It’s time for our 2018 Color Trends Predictions—It looks like next year is going to be BOLD! How bold is BOLD? Will Grays still be in the forefront? Is there a “new neutral”? Keep reading to find out!  

Grays have really been embraced over these past few years. At Design Connection, grays have been featured in many of our interior design projects throughout the Kansas City area.

Unlike many trends that are “in” one year and “out” the next, grays have unpacked their boxes and moved in… Which is why it’s no surprise that our current obsession with this cloudy color has continued to heavily influence emerging color trends. Sherwin-Williams named Poised Taupe as their 2017 Color of the Year. See how these two colors came together to make the hottest color trend of 2017? Poised Taupe is like the love child of Earthen Brown and Conservative Grey!

I love the versatility that Poised Taupe possesses. It’s one of those chameleon-like paint colors that can take on the hue of other colors. In some settings, Poised Taupe appears browner; in other settings, it can appear to have more of a gray hue. I found this cute fabric swatch and uploaded it to LetsChipIt.com, (Sherwin-Williams’ amazing Color Snap desktop paint-matching tool). When paired with turquoise and light greens, Poised Taupe takes on a more lavender tone.

Sherwin-Williams wasn’t the only ones to meld our love of lavender with our craze for grays. PPG named Violet Verbena as their 2017 Color of the Year.

This year we’ve seen a shift towards jewel tones, and Benjamin Moore’s 2017 Color Palette is packed with eye candy! What I love most about this color palette is that any color combination looks amazing together. Emeralds, sapphires and amethysts bring richness and depth while opal-inspired tones add shimmer and shine.

At the very center of this palette is their 2017 Color of the Year: Shadow

Benjamin Moore’s 2017 Color of the Year, Shadow, is a deep, saturated amethyst with filled of mystery, with the ability to beautifully reflect rays of light and absorb the night’s shadows.

While Benjamin Moore has yet to release their Color Trend Predictions for this coming year, they were certainly on to something huge with their 2017 Color of the Year. PPG’s three paint brands have embraced the dark side this year, all with various interpretations of Black as their 2018 Color of the Year.

PPG 2018 Color of the Year: Black Flame

“In past years, consumers have gravitated toward open, airy spaces that are thought to leave room for exposure,” said Dee Schlotter, PPG’s senior color marketing manager for Olympic paint. “However, in the current day, consumers often feel uneasy, restless, or like their privacy is being invaded, so they crave deep, comforting colors that offer a welcomed escape from the chaos of daily life.”

“Black Flame acts like a black curtain, allowing your other décor elements to take center stage,” said Dee Schlotter, PPG senior color marketing manager. “It’s a fantastic blend of black and indigo, two classic hues. Black creates the silence we crave in an information-heavy world, while the indigo offers possibility and a deep hopefulness. The blend of two colors makes it incredibly versatile – use it on a statement wall, with a matte finish on a ceiling, with high gloss on a naturally-lit staircase, on cabinets, interior and exterior doors and in many more places. The versatile hue can also provide strength and a modern luxe vibe to spaces with a lot of whites, blush pinks and soft pastels.”

Olympic Black Magic

Black Magic is a DIYer’s Delight. This bathroom by Navy Bean Lane was revamped using Black Magic and it looks fantastic!

Glidden 2018 Color of the Year: Deep Onyx

I said 2018 was going to be a BOLD year. How bold is BOLD? See for yourself! Pantone, the world’s leading color experts and the undisputed creators of “Color of the Year” have released their 2018 color palettes:

We can ALWAYS count on Pantone to bring us the brightness! Their 2017 Color of the Year, Greenery, did just that.

Our 2017 Interior Design Trend Predictions called for a surge in Jungalo Chic-inspired designs. So, where does this mean for 2018?

That question can be answered with the Sherwin-Williams 2018 Color Mix Forecast!

Affinity

“We’re remapping our sense of community,” says Wadden, Sherwin-Williams’ Director of Marketing. “Landlocked cities are becoming global hubs of crafts and gastronomy… Home and car sharing, as well as e-learning, have created a culture of everyday nomadism and the wanderlust-obsessed.”

Connectivity

“Inspired by the progressive movement of virtual reality, productivity and youth culture, the high-tech Connectivity palette serves up colors we crave: pixelated in orange, violets, digital greens and high-def yellow.”

“In Silicon Valley, Austin, Berlin and Beijing, techies are the new hippies, full of breakthrough ideas and utopian ideals,” said Wadden. “Connectivity is modern and playful, bringing in dark watery tones of blue that are balanced with neutrals, warm yellow and energetic purples.”

Sincerity

“Sincerity is about mindful living and creating an environment to disconnect and recharge. Soft, washed neutrals, greens and sanctuary pinks work together to create harmony,” says Wadden.

Like where the surf meets the sand, the organic feel of the muted colors in this entire palette mesh together effortlessly. If you worry about stepping out of the safety of a determined color scheme or if you have experienced painter’s remorse in the past, the Sincerity Palette is a perfect place to start. Just relax and let it all blend…

Pantone, Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams all have yet to announce their official Colors of the Year. We will announce it here on our interior design blog as soon as we hear! Don’t miss out on our latest project photos, emerging design trends and interior design advice—-sign up for our newsletter here!