Behr Color of the Year – designers react to 2023's most powerful hue

We are amid COTY season – the time of the year when global color authorities reveal their trend predictions for the months ahead. Most recently, it was Behr's turn to share their forecast – and their choice did not disappoint. 

The hue in question is Blank Canvas – described as a 'welcoming warm white' that is powerful enough to sit alone – but versatile enough to work alongside other color trends in the seasons ahead.  

'Blank Canvas effortlessly offers a clean and inviting blank slate that allows individuality and creativity to flow freely,' says Erika Woelfel, Vice President of Color and Creative Services at Behr Paint Company. If you're looking to upgrade your white room ideas for 2023 – or you're looking for a base color that harmonizes with a wide range of hues – Blank Canvas is the solution. 

With its timeless style and unrivaled durability, Blank Canvas is set to reset paint ideas in the following months. So, knowing how to style the hue is key. Here, designers react to Behr's choice – and discuss the pros of bringing this white into your home. 

Victoria Sass, Prospect Refuge Studio 

'If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me for 'the perfect white' - I'd be a rich woman. Good on Behr for answering that call. Who doesn't love the next great classic?'

To Victoria, there is no doubt that Blank Canvas is timeless. However, the founder of Prospect Refuge Studio urges you to remember that shade is a starting point – not a destination. 'Be sure to use it as a backdrop to highlight your unique personal style,' she adds. 

Susana Simonpietri, Chango & Co 

'Years ago, white meant stark white; now, we're all looking for a warmer tone in our whites. I love the name Blank Canvas for this paint color. It creates a clean space from which to work, and for every single piece placed in the space to shine,' says Susana Simonpietri, the creative director of Chango & Co. 

White is admired for its luminous qualities that can create a 'clean space' that reflects light and consequently appears larger. However, as designers like Susana suggest, it can also be used as a base for other colors to work in harmony. 

For inspiration, we're looking at how Behr styled Blank Canvas in the kitchen above. The image epitomizes kitchen color ideas by creating a monochromatic contrast with the dark wood kitchen island, black countertops, and lights.  

Nadia McCowan Hill, Wayfair

Victoria and Susana's sentiments are emphasized by Wayfair's resident style advisor, Nadia McCowan Hill. She describes the shade as a 'grounding base color from which it’s easy to layer' before celebrating its ability to add both coolness and warmth to any space.

'It works well as a backdrop with a mix of natural woods, linens, and rattan, but equally well paired with striking ebony pieces for a cool, sophisticated monochrome look,' Nadia says. '[It] can appeal to a number of styles, room sizes, and design tastes, the timeless shade is one that we think will have to stay power for 2023 and beyond.'