“Upward,” “Limitless” and “Sweet Embrace” offer optimistic outlook for 2024 finishing trends

Entering the New Year, finishing forecasts predict an optimistic outlook expressed in calming, comfortable, cozy shades. Softly tinted hues lead the 2024 color palettes for architectural coatings, reflecting the trend toward warmer, less saturated colors. With names like “Upward” by Sherwin-Williams, “Limitless” by PPG and “Sweet Embrace” by AkzoNobel, these color choices are intended to soothe and inspire us, while conveying a sense of peace and well-being.

Upward presents an icy blue appearance with an undertone of violet. Sherwin Williams describes the color as “a breezy, blissful blue” and a “tranquil and uplifting blue-gray that encourages boundless creativity. This color of classic comfort speaks to a desire for personal progress and peace – an outlook and effort that allows us, individually and together, to move up and rise above – ever ascending.”

2024 colors of the year

Limitless offers a fresh, honey beige shade that “contains both the power of a primary and the essence of a neutral. It is strong enough to stand as the leading color of many products, yet works equally well as a supporting tone to both warm and cool shades,” according to PPG. Ashley McCollum, PPG marketing manager and global color expert for architectural coatings, added, “In the architectural space, we anticipate that it will rapidly become one of newest neutrals due to its versatility.”

Sweet Embrace delivers a pastel pink shade “inspired by soft feathers and evening clouds that contributes to create a calm and welcoming environment,” notes AkzoNobel.

To expand on their Colors of the Year, coatings manufacturers curate color palettes with dozens of complementary hues. PPG’s 2024 Design Trends pairs its signature color of the year with floral pinks, juicy violets, spicy reds, chocolatey browns, rooted garden greens and a broad range of blues.

The Sherwin-Williams 2024 Colormix^® forecast organizes its selected colors into four overarching trends:

• The convergency of blues and greens – Blues and greens are known to promote a sense of calmness and reduce stress
• The poetry of reds and purples – Shades of baked clay, reds, beiges, blush and plum instill an atmosphere of creative expression and freedom
• A gathering of deeps and darks – Darker colors serve up a bold modern vibe of artistry and individuality
• A study in delicate tints – Lighter whites and tints can be used to interplay with natural or artificial light to promote harmonious spaces

“We’re predicting an update to the traditional pairings of blue and green with neutrals for a functional and clean or more artisanal and pigmented aesthetic,” explained Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. She noted that design aesthetics have been trending toward warmer colors, coinciding with the rising popularity of earth-aligned browns rather than the cooler, grayed-out browns. Mixing in hues from the red and purple family creates atmospheres of groundedness and balance. More muted and clay-inspired pigments, pink-beige neutrals and true purples may take the lead.

The purple-infused pink of Sweet Embrace already is moving this trend forward. AkzoNobel presents its 2024 complementary collections as three color stories:

A warm color story – It reminds of home, a place that feels comfortable and safe by combining shades of stone, soil and terra cotta clay.
A calm color story – It evokes thoughts of nature and the essence of life by bringing together the soft greens and blues of the woods and the sea.
An uplifting color story – Joyful colors that put a smile on faces, inspiring imagination and creativity with dreamy lilacs, fluid greys and modern yellows.