Color plays an important role in design. More than merely a decorative choice, it’s a strategic tool that influences perception, evokes emotion and shapes identity.

In Coil and Extrusion markets, where products often have lifespans of decades, selecting the right color can influence everything from architectural appeal to consumer confidence. Color forecasting helps product designers, manufacturers and architects prepare for the future and arms them with a competitive edge. 

Color as Strategy: Why Forecasting Matters

With design rapidly evolving across manufactured and building products markets, strategic trend forecasting is more crucial than ever. The color and design experts at Sherwin-Williams utilize industry expertise, data-driven research and strategic analysis to craft color trend forecasts. These forecasts help manufacturers, product designers, architects and end users anticipate change, find inspiration and gain a competitive advantage.

“We put color trend forecasts together so our customers can understand and be prepared for how design trends are going to shift,” says Kiki Redhead, Global Color, Material, Finish and Trend Manager at Sherwin-Williams.

Forecasting isn’t just about predicting what’s next. It’s about connecting big-picture trends to real-world applications and inspiring innovation across the industry. This foresight matters because societal changes — from technology to environmental concerns — shape design priorities. By leaning on the industry expertise of Sherwin-Williams, manufacturers, product designers and architects are able to anticipate shifts, align with societal changes and meet evolving customer expectations.

“We connect the dots,” Redhead adds. “To pull the red thread between what’s happening in society at the macro level and how that translates into coatings application or color design.”

This means aligning product offerings with evolving consumer expectations. Whether it’s a metal roof, siding or an appliance finish, color choices 

This process draws on research from futurists, economists, environmental forecasters, technology experts and other reports. It is these global insights that form the foundation of the Sherwin-Williams color forecasting ecosystem.

Accelerating Change and Market Signals

Rapid technological advances, shifting societal priorities and evolving consumer expectations are impacting the way people approach the world around them — including their connection to color. The last Coil and Extrusion color forecast was released during COVID, a time of uncertainty and disruption. Since then, the pace of change has accelerated and reshaped markets.

“Since 2020, we've been tracking and analyzing more dramatic shifts in the color spaces that people are desiring,” says Brynn Wildenauer, Senior Architectural Color Designer at Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings. “We’re seeing a variety of greens being ordered. Cool grays are giving way to warmer neutrals.” These shifts aren’t random. They reflect a deeper societal need for comfort and connection.

“Warmer hues are more comforting whenever there’s uncertainty,” Redhead says. “And greens, because they’re nurturing and from nature, feel refreshing and rejuvenating.”

Data backs this up: Sample orders increasingly favor chromatic finishes, nature-inspired hues and softer neutrals. For manufacturers, this means opportunity, and those who adapt early can lead the market.

With accelerated change comes a greater need for confidence and longevity in the market. Roofing, siding and appliances often have lifespans of 10, 20, even 35 years, so durability is non-negotiable. Consumers want finishes that look beautiful and stay that way, even under harsh environmental conditions. Sherwin-Williams meets that demand with coatings that are rigorously tested and proven to stand the test of time.

“With the longevity of the products in our markets, customers want assurance in the choices they make,” says Wildenauer. “The Sherwin‑Williams Coil Coatings color team provides that confidence. Being the experts in color and long‑term trends reinforces trust in every selection.”

That confidence — rooted in both performance and foresight — helps customers make decisions they can trust for years to come.

Exploring SHIFT

With the launch of SHIFT, the latest Sherwin-Williams Colormix® Foresight color trend report for metal coatings, our color and design experts introduce a collection that reflects where design is headed — and how to utilize it. By providing a forecast of curated colors backed by global insights and industry expertise, Sherwin-Williams helps customers avoid decision paralysis while also offering a wide variety of inspiration.

Throughout the next few years of this forecast cycle, the Sherwin-Williams color team is excited to dive deeper into application inspiration for each of these segments. The forecast specifically highlights changes and emerging trends over the next three to five years of design, but innovation is long lasting. New pigments and coating technologies enable efficiency, inspiration and creative expression that lasts far into the future.

Forecasting delivers strategic options for the Coil and Extrusion industry that extend far beyond aesthetics. The practical benefits for customers include competitive positioning to stay ahead, strategic alignment with design evolution, inspiration to connect big-picture societal shifts to real-world applications, and confidence in the longevity of their choices. In a market where durability matters, that assurance is invaluable.

Learn more at coil.sherwin.com/colorforecast