Announcing the Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2023
Color of the Year (COTY for short) Announcement season continues with the paint giant, Benjamin Moore, yesterday. We try to keep on top of all this silliness because it is an indicator of what will be popular and therefore available in home fashion.
While the whole ‘color of the year” racket is clearly a marketing stint, it IS, theoretically, based on trends in consumer preferences as influenced by the current culture.
The Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2023 dropped yesterday at 2:00 and it is…..Raspberry Blush! Right on target with the trending warm corals and bricks we just shared last week!
This shade is not shy - it is an energetic and very pretty warm medium toned red-orange. Benjamin Moore describes it as “A vivacious shade of coral tinged with pink, Raspberry Blush enlivens the senses with an electric optimism”
In a new move, the paint company partnered with the music duo Chrome for some music to go with the color. - The new song, entitled Raspberry Blush “celebrates the positivity and enjoyment of life that both color and music influence”
Insert eye roll here. Fine, whatever! It’s happy, catchy music.
Marketing aside, the paint color is one I am pleased to see. It’s a real color, not a cop out to a neutral (we’re looking at you Behr), and not the appalling choice that Sherwin Williams delivered (see the SW COTY and our review HERE)
This one has promise. It works beautifully as an accent, adding warmth and energy to a room. Can’t you just see a tufted ottoman or chair or headboard upholstered in a velvet in this luscious shade?
We were ahead of the curve, as here we used it in the accents in this bedroom from the One Room Challenge Diva Glamour Den Project 2 years ago!
Or how about a whole room swathed in lacquered walls and woodwork in this color? A library or butlers pantry or dining room would be so fabulous, giving everything and everyone a warm, cozy glow.
Surprisingly versatile, it can have a tropical flair, or a warm and cozy vibe, or a classically chic look depending on how it is used and what you put with it!
Here it appears in the wallpaper for this chic farmhouse powder room makeover project.
And, as a testament to the enduring classic possibilities, here it is again in an oriental rug we sourced for this library in our Gentleman’s Estate project
We spent yesterday assembling some combinations - Here are some color pairings to use with Raspberry Blush
Coral colors love greens and every palette here contains a shade of green. Variations depend on all the elements in the room, of course, but here are a few to spark your imagination…
Summer Garden colors are fresh and pretty with leafy greens and floral corals
The Fantasy Forest palette is chic with a hint of drama inspired by a Schumacher wall covering and includes a dramatic charcoal shade
This Tropical Garden palette brings to mind an island paradise. Bring vacation vibes home with this palette paired with bamboo furnishings and sisal underfoot.
This palette is inspired by a sweet songbird printed linen - shown with a grasscloth look vinyl wall covering and textured accent fabrics
Fresh blues and greens pair with raspberry blush for a classic color combination with just the right dynamic interest from opposites on the color wheel. A family-friendly carpet grounds the grouping in style
Pin this for reference:
Of course, as with all things color, choose what bings YOU joy, not just what is currently popular. If being on trend is important to you, this is an easy color to add as an accent in a lot of spaces without the total committment of painting a whole room.
All in all, I think this is a great pick for Color of the Year, vivacious and happy! What do you think of this color choice?
Other 2023 Color of the Year Reviews: