David Savastano, Contributing Editor10.13.22
For the past few years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a sense that people were longing for comforting experiences. This was true also in their choice of colors, and paint companies chose neutral colors that fit in with that feeling.
Now, Benjamin Moore’s color experts are sensing that home owners are looking to break out again. The selection of Raspberry Blush 2008-30, a reddish-orange hue, as its Color of the Year 2023 fits the yearning for an upbeat color.
Andrea Magno, color marketing and development director at Benjamin Moore, said that Raspberry Blush adds a sense of “excitement” to homes, and that is what people are looking for in selecting architectural paints this year.
“For 2023, we identified a need for an upbeat energy in rooms - a quality that a color such as Raspberry Blush can surely deliver,” Magno said. “While we love neutrals and our collection of off-whites with their many subtleties, it was the desire to bravely dive into color that tugged at the team, pushing us outside of our color comfort zones – and it was a great feeling!”
Benjamin Moore’s color experts selected eight colors for the Color Trends 2023 palette. They include:
• Raspberry Blush 2008-30
• Conch Shell 052
• Wenge AF-180
• Cinnamon 2174-20
• New Age 1444
• Starry Night Blue 2067-20
• North Sea Green 2053-30
• Savannah Green 2150-30
“Raspberry Blush leads the way for the palette of saturated, uplifting hues included in the Color Trends 2023 palette,” Magno noted. “Each color has a distinct personality and can stand on its own for fantastic results. The confidence and charisma of Raspberry Blush is contagious, inviting us to push outside of our comfort zones and into an amazing color experience.”
Magno noted that Raspberry Blush 2008-30 is a saturated red-orange that enlivens surroundings while awakening our senses with charismatic color.
“This vivacious color is unapologetic in its boldness as it encourages a confident color statement,” she said. “As we considered how we would use this color inside the home, we saw Raspberry Blush as an opportunity to bring a renewed, lively take on the traditional red dining room of the past, also nodding to the nostalgic influences that were sprinkled through our color research.
“We also love this color for an entry because this hue will set the stage with personality while welcoming guests in a confident and energetic manner,” Magno added. “For the exterior, Raspberry Blush is a great alternative to a red front door for a punchy accent that will wake up an otherwise neutral look.”
During the last few years, the world has been through many difficult challenges, beginning with COVID-19. Magno noted that these times have been reflected in the past few Color of the Year selections, and Raspberry Blush and the Color Trends 2023 palette are a return to more vibrant choices.
“The past few years have certainly impacted how we’ve approached updating our homes with color and the selections that have felt right for the time,” said Magno. “In 2021 and 2022, our Color Trends palettes had a softened or sun-baked feel that was both comforting and grounding – something we were looking for in a time of uncertainty under unprecedented circumstances.
“Today we still want a feeling of stability with many serious and unsettling circumstances at work in the world, but there also a growing desire for self-expression and a confident move outside the tried and true,” she added. “This yearning to bring color into our homes in 2023 is like a runner in the starting blocks, ready to sprint into action. Similarly, we are ready to engage our senses in expressive colors that we haven’t seen in several years, running forward to consider a punchy red-orange, a luxurious deep brown, or a magical blue. The Color Trends 2023 palette is vibrant and playful, encouraging us to have fun with color and experience the impact a dynamic wall color can deliver.”
Magno observed that using a bolder color in the home after many years of very neutral color schemes can be challenging.
“Taking the plunge into deep, saturated or chromatic colors can be daunting, especially when we’ve become so comfortable with all-neutral spaces,” she added. “Moving back into color may require a leap of faith, but the results will be impactful and will showcase great color confidence. A way to move into using color may be through a small accent, or even painting a room such as a study, powder room, or another space where a stand-alone color will work well. Using samples is also a great way to test drive a color – sometimes adjusting to using a stronger color can be an important step to become comfortable with bringing a transformative color into a room.”
Music goes so well with color, and Benjamin Moore collaborated with electro-funk duo Chromeo on Chromeo’s new song, “Raspberry Blush,” which the company notes celebrates the positivity and enjoyment of life that both color and music can influence. There are eight curated playlists that reflect the personality of each color and the spirit of the palette on Spotify.
Selecting Color of the Year
The selection of the Color of the Year is an interesting process. For example, at Benjamin Moore, the Color team spends months researching, recording observations, and sharing a wide array of ideas that are ultimately synthesized to guide the curation of the Color Trends palette and select the Color of the Year.
“Through this work, our aim is to analyze where the societal mood or inclination is headed for the coming year, and how we can use these cues to determine where the general color direction is headed,” Magno observed. “From there, we look at overarching color trends and how we can relate this to the many ways in which color is brought into the home.”
Once the Color of the Year is selected, the Color team starts looking for next year’s trends.
“The Color Marketing team is always on the lookout for intriguing colors, fresh uses of color and combinations – really any ideas that stand out and may be the tiny seed of a bigger idea that can evolve into a concept for the coming year,” Magno noted. “This is one of the most exciting parts of the process because the color palette and concept can be anything. It’s for us to put the pieces together and develop a concept that will resonate with our customers and will inspire new ideas that will expand color horizons.”
For homeowners, Raspberry Blush and the Color Trends 2023 palette is a refreshing take for today’s homes.
“We want to bring excitement and a new-found vitality to the home, with Raspberry Blush and the rest of the Color Trends 2023 palette,” Magno said. “For 2023, the time is right to take a confident step forward in our color selections to truly embrace the transformative power of color and paint.”
Now, Benjamin Moore’s color experts are sensing that home owners are looking to break out again. The selection of Raspberry Blush 2008-30, a reddish-orange hue, as its Color of the Year 2023 fits the yearning for an upbeat color.
Andrea Magno, color marketing and development director at Benjamin Moore, said that Raspberry Blush adds a sense of “excitement” to homes, and that is what people are looking for in selecting architectural paints this year.
“For 2023, we identified a need for an upbeat energy in rooms - a quality that a color such as Raspberry Blush can surely deliver,” Magno said. “While we love neutrals and our collection of off-whites with their many subtleties, it was the desire to bravely dive into color that tugged at the team, pushing us outside of our color comfort zones – and it was a great feeling!”
Benjamin Moore’s color experts selected eight colors for the Color Trends 2023 palette. They include:
• Raspberry Blush 2008-30
• Conch Shell 052
• Wenge AF-180
• Cinnamon 2174-20
• New Age 1444
• Starry Night Blue 2067-20
• North Sea Green 2053-30
• Savannah Green 2150-30
“Raspberry Blush leads the way for the palette of saturated, uplifting hues included in the Color Trends 2023 palette,” Magno noted. “Each color has a distinct personality and can stand on its own for fantastic results. The confidence and charisma of Raspberry Blush is contagious, inviting us to push outside of our comfort zones and into an amazing color experience.”
Magno noted that Raspberry Blush 2008-30 is a saturated red-orange that enlivens surroundings while awakening our senses with charismatic color.
“This vivacious color is unapologetic in its boldness as it encourages a confident color statement,” she said. “As we considered how we would use this color inside the home, we saw Raspberry Blush as an opportunity to bring a renewed, lively take on the traditional red dining room of the past, also nodding to the nostalgic influences that were sprinkled through our color research.
“We also love this color for an entry because this hue will set the stage with personality while welcoming guests in a confident and energetic manner,” Magno added. “For the exterior, Raspberry Blush is a great alternative to a red front door for a punchy accent that will wake up an otherwise neutral look.”
During the last few years, the world has been through many difficult challenges, beginning with COVID-19. Magno noted that these times have been reflected in the past few Color of the Year selections, and Raspberry Blush and the Color Trends 2023 palette are a return to more vibrant choices.
“The past few years have certainly impacted how we’ve approached updating our homes with color and the selections that have felt right for the time,” said Magno. “In 2021 and 2022, our Color Trends palettes had a softened or sun-baked feel that was both comforting and grounding – something we were looking for in a time of uncertainty under unprecedented circumstances.
“Today we still want a feeling of stability with many serious and unsettling circumstances at work in the world, but there also a growing desire for self-expression and a confident move outside the tried and true,” she added. “This yearning to bring color into our homes in 2023 is like a runner in the starting blocks, ready to sprint into action. Similarly, we are ready to engage our senses in expressive colors that we haven’t seen in several years, running forward to consider a punchy red-orange, a luxurious deep brown, or a magical blue. The Color Trends 2023 palette is vibrant and playful, encouraging us to have fun with color and experience the impact a dynamic wall color can deliver.”
Magno observed that using a bolder color in the home after many years of very neutral color schemes can be challenging.
“Taking the plunge into deep, saturated or chromatic colors can be daunting, especially when we’ve become so comfortable with all-neutral spaces,” she added. “Moving back into color may require a leap of faith, but the results will be impactful and will showcase great color confidence. A way to move into using color may be through a small accent, or even painting a room such as a study, powder room, or another space where a stand-alone color will work well. Using samples is also a great way to test drive a color – sometimes adjusting to using a stronger color can be an important step to become comfortable with bringing a transformative color into a room.”
Music goes so well with color, and Benjamin Moore collaborated with electro-funk duo Chromeo on Chromeo’s new song, “Raspberry Blush,” which the company notes celebrates the positivity and enjoyment of life that both color and music can influence. There are eight curated playlists that reflect the personality of each color and the spirit of the palette on Spotify.
Selecting Color of the Year
The selection of the Color of the Year is an interesting process. For example, at Benjamin Moore, the Color team spends months researching, recording observations, and sharing a wide array of ideas that are ultimately synthesized to guide the curation of the Color Trends palette and select the Color of the Year.
“Through this work, our aim is to analyze where the societal mood or inclination is headed for the coming year, and how we can use these cues to determine where the general color direction is headed,” Magno observed. “From there, we look at overarching color trends and how we can relate this to the many ways in which color is brought into the home.”
Once the Color of the Year is selected, the Color team starts looking for next year’s trends.
“The Color Marketing team is always on the lookout for intriguing colors, fresh uses of color and combinations – really any ideas that stand out and may be the tiny seed of a bigger idea that can evolve into a concept for the coming year,” Magno noted. “This is one of the most exciting parts of the process because the color palette and concept can be anything. It’s for us to put the pieces together and develop a concept that will resonate with our customers and will inspire new ideas that will expand color horizons.”
For homeowners, Raspberry Blush and the Color Trends 2023 palette is a refreshing take for today’s homes.
“We want to bring excitement and a new-found vitality to the home, with Raspberry Blush and the rest of the Color Trends 2023 palette,” Magno said. “For 2023, the time is right to take a confident step forward in our color selections to truly embrace the transformative power of color and paint.”
