We look forward to the Sherwin-Williams Colormix Forecast each year to hear about home design trends and the inspiration behind them. Thank you to the Huntsville/Madison County Builder Association’s Sales and Marketing Council and Sabina Jahic, Sherwin-Williams Designer Marketing Manager, for bringing this presentation to North Alabama.

Textures are King (or Queen)

Consumers are seeking to both see and touch textures. This looks like marbled minerals from nature, woodgrains, veining in stone and marble, and fine lines that create an illusion of rhythm. We are even starting to see details and textures on ceilings. Ceilings will now be referred to as the “Fifth wall.” Things have calmed slightly from the Maximalism we’ve seen post pandemic. Maximalism is still very present, but it's becoming more refined.

Old Remade New

The call to create is woven into the fiber of our being, present in the very air we breathe, binding us together in a community of makers that spans centuries and crosses cultures.

There is a return of appreciation for makers and artisans of old and a renaissance of handmade crafts. This reveals itself in deep, wood finishes with visible grains, pixelated stitches and rhythmic lines, like those in African geometry. Woven baskets, ikat (pronounced E–cot) patterns, and caning are all making a resurgence.

A Culture of Care

After the pandemic, people are inspired to take better care of themselves, of others and the planet, which is evident in design elements that depict unity and community. Light wood finishes and warm patinas are calming and inviting. Tinted neutrals and sunbaked tones create environments that are harmonious and connected. Love-cycled and an uptick in thrifted items show reuse is on our minds.

Hybrid Life

By layering our fondest memories with future hopes, we create vibrancy and joy in the present moment.

Many of us are still co-living – working where we live and living where we work. We’re experiencing tech fatigue and seeking out places in our homes and at work to take mindful breaks, to cocoon and hide. We’re nostalgic and traveling, which translates to more tactile wood finishes, gradients on everything, and exposed rafters and beams. We are also seeing work and play spaces in the workplace. Areas of relaxation and rest are being created in office environments so that we can have moments of meaningful rest.