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You design spaces to make an impact.
And whether you’re trying to promote wellness or create an inspirational workplace, the right combination of layout, materiality, and color is essential. This blog will focus on the third of that essential trio and how you can use a custom color palette in Vectorworks to harness the beauty of nature and create impactful spaces.
Name-Brand Paint Manufacturer’s Nature-Inspired Colors
Whether you're going for a rustic, bohemian, or minimalist look, natural hues can seamlessly blend with any design scheme, adding depth and texture to your interiors. And this was likely something some of the biggest paint manufacturers were thinking of when they released their 2023 Color of the Year selections.
Some manufacturers like Behr, Dulux Trade, and Sherwin Williams selected neutral earth tones. Sherwin Williams, a Vectorworks partner, picked Redend Point as their 2023 Color of the Year in an effort to “embrace a spirit of connection with the world around.”
But not all the selections are neutral browns and earth tones. There are rich, calming colors like Glidden’s Vining Ivy and Krylon’s Spanish Moss, for example.
Valspar and Pantone’s colors, on the other hand, are more vibrant and reminiscent of what you might find in a flowery garden or meadow.
On their website, Pantone said that Viva Magenta “is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.”
How to Download the Custom Color Palette in Vectorworks
The hues mentioned above, in addition to a few others from the industry’s leading manufacturers, are available in a custom Vectorworks color palette.
The full list of name-brand colors available is as follows:
- Behr — Blank Canvas
- Better Homes & Gardens — Canyon Ridge
- Dulux Trade — Wild Wonder
- Dunn-Edwards — Terra Rosa
- Dutch Boy — Rustic Greige
- Glidden — Vining Ivy
- Krylon — Spanish Moss
- Pantone — Viva Magenta
- Sherwin Williams — Redend Point
- Valspar — Gentle Violet
To download all the different color options so they’re available at your fingers in Vectorworks, click the button below:
Once downloaded, you’ll need to simply place the .xml file into the application folder.
For Mac customers to locate the palette: Finder> Applications> Vectorworks 2023> Libraries> Default> Color Palettes
For Windows customers to locate the palette: C:\ Program Files\ Vectorworks 2023\ Libraries\ Default\ Color Palettes
After the file has been placed, restart Vectorworks.
Then, in the Attributes palette, go to the color selection pop-over. In the "Active Document" pull-down menu, you'll find the Color of the Year palette under the "Other Palettes" option.
From there, the only thing left to do is what you do best — design. Share your designs on social media, tag us, and use #MadeWithVectorworks for a chance to be featured on our social platforms.
