Each year, major paint companies announce their “color of the year” – a shade predicted to be popular for the next 12 months. Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Behr, and PPG are some of the most well-known brands revealing annual color choices. These forecasts influence consumer buying decisions and often drive paint trends.
In the retail world, True Value hardware stores carry a range of paint brands and products. But does True Value itself announce an official color of the year? Let’s take a look at what their annual color forecast involves and how it may differ from other major paint companies.
About True Value Paint
True Value is a hardware cooperative with over 4,500 independently owned and operated retail locations across the United States. The company offers a wide selection of paints, including interior and exterior latex and oil-based paints under brands like EasyCare Ultra Premium, EasyCare Platinum, and WeatherAll. They also carry spray paints, primers, stains, and other paint-related accessories.
Their EasyCare brand paints are specially formulated for the True Value label. The products are made in the United States and distributed through the True Value network. EasyCare paints are competitively priced and cater to DIYers and painting contractors. The performance and quality aim to rival top national brands like Behr and Valspar.
True Value’s “Color of the Year”
Unlike companies such as Benjamin Moore, True Value does not have an official annual “color of the year” forecast. They do not issue predictions or announcements regarding a single popular shade each year.
However, True Value does produce an annual paint color trend report with multiple hues across different color families. For 2023, their “ColorWatch” report showcases 10 trending paint colors for the year ahead.
The 2023 True Value ColorWatch paint trend colors are:
| Color Name | Color Family |
|---|---|
| Guacamole | Green |
| Fiesta | Red |
| Empress Blue | Blue |
| Renaissance Gold | Yellow |
| Watchtower | Gray |
| Abbey Stone | Neutral |
| Cypress Point | Green |
| Red Garnet | Red |
| Niagara Falls | Blue |
| Sundried Tomato | Red |
Rather than limit their forecast to a single “it” color, True Value opts to showcase a diverse palette of trending shades across different color families. This allows consumers more flexibility and options to choose colors suiting their own style and preferences for the year ahead.
How the Colors Are Selected
Lisa Rickert, True Value’s color marketing manager, heads up the selection process for their annual color trends forecast. To curate the 10-color ColorWatch palette, Lisa analyzes:
– Current color popularity and usage data
– Consumer color preferences and demand
– Color trends across markets like fashion, accessories, home decor, and product design
– Influences from nature, culture, and society
Lisa blends this research with her own expertise to land on a color trends forecast that offers consumers on-trend yet timeless shades for the year ahead. The goal is to spotlight hues that will resonate with True Value customers specifically.
Comparing to Other Paint Brands
Most major paint brands take a different approach than True Value for their annual color forecasting:
Sherwin-Williams
– Each year announces 1 Color of the Year
– 2023: Everdure (green)
Benjamin Moore
– Each year announces 1 Color of the Year
– 2023: Raspberry Blush (pink red)
Behr
– Each year announces 1 Color of the Year
– 2023: Blank Canvas (white)
PPG
– Each year announces The Voice of Color – a palette of multiple colors
– 2023: 4 colors – confess (pink), night watch (green), off-kilter (yellow), sidekick (gray)
So while most brands highlight a single star color for the year, True Value takes an approach more similar to PPG’s Voice of Color by forecasting multiple trending hues across color families. This allows for greater variety aligned with consumer preferences.
Availability in True Value Stores
The 10 colors in True Value’s ColorWatch trend report for 2023 are all available as pre-mixed paint colors in EasyCare Ultra Premium and EasyCare Platinum interior latex paint lines.
Consumers can visit their local True Value store and have paint mixed on-site in any of the featured trending colors for 2023. The colored chips are displayed in stores to make shade selection easier. Employees can look up the formulas by name or SKU to accurately mix the right color.
Sample sizes of the ColorWatch trend colors are also available for purchase. Customers can brush samples directly onto their walls and view swatches of the shades in their home lighting before committing to a full gallon.
In addition to pre-mixed formulations, many True Value stores also offer custom paint color matching. This allows consumers to get any color imaginable mixed at the store using computerized equipment. Custom matching enables the creation of trending shades, even if not pre-formulated.
Considerations for Consumers
True Value’s 2023 ColorWatch forecast gives consumers much to consider if painting is on their agenda for the next year. Here are some key points for shoppers exploring these trending paint colors:
– Review all 10 shades and color families to select your favorites suited to your home’s style.
– Get paint samples mixed in store and view swatches at home before deciding.
– Ask about coordinating colors – some shades in the forecast complement each other nicely if using multiple colors.
– Consider where you will use the paint. Some colors are better for accent walls, while others work well throughout entire rooms.
– Opt for interior latex paint in an EasyCare finish like eggshell or satin which withstands everyday wear and tear.
– Chat with store staff for input – they are very knowledgeable about the trending colors and applications.
– Don’t overlook the custom color matching option to get any shade imaginable.
With some planning and expert guidance from True Value staff, consumers can find and implement stylish paint colors to keep their home décor on-trend in 2023.
Conclusion
In summary, True Value does not designate one single “color of the year” like some competing paint brands. Instead, they annually forecast a diverse palette of 10 trending paint colors across various color families. The 2023 ColorWatch report showcases shades like Guacamole, Renaissance Gold, and Cypress Point. Consumers can purchase these trending colors pre-mixed or custom matched at True Value stores in top-quality EasyCare paint. While giving consumers more color choice and flexibility, True Value’s approach still allows DIYers to keep their home décor stylishly on-trend. Their color forecasting guides shoppers in selecting fashionable hues for the year ahead.