Every 2023 Color of the Year We Know So Far

Every year, paint brands and trend forecasters crown a “Color of the Year” like it’s prom night for pigments. One shade gets the sash, the spotlight, and (inevitably) a thousand “Would you put this in a bathroom?” debates. And in 2023, the winners didn’t just show upthey kicked in the door wearing velvet, terracotta, and a warm-white that politely asked you to please stop buying gray for everything.

Here’s the funny part: there’s no single global committee of Color Bosses. Each brand picks its own hero hue based on design culture, consumer behavior, and the collective mood of people who just want their living room to feel less like a spreadsheet. The result? A surprisingly coherent 2023 color story: cozy neutrals, expressive reds and pinks, grounded earth tones, and a blue-green that can’t decide which side it’s on (relatable).

Below is an in-depth look at the major 2023 Color of the Year announcements from well-known U.S. brands and outlets, plus practical ways to use each shade without accidentally creating a room that looks like a haunted hotel lobby.

Why there are so many “Colors of the Year” (and why that’s actually useful)

“Color of the Year” is part trend forecast, part design inspiration, and part marketing megaphone. Brands don’t just pick a pretty swatchthey’re signaling what they think people want emotionally and aesthetically. In 2023, that signal was loud and clear: comfort matters, but so does personality.

The upside of multiple picks is choice. If you love bold color, 2023 delivered saturated reds and rosy tones. If you want calm, there were warm whites and greiges designed to make your home feel like a soft exhale. If you want “I’m interesting but also I like naps,” hello moody blue-greens and dimensional near-blacks.

The 2023 Colors of the Year, brand by brand

Pantone: Viva Magenta (PANTONE 18-1750)

Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year, Viva Magenta, is a punchy red-magenta that leans confident, spirited, and high-energy. It’s the kind of color that doesn’t whisper “accent wall”it announces it with a drumline. Pantone positioned it as bold and lively, rooted in the red family with an expressive, “show up as yourself” vibe.

How to use it without living inside a lipstick: Treat Viva Magenta like a power accessory. It works beautifully on smaller surfaces (front doors, a powder room vanity, built-in shelving back panels) or as a repeated accent via textilespillows, art, rugsso the room feels intentional instead of accidentally theatrical.

• Best rooms: Dining rooms, creative studios, entryways, powder rooms.
• Pair with: warm whites, camel, walnut wood, deep greens, brass, and matte black hardware.
• Pro tip: If the room has low light, keep the surrounding palette lighter to avoid “ruby cave.”

Benjamin Moore: Raspberry Blush (2008-30)

Benjamin Moore’s 2023 Color of the Year, Raspberry Blush, is a lively red-orange with a pinky kick a “radiant coral” energy that feels optimistic and playful. It’s less “serious museum red” and more “music on while you cook” red. Benjamin Moore launched it alongside a broader Color Trends palette designed to encourage bolder choices.

How to use it: Raspberry Blush is a fantastic “warm glow” color when used thoughtfully. Try it on a single statement wall in a room that gets good natural light, or on cabinetry where the finish (and surrounding neutrals) can keep it grounded.

• Best rooms: Kitchens (islands), breakfast nooks, studios, eclectic living rooms.
• Pair with: creamy whites, sandy neutrals, deep brown woods, and muted blues for contrast.
• Pro tip: Test it at nightwarm artificial light can make it feel even more “juicy.”

Sherwin-Williams: Redend Point (SW 9081)

Sherwin-Williams went in a softer direction with Redend Point, a blush-beige mid-tone neutral with a cozy, earthy warmth. It reads like “sunbaked clay meets comfy knit sweater,” which is a very 2023 sentence. The brand framed it as flexible and invitinga warm neutral that plays nicely with natural materials.

How to use it: Redend Point is a “whole-room” coloran excellent wall color for open-plan spaces where you want warmth without going full terracotta. It also shines in bedrooms where you want calm that doesn’t feel cold.

• Best rooms: Bedrooms, living rooms, hallways, exteriors (in the right setting).
• Pair with: off-whites, warm grays, terracotta accents, olive greens, and natural linen textures.
• Pro tip: If your trim is a cool white, consider warming it up for a more cohesive look.

Behr: Blank Canvas (DC-003)

Behr’s 2023 Color of the Year, Blank Canvas, is a warm, welcoming off-white designed to feel calming and versatile. In a world of overstimulation, this is the shade that says, “You can rest here.” It’s not a stark, clinical whitemore like a soft, livable white with gentle warmth.

How to use it: Blank Canvas is perfect as a full-home foundational color. Use it on walls in high-traffic areas, pair it with layered textures (think woven shades, boucle chairs, natural wood), and let art and accent colors do the talking.

• Best rooms: Everywhereespecially kitchens, living rooms, and open plans.
• Pair with: virtually anything; it’s a strong base for both warm and cool accents.
• Pro tip: Sample it next to your floorsundertones matter when it’s “just white.”

PPG Paints + Glidden: Vining Ivy (blue-green “something-in-betweenish”)

PPG and Glidden aligned on Vining Ivy for 2023: a deep, moody blue-green that sits comfortably between jewel tone drama and nature-inspired calm. It’s the color equivalent of a well-tailored coat: classic, rich, and flattering in a lot of environments.

PPG’s broader framing leaned into “reflection” and included coordinated palettes (often grouped into multiple themes), which helps explain why Vining Ivy feels like it belongs in both modern and traditional spaces.

How to use it: Vining Ivy is a superstar on lower cabinetry, built-ins, library walls, or as a feature wall behind a bed. If you want to go all-in, use it in a dining room or den with warm lighting for a cozy, enveloping feel.

• Best rooms: Offices, dining rooms, libraries, kitchens (lower cabinets), powder rooms.
• Pair with: warm whites, tan leathers, brass, medium oak, and soft blush accents.
• Pro tip: This shade changes with lighttest it morning vs. evening before committing.

Dunn-Edwards: Terra Rosa (DE5096)

Dunn-Edwards chose Terra Rosa for 2023, a deep rosy pink with a terracotta influencehigh chroma, cinnamon-rose energy that still reads surprisingly “neutral-adjacent” because it’s earthy. It’s bold, but not neon; warm, but not sugary.

How to use it: Terra Rosa is fantastic when paired with calm materials: plaster textures, natural stone, warm woods, and creamy whites. Use it in a dining room for warmth, on a fireplace surround for drama, or on an accent wall in a bedroom if you want something more expressive than beige but still cozy.

• Best rooms: Dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, boutique-feel entryways.
• Pair with: bone white, terracotta cousins, olive, charcoal, and antique brass.
• Pro tip: Balance it with quiet shapes and fewer competing patternsit likes to be the headline.

Dutch Boy: Rustic Greige (404-4DB)

Dutch Boy’s 2023 Color of the Year, Rustic Greige, is a medium-toned neutral with a subtle red undertonechosen to support soothing, restorative spaces. The brand also emphasized one-coat simplicity and built supporting palettes around it (Plush, Wistful, and Botanic), which is a very practical “help me finish this project” approach to trend color.

How to use it: Rustic Greige is your “I want warmth but I’m scared of color” best friend. Use it for whole-room coverage, especially in living rooms and bedrooms, then add depth through textiles and layered neutrals (cream, oatmeal, warm gray).

• Best rooms: Living rooms, bedrooms, offices, exteriors with stone/brick.
• Pair with: warm whites, muted greens, dusty blues, and natural wood tones.
• Pro tip: If your space has cool north light, it can read more graywarm it up with lighting.

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams: Darkroom (HGSW7083)

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams crowned Darkroom as its 2023 Color of the Year: a deep black with purple undertones designed to feel dimensional and romantic. This isn’t “flat black cave” territoryit’s more “moody, vintage, cozy backdrop” when used with the right lighting and textures.

How to use it: Darkroom thrives in accent applications: built-in bookcases, a single wall in a bedroom, or even a ceiling for the bold. In smaller doses, it adds polish; in larger doses, it can look wildly high-endif you commit to warm lighting and contrast.

• Best rooms: Bedrooms, dens, libraries, dining rooms, statement powder rooms.
• Pair with: warm whites, aged brass, caramel leather, burgundy accents, and antique wood finishes.
• Pro tip: Use multiple light sources (lamps, sconces) so it reads “rich” instead of “void.”

Valspar: 2023 “Colors of the Year” (a whole lineup, not one throne)

Valspar took the “why pick one?” route and released a multi-shade 2023 Colors of the Year collection. The lineup includes a range of livable neutrals and feel-good colorsdesigned to be ready-to-go for real homes, not just mood boards.

Standouts from the Valspar 2023 lineup include: Ivory Brown, Cozy White, Gentle Violet, Blue Arrow, Flora, Desert Carnation, Rising Tide, Holmes Cream, Southern Road, Villa Grey, and other supporting shades that lean calm, warm, and restorative.

How to use it: Think of this as a pre-built wardrobe. Pick one neutral as your base (Cozy White, Holmes Cream, Villa Grey), then add personality through one or two accents (Flora, Blue Arrow, Gentle Violet). This is especially useful for open-plan areas where cohesion matters.

• Best rooms: Whole-home palettes, open plans, family-friendly spaces.
• Pair with: mix-and-match within the collection for low-stress coordination.
• Pro tip: Choose your “anchor neutral” first, then limit accents to two for a cleaner result.

What all these 2023 colors say about the year’s design mood

If you zoom out, 2023’s Color of the Year picks cluster into three emotional categories:

1. Comfort neutrals: warm whites, greiges, and blush-beiges that make homes feel calmer and more welcoming (Blank Canvas, Redend Point, Rustic Greige, several Valspar picks).
2. Joyful warm tones: reds, pinks, and coral-leaning shades that bring energy and creativity (Viva Magenta, Raspberry Blush, Terra Rosa).
3. Moody, grounded depth: deep blue-greens and dimensional near-blacks that feel classic and cozy (Vining Ivy, Darkroom).

Translation: people wanted their spaces to feel like a sanctuary and a personality. Not sterile. Not bland. Not “everything is gray because the internet told me so in 2016.”

How to pick the right 2023 Color of the Year for your home

1) Decide whether you want a “base color” or a “statement color”

If you’re repainting multiple rooms, start with a base: Blank Canvas (warm off-white) or a soft neutral like Redend Point or Rustic Greige. If you’re itching for impact, choose a statement: Viva Magenta, Raspberry Blush, Terra Rosa, Vining Ivy, or Darkroom.

2) Respect lighting like it pays rent (because it does)

Warm colors intensify under warm light. Cool north light can flatten warm neutrals and make them read grayer. Dark shades get dramatically moodier at night. Test samples on at least two walls and check them in morning, afternoon, and evening before committing.

3) Pair paint with materials, not just other paint

A color isn’t floating in spaceit’s bouncing off floors, countertops, and furniture. Vining Ivy loves brass and oak. Darkroom loves warm bulbs and caramel leather. Raspberry Blush loves creamy whites and wood. If the materials are right, the color suddenly looks “designer” instead of “why did I do this?”

Conclusion: the real “Color of the Year” is confidence

2023’s Colors of the Year weren’t random darts at a paint fan deck. Together, they mapped a clear shift toward warmth, comfort, and personal expressionwhether that meant a gentle, livable off-white or a fearless magenta that refuses to be ignored. The best pick isn’t the one with the most headlines; it’s the one that makes your space feel like you actually want to live there.

If you’re stuck, start small: a door, a vanity, a bookshelf, a single wall. Let the color prove itself. And if it sparks joy every time you walk by? Congrats. You just appointed your own Color of the Year.

Bonus: 500-word field notes from living with 2023 “Color of the Year” shades

People tend to imagine “Color of the Year” decisions as dramatic, cinematic momentslike you stand in your living room, point at a wall, and whisper, “Viva Magenta,” while a tasteful jazz trio nods approvingly. In real life, the experience is more like: tape up three swatches, stare for two days, then panic because the “warm white” looks suspiciously beige next to your very beige sofa.

One common real-world lesson: neutrals are not neutral. A shade like Behr’s Blank Canvas is intentionally warm and welcoming, which is greatuntil it’s placed next to a countertop with a pink undertone, at which point your kitchen may look like it’s blushing. The fix is simple but unglamorous: compare samples directly to the most dominant hard finishes in the room (flooring, counters, tile). If you do this first, you avoid the classic “Why is my white not white?” spiral.

Another recurring experience: bold colors feel different on a four-inch sample than on a ten-foot wall. Raspberry Blush and Viva Magenta can look thrilling in a small test patchthen suddenly become the main character when you paint the whole room. The workaround many homeowners use is to “move the color” from walls to objects: a front door, a painted bench, a set of cabinet doors, or even a framed panel. You get the punch without the commitment, and you can increase the dose later if you love it.

With moody shades like Vining Ivy and Darkroom, the experience often comes down to lighting. Under bright daylight, they can feel crisp and tailored; at night, they become atmospheric and cozyunless you only have one overhead light, in which case they can read like a shadow. People who love these colors typically add layered lighting: a floor lamp, a table lamp, a sconce, anything that creates warm pools of light. Suddenly, the room feels intentional, not gloomy.

Finally, there’s the “surprise favorite” phenomenon: a color you thought was safe ends up being the one you can’t stop admiring. Soft neutrals like Redend Point and Rustic Greige often win people over because they make everyday spaces look more finishedlike the room is quietly styled, even when there’s laundry on a chair. They’re the shades that don’t demand attention but still make everything else look better, which is basically the dream.

The most consistent takeaway across all these experiences is reassuring: you don’t have to be “a color person” to use Color of the Year picks. Treat them as a menu, start with a sample, adjust for lighting, and choose the version of 2023 that fits your lifewhether that’s peaceful, punchy, or deliciously dramatic.