Where Movies Meet Design: Sherwin-Williams’ Barbenheimer-Inspired Paint Trend Predictions
Barbie and Oppenheimer have stretched beyond the cinemas, infiltrating pop culture, countless industries, and every corner of the internet, from TikTok to Pinterest. The impact that Barbie and Oppenheimer have had on 2023’s culture seems never-ending.
Both films have distinct aesthetics that are creeping into the real-life world of design, both home and fashion. Todd Saunders, the CEO of FlooringStores, explains, “Although the Barbie movie and Oppenheimer cover vastly different subjects, these films do have one thing in common: a well-defined mood.”
In their 2024 Colormix Forecast, Sherwin-Williams predicts happy pinks and moody blacks and blues will be at the forefront of next year’s home design trends, showing the rich impact these movies have on society and how they represent the dualistic mindset of Americans right now.
From hot pinks to dusty greens to rich navy blues, these color trends go hand in hand with 2023’s most successful movies. The movies have spurred cohesive and compelling home design aesthetics, and the experts at Sherwin-Williams expect these color palettes to reign supreme in 2024.
The Colormix Forecast
The 2024 Colormix forecast reveals the expected prevalence of edgy but elegant and somewhat ominous neutrals, as well as bright warm colors, all of which can be associated with the recent, polarizing blockbusters. Sherwin Williams identified four color families.
Artem Kropovinsky, an interior design expert and founder of the award-winning interior design studio Arsight, explains that ruby and violet tints “shed light on fervor, originality, and evolution, a sentiment echoed in Barbie, which chronicles her adventure to discover authenticity.”
While the rich, shadowy color families “mirror themes of distinction, depth, and fervor, predominantly in Oppenheimer, which delves into the moral and emotional repercussions of his brainchild.”
The unmistakable aesthetics of these movies make them compelling color stories for home design, each explained in the sections below.
The Cool Hues and Dark Colors of Oppenheimer
Partly inspired and influenced by Oppenheimer, this color trend revolves around the organic and serene vibe of the spectrum between blues and greens. These hues can be murky but also airy, making them versatile and intriguing, much like the film.
These colors have a low yet calming aura, capturing the slower moments of the blockbuster historical movie, much of which is muted in color. The film’s aesthetic offers a vintage vibe that makes it feel immersive and earnest, traits people are eager to incorporate into their homes. With these hues, people can cultivate an air of authenticity and depth.
While Barbiecore reigned supreme in the summer of 2023, Oppenheimercore is slowly becoming more appreciated. Parts of the dramatic movie are shown in black and white, capturing a somber yet classy tone that people gravitate toward.
However, the palette is not only black, white, and gray, as it features deep shades of green, purple, blue, and brown. It is almost the polar opposite of the red and purple color family but delivers an equally clear and tasteful aesthetic.
Those gravitating toward the darker, moodier palettes associated with Oppenheimer may have a more pessimistic view of the world. Colors often have distinct associations with feelings, and cooler, darker tones are more closely connected to negative emotions.
This is not to say that those individuals are inherently negative. The colors and movies an individual gravitates toward are not indisputable indications of their views or feelings. However, the public’s response to these movies and their influence on various industries shows that many views align with one side or the other of this iconic pop culture moment.
The Warm Tones and Sweet Tints of Barbie
Unsurprisingly, the popularity of the Barbie movie is why the red and purple color family is hot in 2024. This palette stretches from soft purples to boisterous reds to playful pinks, so it can be graceful and dainty or daring and sharp. Despite any modern attempts to rid colors of genderization, many people also view these colors as fiercely feminine, which isn’t always a bad thing.
This mix of shades is undeniably cheerful and juicy, with several colors that take inspiration from fruits, such as berries, currants, and apricots. The fruity inspiration can breathe life into home and clothing designs, making them feel organic but still exciting. The combination of bold, warm colors and subtle, soft shades offers a spirited but refined design that works in many scenarios.
The last color family in the 2024 Colormix Forecast is delicate tints, mostly consisting of off-whites, dainty pinks, and soft greys. Dreamy colors capture the softer side of the black-and-white moments of Oppenheimer while also taking inspiration from the more subtle moments in Barbie, where pink takes a backseat.
One of the final scenes of Barbie takes place in a mystical, all-white space, and Oppenheimer uses white as a contrasting color for the darker, moodier shades.
Pink is frequently a color that evokes feelings of happiness, empowerment, and positivity. While the Barbie movie is quite complex and not entirely positive, it promotes this cheerful and upbeat feeling, from the colorful outfits to the bright pink set.
The color pink will have different meanings to different people, but most embracing the brighter, warmer red, pink color palettes associate the color with joyfulness, innocence, and creativity. Part of the excitement over pink is that it’s becoming a more subversive and powerful color rather than passive and submissive.
Understanding the Barbenheimer Effect
Many viewed the simultaneous release of these two major films as a competition, and while it was, to some degree, the double release also boosted the interest in both films. Technically, Barbie outperformed Oppenheimer at the box office, but both movies were still wildly successful in their own rights.
The incredible success of these two blockbusters can be partially attributed to their stark contrast. Some have explained it as a counterprogramming marketing strategy. Releasing Oppenheimer simultaneously with Barbie offers a movie to those who are not interested in seeing Barbie and feel underrepresented.
The upcoming paint and home design trends reflect this dynamic, as Sherwin-Williams predicts that some consumers will continue to ride the vibrant and cheerful pink wave. In contrast, others will turn in the other direction and embrace the darker, moodier aesthetics.
Simply put, thanks to the Barbenheimer Effect, the upcoming design trends fall on opposite ends of the color spectrum. The duality of the Barbenheimer phenomenon is spilling into other aspects of the world, including fashion and home design.
Where Politics and Paint Intersect
The excitement surrounding Barbie and Oppenheimer seems like nothing but a pop culture phenomenon to many. However, the juxtaposition of these two movies and the passion with which people support one over the other speaks volumes about the dueling perspectives in America.
Sue Wadden, the color marketing director at Sherwin-Williams, said, “The world is in a bit of turmoil, politically and economically, and when that happens at a macro level, tones in design darken. Color is becoming a big part of this dualistic conversation.”
Harbour Lifestyle, an English luxury furniture company, even sent out an email to their customers positioning pink items against grey or black items, asking their customers to pick which they prefer. This type of marketing creates a this-or-that mentality, encouraging people to select an item they may have otherwise had no interest in because they want to take a side.
Choosing a color for a couch is not typically a conscious political or existential choice. However, people tend to inherently gravitate toward the Barbie aesthetic or Oppenheimer aesthetic.
This article was originally produced for Wealth of Geeks.
