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Behind the Palettes

Coatings Companies Release 2025 Color Trends

Courtney Bassett

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By Courtney Bassett, Managing Editor | PCI

By Courtney Bassett, Managing Editor | PCI

Each year, coatings manufacturers announce their Color of the Year (COTY) to reflect broader design and cultural trends, while setting the tone for the future. These selections are not just about following fleeting trends—they reflect deeper shifts in consumer behavior, global influences, and the evolving ways people live and design their spaces. COTY selections offer a lens through which manufacturers can highlight new innovations in color, sustainability and technology.

Manufacturers base their selections on extensive research, exploring how color intersects with global trends across fashion, architecture, nature and even technology. The colors chosen for 2025 emphasize comfort, grounding and self-expression, capturing emotions ranging from bold vibrancy to soothing, earthy tones.

Beyond color selection, manufacturers have embraced creative, multi-channel methods to unveil their COTY, engaging audiences through social media campaigns, exclusive events, immersive videos, and curated experiences. Let’s take a look at how many of the players in the coatings industry are presenting their 2025 Color of the Year.

Special Efforts for Color of the Year Announcements

In 2025, manufacturers have taken COTY launches to new heights through multichannel strategies:

  • Social Media Campaigns: Many brands are leveraging Instagram and TikTok to engage directly with consumers through contests and user-driven content, showcasing design possibilities with their COTY. Behr Paint, for example, hosted a sweepstakes to celebrate Rumors, awarding $10,000 to one lucky winner to transform their home.
  • Exclusive Events: Some companies invite press to exclusive, live color-reveal events, like Krylon's VIP Zoom event, which included a curated kit with paint samples, COTY-inspired candle sticks, and a custom cocktail demonstration.
  • Video Launches: Companies such as PPG introduced immersive videos to demonstrate how their COTY works in various settings, from residential to industrial applications.
  • Color Collections: Instead of just releasing a single color, many brands are opting for curated collections that offer a broader design scope. For instance, Sherwin-Williams introduced its first-ever Color Capsule of the Year, featuring nine complementary shades, allowing for more versatile use across different design styles.

2025 Colors of the Year

Explore the 2025 colors by clicking the dots below each card. On tablets and mobile devices, swipe left to view more.

AkzoNobel: True Joy
Image courtesy of AkzoNobel
AkzoNobel’s 2025 COTY, True Joy™, is a vibrant yellow. Paired with three complementary palettes—Bold, Human, and Proud—it celebrates creativity and craftsmanship, that brings energy to wood coatings for furniture, flooring, and cabinets.
BASF: Routing
Image courtesy of BASF
BASF’s 2024-2025 Automotive Color Trends collection, Routing, draws inspiration from communication technology. Key colors like Holding Sway in the Americas showcase intense purples with blueish shifts, reflecting the merging of design and technology influences.
Behr: Rumors
Image courtesy of Behr
Behr’s 2025 COTY, Rumors, is a bold ruby red that blends modern sophistication with nostalgic flair. Ideal for accent walls and doors, it encourages consumers to embrace statement colors in their homes.
Benjamin Moore: Cinnamon Slate
Image courtesy of Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore’s 2025 COTY, Cinnamon Slate (2113-40), is a heathered plum mixed with velvety brown, creating a soothing yet elegant hue. It pairs beautifully with both neutrals and more vibrant accents, making it a versatile choice for any room.
C2: Raku
Image courtesy of C2
C2 Paint’s 2025 COTY, Raku (549), draws inspiration from traditional Japanese pottery. This rich, earthy red-brown hue offers a sense of grounding and intimacy, perfect for contemporary and traditional design spaces.
Dunn-Edwards: Caramelized
Image courtesy of Dunn-Edwards
Dunn-Edwards’ 2025 COTY, Caramelized (DET687), is a warm terracotta brown that offers a modern take on nostalgic hues. With its earthy tones, the color provides a versatile neutral that complements both contemporary and vintage-inspired designs.
Dutch Boy: Mapped Blue
Image courtesy of Dutch Boy
Dutch Boy’s 2025 COTY, Mapped Blue (429-5DB), is a medium blue with yellow undertones that promotes well-being and sustainability. The color serves as a reliable neutral across design styles, offering simplicity and durability for DIY projects.
Glidden Spray Paint by PPG: Brick Red
Image courtesy of Glidden
Glidden’s 2025 COTY for spray paint, Brick Red, is a vibrant, energetic red designed to encourage bold DIY projects. The color is perfect for accent pieces and outdoor decor, making a statement in any space.
Krylon: Hammered Black
Image courtesy of Krylon
Krylon’s 2025 COTY, Hammered Black, is a textured black finish that brings depth and sophistication to both indoor and outdoor spaces. The first textured color chosen by Krylon, the color plays into the resurgence of brutalist design, offering a bold option for DIYers.
Minwax: Violet
Image courtesy of Minwax
Minwax’s 2025 COTY, Violet, redefines wood staining with its bold, saturated hue. Inspired by the maximalist trend, the color is perfect for adding a contemporary touch to traditional wood pieces, blending boldness with timelessness.
PPG: Purple Basil
Image courtesy of PPG
PPG’s 2025 COTY, Purple Basil (PPG1046-7), is a bold yet soothing violet hue that reflects adaptability and innovation. This versatile shade works in both residential and commercial applications, making it ideal for creative, modern designs.
Sherwin-Williams: 2025 Color Capsule
Image courtesy of Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams unveiled its first-ever Color Capsule of the Year for 2025, featuring a curated selection of nine shades like Grounded (SW 6089) and Chartreuse (SW 0073). This versatile palette suits a variety of design styles.
Valspar: Encore
Image courtesy of Valspar
Valspar’s 2025 COTY, Encore (8002-45G), is a deep atmospheric blue that exudes both modern luxury and timeless appeal. This versatile color works well across a variety of surfaces, from walls to exterior spaces, making it a sophisticated choice for any project.

A Year of Bold, Grounded Color

The 2025 Color of the Year selections present a fascinating mix of bold expression and grounded comfort. Colors like Caramelized and Mapped Blue provide soothing, versatile foundations, while True Joy™ and Rumors bring energy and optimism. As color trends continue to evolve, manufacturers are exploring new ways to present their selections, using immersive videos, social media campaigns, and exclusive events to inspire consumers and professionals alike.

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