Sherwin-Williams Creates colormix 2015 Collection

June 11, 2014  by in Designer Weekly   

The company's color palettes, created to provide design professionals with color combinations for use in design spaces.

“We’re seeing a more cheerful approach to design and have forecasted colors that will provide a range of inspiration for designers to create fresh, joyful interiors,” said Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams.

Jordan, along with Sherwin-Williams color experts, researched trends in art, fashion, science and pop culture to determine the 40 colors that make up the forecast. The colors are grouped into four palettes: Chrysalis, Voyage, Buoyant and Unrestrained.

Chrysalis

As technology rushes relentlessly ahead, the colors of Chrysalis evoke a calm oasis—a place to pause and find balance. The palette, with colors ranging from off-black to chalky neutrals and dusty blues, is designed to create a more comfortable interior.

“An important influence for Chrysalis is the appreciation of earth’s natural striations,” said Jordan. “The patterns created by land and sky are driving design inspiration, therefore the palette’s colors are found in nature, from rocks found on the beach to a stormy sky.”

Another driver is the layering and deconstruction of geometric shapes to appear soft, which parallels the monochromatic couture found on fashion runways.

Voyage

From space tourism and undersea resorts, the far-fetched, sci-fi dreams of past decades more viable than ever. The Voyage palette looks to these outer limits, featuring hues that represent the color spectrum imagined while emerging from the water into the atmosphere—undersea teal, bright green kelp, light watery blue and deep space purple.

“The colors of Voyage are supernatural and magical. The palette is largely driven by unusual atmospheric events, including a decade-best aurora borealis, that will be keeping our eyes focused on the heavens,” said Jordan. “The lighter colors of the palette create a space that is uplifting, while the deeper tones can be combined for a more dramatic design.”

Buoyant

“We’ve weathered the recession and are finally seeing hopeful signs of growth and expansion. Our revived good spirits echo the optimism that followed World War II, when GIs returned home from exotic locales, bringing a wave of tropical prints and tiki-inspired looks,” said Jordan. “Like that era, we’re expressing our enthusiasm with big, bright florals in fashion and interiors.”

The colors of Buoyant are reminiscent of vintage floral patterns—light and deep greens, violets and a pop of coral. In addition to renewed optimism, the palette is also inspired by the natural healing of botanicals, as well as the incorporation of green spaces into even the most densely urban environments. Backyards, once a landscaping afterthought, are now as important as front yards, with builders investing in rear “curb appeal” and outdoor rooms.

Unrestrained

From bold, ethnic-inspired colors and designs to the Bohemian lifestyle, the Unrestrained palette celebrates a carefree spirit, wanderlust and pulsing color. The palette features saturated primary hues, including sunny yellow, lively turquoise and bright blue, as well as black and white. Each can be used on its own for a pop of color, or combined, to create a vibrant, energetic space.

“South Africa’s colorful art scene and focus on the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have strongly influenced a Carnival-like spirit. This spirit is inspiring design with a zest for life, and the vibrant colors of Unrestrained are a reflection of that design aesthetic,” said Jordan.

In addition to the colormix 2015 palettes, professionals can find inspiration with color selection tools from Sherwin-Williams online. There design professionals can view the company's colors and collections, link to downloadable palettes for use in color rendering software and access the online Color Visualizer.