A fresh coat of paint can transform your living spaces, offering a renewed sense of freshness and brightness. Choosing the right interior paint color, however, can be a daunting task. To assist you in staying ahead of the trends, we’ve consulted design experts to unveil the top paint color trends for 2024, ensuring there’s something for every taste and style.
Understanding the Impact of Color
When selecting a hue, consider factors such as lighting, existing furniture colors, and the desired mood. Lighter tones like creamy white and silvery gray create a sense of spaciousness, while deeper shades like deep purple and warm red make a bold design statement, fostering a cozy atmosphere.
Predicted Trends for 2024
1. Tone-on-tone Color Palettes
Tone-on-tone palettes feature one primary hue and add other graded tones within that scheme to match the color composition. You can use different paint on your walls and complement them with furniture, textiles, and accessories. The trick is staying within one hue and making it a story with less contrast possible.
2. Blue Nova by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore has announched Blue Nova as their Color of the Year 2024. Blue Nova is a blend of blue and violet that sparks adventure, elevates a room, and expands horizons. The blue shade is inspired by the brilliance of a new star formed in space. Blue Nova attracts us to unknown places in search of new experiences.
3. Cracked Pepper by Behr
I’m a longtime fan of Cracked Pepper. It’s a neutral dark gray that sits on the color spectrum just a tiny hair from black. In fact, I like to use it in place of pure black, as the latter can often appear too harsh or intense in and on a home.
Cracked Pepper is a true neutral in that it has neither warm nor cool undertones, so it can work well as an accent or trim color along with any other color or colors.
4. Peach Fuzz by Pantone
Pantone’s Color of the Year 2024 is the warm, welcoming shade Peach Fuzz. “In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at Pantone Color Institute, said in the brand’s announcement. “A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless,”
The bright but gentle shade can add softness to any room, helping you create a space that’s ideal for relaxation and reflection. It also has a modern edge to it, lending itself well to contemporary design styles.
5. Thermal by C2
C2’s 2024 color of the year is Thermal, a mid-tone blue reminiscent of crisp fall skies and cozy winter scenes. “C2 Thermal reminds us of a vast blue sky and the infinite array of blue hues nature offers to help restore and redefine our mood,” Philippa Radon, interior designer and paint color specialist for C2, said in a press release.
The color is bright yet calming, making it an excellent choice for large spaces. Use it throughout the kitchen for a relaxing hang-out spot, or color-drench your bedroom with the hue to create a soothing space. “This bespoke pale yet punchy blue is poised for adventure and brimming with hope, evoking feelings of loyalty, trust, and confidence,” Radon says. “Its contradictory nature has the dual ability to uplift us and provide a sense of calm and tranquility.”
6. Skipping Stones by Dunn-Edwards
Blue paint is having a moment—as evidenced by many major paint brands’ trend predictions for the upcoming year. Among the companies that believe blue is having a resurgence in interior spaces is Dunn-Edwards, which just announced Skipping Stones—a serene and steely blue—as its 2024 color of the year.
The sea-inspired shade, which has hints of green and gray, offers a unique way to play with color while still holding on to the simplicity of a neutral. “Skipping Stones feels like a daydream and can add a sense of mystery and thoughtfulness to any space,” said DeMing Carpenter, color expert at Dunn Edwards. “It’s part of the resurgence of blue and represents a shift away from the bold, warm-toned colors we’ve seen gain popularity over the past few years. This blue is timeless and versatile, fresh, and serene.”
7. Medium Blue
“I am expecting to see more moody blues in 2024. Not the deep navy’s of the past, but medium hue’s like Sherwin-Williams’ Interesting Aqua. It’s an updated way to add some drama without the room feeling totally cave-like.” — Allison Garrison of Allito Spaces
8. Emerald Green
“Jewel tones, particularly emerald green, are here in a major way. Benjamin Moore Buffet Green is rich and saturated without being bright. Bring on the mood and depth of color.” — Sarah Storms, founder of Styled by Storms
9. Wine Colors
“People are taking more risks with color in their home. This means less grays and whites and more colors that pack a punch, like Sherwin-Williams’ Merlot in one of my recent clients’ home library.” — Nikki Klugh, interior designer
“In terms of colors, I expect more wine-colored shades like burgundy and merlot to emerge.” — Erin Fetherston, interior designer
10. Shades of Blue
11. Dark Mauve
“Dark mauves have been popping up and it’s going to be a big color trend in 2024. It’s one of those colors that can read neutral but still happy and bold. I used Cocoa Berry by Sherwin-Williams in my powder bath and I couldn’t love it more. It’s unexpected yet calm.” — Emily Henderson, interior designer
12. Warm Red
“I predict reds! Warm rusty reds, burgundy, auburn and muted mauve.” — Kelsey McGregor, founder of Kelsey Leigh Design Co.
13. Bold Hues as Neutrals
Green isn’t the only color we’ll see add intrigue in place of expected neutrals. “Bold hues that can act as neutrals throughout a home due to a consistent palette will be making a comeback, such as deep greens, khakis, marigold, and rich purples like eggplant and plum,” says Jodi Berger of JLA Designs. “I can see my clients wanting to use these statement hues in entrance spaces or in smaller spaces, like powder rooms or offices, to make a big impression without having to commit to color like they would in larger, open areas in their homes.”
In this ladies’ lounge by designers Marita Simmons and Krysta Gibbons of Kipling House, deep purple walls and accents in white metal, faux burl wood, and dramatic stone compose a lavish lair.
14. Warm, Earthy Color Palettes
Many designers are seeing continued interest in earthy colors that create warmth. In this dining room by architecture and interior design firm Kaminski + Pew, moody yet cozy neutrals complement the outdoor landscape beyond the windows. According to founders Kevin Kaminski and Alexis Pew, “We’re moving toward more creams, browns, rusts, and muted greens.”
“Trends have continued to shift away from cooler gray tones toward warmer color palettes found in nature,” adds designer Lisa Schwert of Innate Studio. “I love a palette that changes with natural light; you’re never sure what color it is.”
15. Moody Black
Designers will favor shades of black over lighter neutrals as the dominant color in interiors. “Small bathrooms and kitchens are going to start using this strong accent color as the main hue for a space,” says Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs. “Homeowners are embracing this dark color because moodiness is more appealing to people for their homes in 2024.”
Not only is a soft black shade—like Behr’s Color of the Year for 2024, Cracked Pepper, seen here—moody, but it’s inviting, versatile, and timeless.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are tone-on-tone color palettes?
A1: Tone-on-tone palettes involve using one primary hue and incorporating graded tones within that scheme across walls, furniture, textiles, and accessories.
Q2: What is Blue Nova by Benjamin Moore?
A2: Blue Nova is Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year 2024, blending blue and violet to spark adventure and elevate room aesthetics.
Q3: Why is Peach Fuzz by Pantone significant?
A3: Peach Fuzz is Pantone’s Color of the Year 2024, chosen for its warm, welcoming nature, resonating with compassion and offering a modern touch to any room.
Whether you opt for the soothing blues of Thermal or the adventurous vibe of Blue Nova, the color trends for 2024 provide a diverse palette to suit various tastes and design preferences. Experimenting with these trendy hues can breathe new life into your living spaces, creating an environment that resonates with your individual style.
