Sherwin Williams’ 2020 Color of the Year

By October 2, 2019Color Schemes
Sherwin Williams graphic for color of the year

Announcing the 2020 Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year – Naval

Look to the horizon between the ocean and the evening sky and there you will find a color of infinite calmness.  We are excited to introduce you to Naval SW 6244 (253-C6), the 2020 Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year.  Naval is a shade of blue that borders “on the horizon between ocean and evening sky”, leading you to infinite calmness. It’s an update to the classic Navy and ushers in a new wave of art deco style and powerful nature influences.

“The use of color in interior design is changing. It’s not just about what a space looks like anymore, but how it makes you feel,” Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, said. “People want to feel grounded and inspired to pursue their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.”

According to Sherwin Williams’ press release, Naval is designed to inspire tranquility and restfulness in one’s home. Not only is this a great quality to have in your home while living in it, but also when staging it to sell. Homebuyers want to feel welcome, relaxed, and calm in their new home and this color can help them feel that way when touring or viewing photos of homes listed online.

“We’re predicting that the next decade in color is going to be bold. This year we saw the return of the ‘70s, and next year we think the vibrant energy and luxurious design of speakeasies will make a comeback,” said Wadden. “Naval merges the desire for rich, inspiring color with our yearning for relaxation and retreat. In the next 10 years, we’ll continue to move away from omnipresent neutrals and design will feel more personal again.”

We’re excited to see Naval in homes as early as this fall, as we’re already noticing a trend of homeowners choosing deeper, relaxing colors to change up their home this fall.

How to Use Naval in Your Home

According to Sherwin Williams, Naval is “a serene shade with a hint of opulence” and “works well with polished marble, gleaming metals, soft leather, and sophisticated patterns.” It’s best used with colors like:

  • Midday SW 6695
  • Tarnished Trumpet SW 9026
  • Kale Green SW  6460

Color swatch of tones that pair well with the color of the year.

Because Naval is heavily influenced by art deco and the power of nature, it’s best to pair the color with natural colors and materials. Warm, earthy tones are good to use too, especially accents like plants.

“Pair Naval with natural materials, such as warm leather tones, vibrant greenery and woven fiber rugs, to create a calming oasis in your home,” recommends Wadden. “Furniture and décor can be mixed and layered to build a look as minimalist or maximalist as you like.”

Naval in Action

This gorgeous blue will add calming vibes anywhere in your home, whether on the walls or through furniture. Below we’re sharing how you can do both:

Adding Naval to Your Walls

Wall with accent table and mirror

This calming blue is the perfect paint color for your entryway, living room, dining room, bedroom, and essentially any other room in your home. We love how this color adds polish, confidence, and beauty while encouraging rejuvenation.

In the entryway above, the Naval blue wall color combined with the gold accents gives off the perfect art deco vibe. It’s inviting, warm, and fun,

By using Naval as your wall color, you can have fun with various accents. If you’re not a fan of art deco, you can also blush pink and millennial green accents. The key to creating a cohesive look with Naval is to keep things simple and natural. Plants, natural colors, and delicate accents will bring your room together and create that inviting, welcoming feel.

Using in Furniture

Another way to use the Color of the Year is to add Naval furniture to your rooms.

Updated kitchen with Naval island.

While white kitchens have been all the rage over the last few years, we’re seeing more homeowners opt for neutral kitchen colors like grey and greige. A trend we’re excited to see is more colorful kitchens, like the Naval kitchen above.

We love the marble backsplash and countertops, open feel, and gold accents. The gold bar stools are unique and inviting, which adds to the overall welcoming feel of the room. The light fixtures are modern and the natural light makes this kitchen feel homey.

If you don’t want to update your kitchen, you have other options to bring Naval into your home. Items like rugs, dressers, coffee tables, curtains, and nightstands are all great pieces that you can either DIY or buy.

Let’s Welcome the Color of the Year, Naval!

Designers and other professionals know that creating a space where people feel good about living and working these days is taking top priority in the home.  We welcome Naval because it just makes their job that much easier.  Even on its own, this beautiful blue hue creates a sense of depth and brings an energized calm to any gathering space whether it be in an office, hotel room or even a restaurant.

Overall, the good news about the color Naval is that it just fits with a lot of decor styles because we find it to be such an approachable neutral that works together with whatever you throw at it!  So whether you’re personal style is coastal, nautical, farmhouse, french country, or modern, Sherwin-Williams Naval blue will complement your existing space and add an even more welcoming, homey vibe.

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