Sherwin-Williams’ 2025 Color Capsule of the Year is a nine-color palette rather than a single annual shade. Released for the program’s 15th anniversary, it combines selections from several Sherwin-Williams collections so homeowners can use one color, coordinated pairings, or a broader room-by-room story.
The company’s official 2025 palette page provides color information, chips, paint samples, peel-and-stick samples, and visualization options. Those tools matter because the same paint can appear different with changing light, surfaces, adjacent colors, and sheen.
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The nine colors in the 2025 capsule
| Color | SW code | Sherwin-Williams grouping |
|---|---|---|
| Sunbleached | SW 9585 | Designer Color Collection |
| White Snow | SW 9541 | Designer Color Collection |
| Rain Cloud | SW 9639 | Designer Color Collection |
| Clove | SW 9605 | Designer Color Collection |
| Grounded | SW 6089 | 2025 Colormix Forecast |
| Bosc Pear | SW 6390 | 2025 Colormix Forecast |
| Chartreuse | SW 0073 | Modern classic |
| Malabar | SW 9110 | Softer shade |
| Mauve Finery | SW 6282 | Softer shade |
The collection labels above come from Sherwin-Williams’ announcement and palette materials. They describe where the company selected each color, not a performance rating or guarantee that the colors will match in every room.
What the palette is intended to convey
Grounded SW 6089
Sherwin-Williams characterizes Grounded as a calming, versatile brown with the richness and stability of an earthen tone. In a construction project, that makes it a candidate for an anchoring wall, built-in cabinetry, millwork, or another feature where a deeper neutral is wanted.
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Sunbleached SW 9585
The company describes Sunbleached as an airy light neutral between warm and cool: deeper than white, but not quite gray, beige, or taupe. It can be considered for broad wall areas when a white feels too stark, subject to on-site sample testing.
Mauve Finery SW 6282
Mauve Finery is presented as a subdued, sophisticated mauve with botanical beauty and a refreshing quality. Its appearance will depend heavily on daylight, artificial lighting, and nearby finishes.
The other six shades
Sherwin-Williams’ official room illustrations also show Bosc Pear, Chartreuse, and Rain Cloud. White Snow, Clove, and Malabar complete the capsule. The published descriptions do not establish a universal undertone, light-reflectance value, or room recommendation for each shade, so those decisions should be made from samples in the actual project.
Why Sherwin-Williams changed to a capsule
For the 15th anniversary of its Color of the Year program, Sherwin-Williams says it moved from focusing on one pivotal hue to presenting a curated group. Its editorial explanation says the colors were chosen to work together or in selected pairings, adapt to different aesthetics, and help homeowners create an individual color story. This is the company’s stated approach, not an independently measured change in consumer or design preferences.
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Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams’ director of color marketing, describes the goal as “a modern, fresh take on color, with a balanced and usable assortment of shades.” The full explanation appears in Sherwin-Williams’ anniversary article.
How to use the capsule in a home or construction project
Start with the room and the surface
- Identify whether the paint is for drywall, trim, cabinetry, a ceiling, masonry, siding, or another substrate.
- Record the room’s daylight direction, window size, artificial-light color, and fixed finishes such as flooring and countertops.
- Decide whether the color should recede as a neutral, define a feature, or provide a deliberate accent.
Compare by more than the color name
When comparing two capsule colors, evaluate hue and undertone, relative lightness, the intended room and surface, and how each sample changes from morning to evening. A color that looks balanced on a screen or small chip can look stronger across an entire wall.
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Test a physical sample
- Use Sherwin-Williams’ free color chip, paint sample, or peel-and-stick sample option where available for the selected shade; the formats offered can differ by color.
- Place the sample on more than one wall, including the wall that receives the least and most direct light.
- View it beside permanent finishes and under the lights that will remain after construction.
- Check the color at different times of day before ordering the quantity for the full job.
The official capsule page also includes visualization features. Treat visualization as a screening tool, not a substitute for a physical sample.
Build a restrained combination
A capsule does not require using all nine colors. A practical scheme might use a light neutral for most walls, a deeper shade for a focal element, and one softer or more saturated color in a controlled area. Confirm that the selected paints are appropriate for the required interior or exterior system, substrate preparation, sheen, and local project specifications.
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What the announcement does—and does not—tell you
- It establishes a nine-color 2025 capsule and its 15th-anniversary context.
- It identifies selections drawn from multiple Sherwin-Williams collections.
- It provides Sherwin-Williams’ own color characterizations and room imagery.
- It does not provide a guaranteed appearance for every space, a universal pairing formula, or a quantitative claim about market popularity.
- It does not establish that every sample format or product is available in every location; confirm options with Sherwin-Williams before scheduling work.
Related styling idea
Sherwin-Williams says it partnered with New York-based floral company East Olivia on “forever arrangements” featuring the 2025 capsule. That is a complementary styling concept rather than evidence about paint performance. Check current availability directly before specifying or purchasing an arrangement.
The capsule reveal also features designer, author, and HGTV personality Vern Yip and designer Vanessa Chaverri-Gratz in Sherwin-Williams’ official podcast episode.
Quick Recap
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