You don’t have to look far on the color wheel to find a fresh combination. Just hone in on a hue that you love — its perfect complement might be right next door.

Analogous palettes that stay beautifully close to home are today’s dominant color story, according to Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams. “You can do so many great things within a single color family.”

But rather than traditional tone-on-tone, we’re experimenting with different values within color families to discover vibrant palettes that break the mold.

It’s a fashion-influenced direction, evoking the gradations found in ombré dyeing and color-washing. But on a deeper level, it speaks to our growing appreciation of our planet. Sustainability is no longer a niche or a fad. It’s an ingrained influence that shapes every facet of design — and of life itself.

That’s why we’re drawn to color schemes that reflect the Earth’s infinite variety: the rich reds within a flame; the shimmering blues of water; the varied greens of vegetation; and the organic neutrals of grains, woods and dried grasses.

We’re absorbing the natural spectrum around us and then making it our own, Jordan says. “From these hues, sculpt a bespoke palette, expressive of your style and mood.”

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Greens: Diving Deep

We’re serious about going green these days, and our greens reflect that. Unlike the lighthearted yellow-based greens of the recent past, today’s greens are lush, moody and complex. They reflect the depths of sea and forest, and take their cues from seaweed, algae and moss. Green’s presence is everywhere, even in the urban core, where rooftop and kitchen gardens continue to sprout. And we’re bringing old-growth influence into our indoor surroundings, with big-leaf foliage motifs and rough-hewn textures that celebrate unspoiled nature.

Neutrals: Warming Up

Picture a field of grain, a pile of pebbles, weathered wood and earthy clay. Raw organic materials and sustainability remain driving color influences. But instead of the steely grays that have dominated palettes of the recent past, today’s looks mix warm and cool tones to create a temperature that’s just right. Gold tones — reflecting the sun, dried grasses and soft metallics — are subtly warming up the palette. And textural elements, such as linen, unfired porcelain and mixed woods, contribute subtle tonal variations.

Blues: Flowing Forward

Today’s blues celebrate two essential basics: water and denim. Clean water is becoming a treasured commodity, from our oceans to our taps, and our growing appreciation for this resource is shading water-inspired palettes that evoke rivers, lakes and seas. Meanwhile, as we hope for economic blue skies, we’re rediscovering denim, the fabric of the American worker. Hues from darkest indigo to faded-jean blue, some with violet undertones, are fresh and functional, showing up in materials from glass to plastic to actual fabric. And rugged workwear influences are making their muscular presence felt.

Reds: Burning Bright

Focus on a brilliant flower or a glowing ember. You won’t see a single red; you’ll see a glorious gradation of hues, from fuchsia to orange red to violet to delicate pink. Red is the color of fire, passion and the Earth’s molten core, and it strikes exotic notes ranging from the deepest intensity to the softest femininity. With China on the rise, and red products selling briskly, the hue has new dominance. But the old rules against mixing reds with oranges or purples no longer apply. Today’s red-based palettes are as passionate and free-spirited as the color itself.

Mix It Up

There are endless ways to put your unique, creative spin on colormix two-thousand-twelve. And Sherwin-Williams offers color tools to make it easy:

• Order colormix color cards and large-size color swatches at swcolorsamples.com.
• Download colormix colors into virtual design tools or paint room scenes in the Online Color Visualizer at swcolor.com.
• Find these colors on the ColorSnap^® app for smartphones. Download at swcolorsnap.com.

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