Coatings Companies Release 2025 Color Trends
Behind the Palettes
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
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.