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Dutch Boy’s 2023 Color of the Year Will Be Your New Go-To Neutral

Noella Williams
Noella WilliamsAssistant News and Culture Editor
Noella is the assistant editor for Apartment Therapy's News and Culture section. You can find her words in Scalawag Magazine, Healthline, them, Uproxx, Harper's Bazaar, Teen Vogue. In her free time, she enjoys roller skating and listening to Solange.
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published Sep 1, 2022
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According to paint company Dutch Boy, 2022 has led to people “craving soothing simplicity and serenity in their most-loved spaces,” behaviors that directly influenced their choice for the 2023 Color of the Year: Rustic Greige, a medium-toned neutral.

Thanks to the balance of color temperature, greige is a versatile shade that easily combines with a variety of colors, including this shade’s perfect balance of cool gray and warm brown tones.

This specific shade has a slight red undertone that Dutch Boy noted as both charming and worldly. Its versatility complements both warm and cool tones, such as the three accompanying palettes: Plush, Wistful, and Botanic.

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“The importance of overall well-being remains a primary focus in everyday lives,” Ashley Banbury, Dutch Boy’s senior color designer, said in a press release. “That’s why more DIYers are dedicating time and energy to designing personal spaces that make them feel cozy, protected and calm. Dutch Boy Paints’ 2023 One-Coat Color of the Year — the beautiful, versatile Rustic Greige— is all about the need to escape, relax and recharge. It’s about retreating to a calmer, simpler lifestyle inspired by the peace and clarity of tones derived from nature.”

To bridge the gap between neutral grays and warmer tones, Rustic Greige serves as a “grounding color” for the three aforementioned hues. Plush — described as fluid, relaxing, and restorative — seeks to “elevate a room” with its soft, minimal shades. If nostalgia has been on your mind lately, the Wistful palette combines the creation of comfortable spaces while incorporating retro, energizing color combinations. Lastly, the Botanic palette seeks to do exactly what it sounds like — mimic a floral, yet romantic ambiance inspired by the outdoors.

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Cozy, versatile, and restorative, Rustic Greige will work well in an indoor or outdoor environment and pairs nicely with wooden furniture or fixtures. With a successful one-coat application, this shade is perfect for those with a knack for DIYing throughout their homes.

Ahead of the new year, GLIDDEN, Valspar, and HGTV by Sherwin-Williams have also revealed their shade choices for 2023.

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