Paint company Sherwin-Williams has chosen Upward SW 6239, a breezy shade of blue, as its color of the year for 2024.
“Upward SW 6239 represents the gentle forward momentum in all of our lives,” said Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “It brings to life that carefree, sunny day energy that elicits a notion of contentment and peace. With this color, we invite our consumers to take a pause and infuse a new sense of ease and possibility into their spaces – one that doesn’t overwhelm, but rather establishes meditation and tranquility.”
Wadden said that ascending from the earthy tone of last year’s Color of the Year, Redend Point SW 9081, Upward SW 6239 welcomes a weightless, buoyant peace; an invitation to open minds to a color of ethereal calm that is ever-present—if we remember to keep looking up.
“As we play with color, it’s essential to consider their interactions thoughtfully,” added Wadden. “Warmed-up blues might lead to hues that appear muddled and lackluster, which is why preserving the crisp edge and magnetic allure of cool blues is vital. It’s in these subtle nuances that create spaces that are timeless and inspired. We’re excited to share this beautiful color and, craft interiors that exude harmony and evoke a sense of enchantment.”
Color expert Wadden recommends pairing the hue with blues and greens, deeps and darks and delicate tints from classic coastal to casual Nordic styles.
“Used as an accent or all over, on both interiors and exteriors, Upward SW 6239 clears the way for lightweight open-mindedness when used in commercial settings,” said Wadden. “The hue serves as a reminder to pause and ponder limitless possibilities that can be unlocked in our work, dining, educational spaces and beyond.”
For Sherwin-Williams customers in New York City, the company has partnered with James Beard Award-winning French pastry chef Dominique Ansel to create his first-ever vegan Cronut, a combination of a croissant and a donut, that’s inspired by the color of the year.
The creation is filled with coconut filling and naturally-flavored Butterfly Pea Flower Tea ganache – made with the vibrantly-hued Southeast Asian flower that, when gently steeped as a tea, mirrors the shade and spirit of the color of the year. The limited-edition vegan Cronut will be available at Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City from Thursday, September 21 through Sunday, September 24 from 8:00AM until sold out daily.
“Creating a vegan version of the Cronut has always intrigued me – we’re always looking for forward-thinking ways to create new pastries, and this collaboration was a natural opportunity to do so,” said Ansel. “At first glance, Upward SW 6239 draws up a sense of balance and lightness for me; it’s the same feeling I wanted to impart into our very first vegan flavor.”