Coatings World Q&A: Emily Kantz, Color Marketing Manager at Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams unveiled its Colormix® Forecast 2027: Rewild, offering painting professionals, designers and builders an early look at the colors and design influences expected to shape residential projects in the year ahead. For professionals in the industry, having intel into the trending paint colors can come in handy when working closely with homeowners.  

Developed by Sherwin-Williams color experts, the forecast features 48 handpicked hues and explores how evolving consumer preferences are influencing color selection and design.  

Coatings World Editor, Kerry Pianoforte, interviewed Emily Kantz, Color Marketing Manager at Sherwin-Williams, to discuss the trends driving the forecast and what she’s seeing across the industry.  

CW: How did Sherwin-Williams develop the 2027 Colormix® Trend Forecast?

Kantz: The 2027 Colormix® Trend Forecast, Rewild, was developed by our Sherwin-Williams Trendsight Team, a global group of color forecasters and design experts with more than 200 years of combined experience. We continuously research cultural shifts, consumer behaviors, fashion, architecture, hospitality, technology and global design movements to identify where color is headed long before those trends become mainstream.

For 2027, we recognized a growing desire for authenticity, creativity and human connection. Rather than prescribing a handful of palettes, we created a flexible collection of 48 handpicked hues that encourages people to follow their intuition and create spaces that feel deeply personal. The result is Rewild, a forecast that celebrates expressive, human-centered design and gives people the freedom to define their own palette.

CW: What trends influence color choice?

Kantz: Today, we’re seeing people move away from rigid design rules in favor of interiors that feel more personal, layered and emotionally meaningful.

That shift inspired Rewild’s three design stories. Revive looks to craftsmanship, heritage and timeless design as people seek authenticity and permanence. Reignite reflects a desire for bold self-expression, embracing energetic color, tactile contrast and spaces full of personality. Reconnect explores our evolving relationship with nature, emphasizing colors that feel grounded, restorative and inspired by the natural world.

Together, these trends point to a future where color isn’t just decorative, it’s a tool for storytelling, creativity and creating spaces that truly reflect the people who live in them.

CW: Please describe the most popular hues predicted for 2027.

Kantz: Rather than identifying a handful of “must-have” colors, Rewild is built around a collection of 48 hues designed to work together in countless combinations. We intentionally moved away from prescribing specific palettes because today’s consumers and designers want the freedom to create spaces that feel uniquely their own.

Across the forecast, we’re seeing an appreciation for warm, grounded neutrals, expressive earth tones, rich botanical greens, layered blues, optimistic yellows and emotionally resonant reds alongside soft, nature-inspired tints. Together, these colors balance familiarity with exploration, allowing people to create interiors that feel both timeless and individual.

New this year, we’ve also identified 10 Continuity Colors which are trusted hues that transcend trends and provide versatile foundations for any palette. These enduring colors make it easy to anchor more expressive combinations while maintaining balance throughout a space.

CW: What design trends are the most influential when choosing a color palette?

Kantz: The biggest shift we’re seeing is that people are no longer looking for one “correct” palette. Instead, they’re seeking color combinations that reflect their own experiences, values and lifestyles.

That’s why Rewild is organized around three design stories instead of traditional palettes. We’re seeing renewed interest in handcrafted details and heritage-inspired interiors, more confidence in bold and expressive color choices, and a growing desire to connect our homes to the natural world through organic materials and calming, nature-inspired hues.

Ultimately, today’s most influential design trend is individuality. People want the flexibility to mix, layer and personalize color rather than follow a prescribed formula. Rewild was designed to support that creative freedom while still providing expert guidance from the Sherwin-Williams Trendsight Team.

All 48 hues included in the 2027 Colormix Trend Forecast: Rewild are available at Sherwin-Williams stores nationwide and online. Photo: Sherwin-Williams