We’re halfway through 2019, which means it’s time to start thinking about what 2020 will hold. As they do every year, US paint and finish giant Sherwin-Williams has set out its stall with the their Colour Forecast for the new season. This is always an interesting indicator for where the industry might go, but as with all design, it’s about seeing what resonates. It’s the first indicator of where some insiders think the colour trends are leading us for the year to come. These are some of the ideas we’ll be seeing designers start to play with in the months ahead.
Interestingly, almost all of the palettes S-W have chosen are soothing and heavily inspired by nature. The reasoning behind this – according to S-W – is that the fast past of modern life and technology means that we’re trending towards an underlying desire for serenity in our interiors. We’d add to that, that 2020 is also an election year in the US! If you thought the last few thoughts were rocky, things are only going to get more interesting in the run-up to November 2020, so the more calm we can find in our surroundings the better, no matter where in the world you live!
So read on, and let us know what you think of the next season’s range of colours. Which ones do you see yourselves implementing?
Colour Trends 2020
Palette #1: Alive
The first palette is being called “Alive” by the forecasters. Evolving from the current season’s bright, sparkling jewel tones, this palette deepens and enriches them, taking those eye-catching accent tones and turning them into luxurious background finishes intended to echo mindful living and natural surroundings and the organic living of vibrant fruits and vegetables.
It’s body-consciousness and mindfulness in rich blues and ripe, dark olives.
Palette #2: Mantra
The Mantra palette is soft, in a more neutral range with a balance of warm and cool tones, intended to imbue a pastel calm without being boring. We can see this palette featuring well throughout the design and commercial industry thanks to its neutral versatility; calm, cool spaces that don’t overwhelm.
Palette #3: Play
By design, this is the most eye-catching of the palettes for the colour trends in 2020.
The Play palette is all about adding pops of colour; escaping the seriousness of a design by having a laugh. This is where the accent walls are still clinging on! Some of the most interesting implementations are in colour blocking – contrasting an accent wall with a dramatic sofa or sideboard. It’s certainly not an approach for every room, but where so many of the palettes could be trending towards the subtle, these options will be great where you’re looking to add a little levity.
Bright pink, aqua and gold are all about bringing joy to a space.
Palette #4: Haven
Haven is all about nature, but again – as with so much of next year’s palettes – there’s a gentle subtlety to the shades inspired by sea, sand, forest, and sky. It’s all about organic, natural elements, giving a more muted counterpart to the Alive palette.
Palette #5: Heart
And the last palette – Heart – rounds off the mindfulness theme for the year. These silky, neutral, organic tones pair well with the more open feeling of the Haven set, but here drawing themselves in and around you with clove, soft coral and earth tones that give a more insulated and soothing effect. These are the “snuggle” tones you want to wrap around yourself to escape life’s hubbub.
So that’s what Sherwin-Williams thinks we’ll be dressing up our spaces in for 2020: a year of calm, nature and mindfulness. We’re looking forward to it, but most importantly we’re looking forward to seeing how all you designers out there interpret these trends and where you take them – whether you’re professional or aspiring to be.
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