Every autumn, the major paint brands predict which colors will be most popular with consumers the following year. Using the awards-style designation “Color of the Year,” they announce their winning hues one by one, revealing a rainbow of paint-swatch inspiration from grounded, earthy terra cottas to preppy marine blues. At least, that’s how it usually goes.This year, something funny happened.
, is a meditative sage green inspired by the stem of a flower. “We find out what the other brands chose when everyone else does,” she added. “And yeah, we were shocked.”Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, heard whispers over the summer that a competing brand had ended up in the same territory as their selection, a Zen shade called“At first, we were like ‘Dang it, come on! Why does it have to be so close?’ ” she said.