PPG Selects Country Soil as Its 2027 Color of the Year

Homeowners often gravitate to natural colors to create a sense of tranquility in their houses. PPG’s selection of Country Soil (PPG15-30) as its 2027 Color of the Year perfectly fits in with the theme of nature. Depending on the country and brand, Country Soil is also known as Beige Corindon (CH2 1010) or Heartland (S483).

For 2027, PPG selected Foundations, including three distinct palettes – Solid Ground, Quiet Zone, and Life Shared – as its global color theme. Country Soil works ideally within these palettes.

Irina Hanhisalo, PPG colour category lead, Architectural Coatings, PPG, notes that PPG is seeing a growing preference for colors that create a sense of grounding and calm.

“As part of our annual global color forecasting process, we identified a shift away from the brighter, more expressive hues that characterized 2026 toward more muted, nature-inspired tones,” Hanhisalo observed. “Country Soil was selected because it captures that mood. It provides a warm, versatile foundation that helps create spaces that feel welcoming, comfortable and balanced. It also sits naturally at the center of all three palettes within our 2027 global color theme, Foundations.”

Hanhisalo describes Country Soil as a warm neutral that combines beige, taupe, and grey, inspired by natural materials such as clay and weathered stone.

“Its depth and versatility make it suitable for a wide range of interior styles and spaces,” she adds. “It works particularly well in living rooms and bedrooms, where its soft, enveloping quality can help create spaces with a soft, relaxing atmosphere. It is also well suited to commercial environments such as hospitality settings, spas, cafés and similar customer environments where a sense of comfort and ease is desired. Outdoors, its natural character allows it to blend well with surrounding materials and landscapes, making it equally effective for exterior applications.”

PPG is involved in virtually every sector of the paint industry, and Country Soil works well in other segments outside of architectural.

“Country Soil was identified through PPG’s global color forecasting process, which brings together color experts from across the company to analyze emerging trends influencing industries ranging from architecture, automotive and consumer goods to industrial design,” says Hanhisalo.

“While the Color of the Year announcement focuses on our architectural coatings business, the underlying themes that inspired Country Soil, including a preference for natural materials, grounding tones, and understated color palettes, are trends we are seeing across multiple industries,” Hanhisalo adds.

Last year, PPG selected Secret Safari, a versatile yellow-green, as its 2026 Color of the Year. Hanhisalo says that Country Soil represents a shift from Secret Safari.

“While Secret Safari reflected a mood of optimism and positive energy through a more expressive color, Country Soil responds to a preference for understated, natural and versatile colors,” Hanhisalo points out. “What the two colors share is their connection to nature. While Secret Safari drew inspiration from fresh, vibrant natural tones, Country Soil takes its cues from clay-rich earth and weathered stone, offering a more grounded and understated expression.”

Although Country Soil and Secret Safari create very different moods, they can work well together.

“Country Soil provides a warm, grounding base, while Secret Safari can be used as a more energetic accent,” Hanhisalo says. “Together, they create a balanced combination of energetic and understated tones. Both colors are inspired by nature, which helps them feel connected despite their different levels of intensity.”

Hanhisalo notes that PPG chose this year’s color of the year in part because of its versatility and its ability to work across all three palettes within its 2027 Foundations theme.

“Solid Ground brings together earthy tones inspired by natural materials and landscapes, where Country Soil fits naturally as a grounding neutral,” says Hanhisalo. “Quiet Zone features soft, muted pastels that contribute to a quiet, understated aesthetic. Country Soil adds warmth and depth to these lighter shades. Life Shared draws inspiration from vintage sporting influences and shared experiences. Here, Country Soil provides a warm, understated backdrop that complements the palette’s more expressive colors.”