the commercial, hospitality, new residential, healthcare, education, multi-family settings, and beyond, thoughtfully curated just for professionals—to answer some pressing questions about trending commercial colors, industry changes, and what she’s most excited about right now. This is what she had to say.
This year’s Colormix® palettes act as a guide for selecting trend-forward colors, like Reddened Earth SW 6053 (194-C5), in residential and commercial spaces alike.
STIR: Walk us through the process of building the Commercial Colormix® palettes. What makes it unique from other forecasting efforts?
Emily Kantz: I really take a look at the commercial segments and determine what the big shifts are. There is a huge focus on mental health, on inclusivity, and also on sustainability. So what colors pertain to those insights?
Commercial designers approach colors and design differently; they need to think about the next 5+ years because commercial environments don’t tend to get updated every other year with the latest hot trend. Designers need to be mindful from a sustainability perspective while also keeping in mind design that is more forward thinking to make sure it stays fresh and current.
Richly saturated shades like Mount Etna SW 7625 (279-C2) bring the beauty of the outdoors in, while Carnelian SW 7580 (276-C6) and Chatura Gray SW 9169 (242-C4) lend warmth to New Residential exteriors.
S: Is there a commercial segment and corresponding palette that you’re especially excited about?
E: Hospitality always tends to have some intriguing projects, and it’s inspiring to see new projects pop up every year that push the envelope or are really forward-thinking for design.
Soft shades, like Redend Point SW 9081 (195-C4), and tactile finishes provide retreat-like comfort for guest rooms while saturated shades like Blue Peacock SW 0064 tell a rich story for eateries.
I see huge room for opportunity in the education market, and I’m really excited to see more growth there, more inclusive design opportunities, and deep dives into some new ideas. There’s no one-size-fits-all, so it’s exciting to see where designers and architects are looking to propel design in that market.
Purposeful pops of color like Fabulous Grape SW 6293 (109-C6) are balanced with light wood tones, creating an environment with less visual clutter to remove sensory triggers.
S: What are some of the key color and application trends influencing design in each sector in 2023?
E: I do think that designers are tuning in to hyper-local market trends lately. Also the focus on sustainability in technology and human innovation has grown sharper, so that’s really exciting to watch as those sectors continue to push the boundaries.
Intriguing and smoky Homburg Gray SW 7622 (238-C7) represents an evolution from the rich blues that have dominated commercial spaces.
We’ve definitely seen warmer tones really explode for the commercial market, so that's been intriguing. Oranges and yellows have been trending and we continue to monitor shifts in those tones; deep green has really taken on a new role of a deep neutral, taking over the space that navy blue had for so long.
To learn more about the 2023 Commercial Colormix® Forecast, click here.
Top image colors: Serape SW 6656 (122-C5) and Pure White SW 7005 (255-C1) from the Hospitality Palette
