In the paint world color season is here again—and to kick things off, look no further than PPG and Glidden’s 2023 Color of the Year.
Today, after discussions with 35 color stylists from across the world, PPG and Glidden have announced the restorative hue Vining Ivy as their shared 2023 color of the year. Fusing the best elements of jewel tones and natural elements, this adaptable shade perfectly straddles the line between green and blue. Vining Ivy is also a bridge between, as the brand puts it, “pastcast and forecast,” a then-and-now exploration of the color decisions made within PPG’s professional audience and Glidden’s market of DIY home painters. Research pulls everywhere from trade fairs such as Maison & Objet and Salone del Mobile to Instagram.
“The green part of [Vining Ivy] says that greens are still part of the story, but it has a jewel-like element added to it with the blue that makes it a bit enchanting,” says Ashley McCollum, Glidden’s color expert. “We’re really talking about how this color is both green and blue because, realistically, that’s how our customers are talking about color.”
Fitting for a shade with versatility that can help settle disputes during the paint-selection process, Vining Ivy fits nicely into the bedroom, bathroom, or anywhere else a calming color is called for. And at a time when everyone wishes their kitchen cabinets were anything but white, Vining Ivy can add more than a dash of personality to your cooking space.
Beyond its adaptable appeal, McCollum notes that Vining Ivy was chosen in part for the feelings it can conjure for a space. “This is just a really restful and calming, balancing organic color,” she remarks. “It’s a very restorative color so, if that’s what you’re trying to pull off in a bathroom or living room, [it’s great] for helping you achieve the mental state you’re looking to get into.”
Its versatility continues outdoors too. Even as an exterior paint, it can add a pop of colorful, modern intrigue without clashing with more old-fashioned architectural styles or design sensibilities.
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To help inform color decisions, Glidden is placing Vining Ivy within a larger palette of 10 shades that capture the color zeitgeist and complement the cozy, natural energy their color of the year exudes. Leaning into the enriched blue and green found within Vining Ivy are Pine Forest and Lazy River, while terracotta-tinted Foxfire Brown and Cool Clay are some of the palette’s warmer, more grounding colors. Both shades are playful enough to stand alone, but certainly create opportunities to invite Vining Ivy into a space. Spicy Mustard adds yet another expressive, albeit agreeable, shade, while Fossil Stone and Stonhenge Greige create modern neutrals within the palette. Dark Granite, an excellent neutral alternative, and the moody Mostly Metal round out the group.
The shared color of the year is available now, including in one-coat Glidden Diamond paint at a DIY-friendly price point. And if you simply can’t shake your desire to categorize Vining Ivy as either blue or green, McCollum encourages a different perspective: “Even our experts don’t know if it’s blue or green, but we know a vibe when we see one.”
