Kerry Pianoforte, Editor
Color popularity goes in and out of style. Colors that were popular 30 years ago now appear dated and stodgy. For 2016 the trend
is freshness and simplicity with many major paint
companies choosing neutral colors as their color of
the year.
White Shines
Several coatings companies selected neutral white
tones as their color of the year. Sherwin-Williams
named Alabaster (SW 7008), a hue symbolic of new
beginnings, as the 2016 Color of the Year. Drawn
from Pura Vida, one of the four palettes in Sherwin-
Williams colormix 2016, Alabaster represents the
prominent use of light, which is a key element for traditional
Nordic design. The color experts at Sherwin-
Williams noted that it also pairs nicely with other
popular Scandinavian décor influences including
sleek lines, copper metallic finishes, marble and
wood grain materials. Alabaster’s naturally flatter-
ing, barely-there undertones make for an attractive
option when selecting a neutral color for spaces
where people interact, such as lobbies, restaurants
or retail settings. In healthcare spaces or a hotel
spa, the color promotes a setting for healing and re-
laxation. The hue stands alone as a monochromatic
statement, or forms a yin and yang harmony with
contrasting dark colors, such as Urbane Bronze (SW
7048) or Gray Area (SW 7052).
Benjamin Moore chose Simply White OC-117 as its color fo
Coatings World takes a look at the latest color trends from paint manufacturers.
COLOR TRENDS
Photo courtesy of Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore’s Simply
White was chosen as its
2016 Color of the Year.
