Paint is more than simply a pigment, and its influence extends beyond the visual. Our walls express a mood, influencing our energy and establishing the vibe of a space. And as with anything aesthetically significant, how we choose to experience our homes—by the way of color—is subject to the ebbs and flows of taste. What we’re attracted to, whether it’s a waterfall kitchen island, a sentimental reading nook, or any design flourish, is a reflection of our world. Both with attention to the present and an appreciation of the past. Paint is powerful—and the paint color trends of 2024 express exactly that.
Featured image of Kate Arends’ home by Suruchi Avasthi.
Paint Color Trends You’ll See Everywhere in 2024
In the year to come, designers anticipate sophistication and warmth conveyed through deep browns, unexpected purples, and grounding pairings for Pantone’s Peach Fuzz. Ready to see what the year has in store? Ahead, designers share their takes on the paint color trends of 2024.
Rich Browns
“Gone are the days of stark whites and bleak greys as people continue to gravitate toward hues that provide warmth and character in 2024,” says Samantha Stathis-Lynch of Samantha Ware Designs. The designer anticipates “rich, mud-like browns” to influence our living spaces. Ware calls the choice charming and sophisticated, citing Farrow and Ball’s London Clay as her favorite embodiment of the trend.
It’s a departure from last year’s dopamine decor, which favored all things bold and bright. But as homeowners seek to cultivate a calm haven, subdued shades are top of mind. Brad Ramsey, Principal and Founder of Brad Ramsey Interiors agrees, noting that our collective penchant for caffeine will reign over our design choices. “Think about coffee, cappuccino and lattes and how those warm colors hit the spot just like your afternoon Starbucks fix.” Sound cozy? Ramsey loves Sherwin Williams’ Iced Mocha 9092 to bring the trend to life.
Cozy and Warm Earth Tones
While the hype behind Chocolate Brown’s influence is a trend unto itself, the brown-is-the-new-black shift from Barbiecore pink leads us into the expansive world of earthy tones. Charity Buchika of Teaselwood Design opts for these organic shades when looking to design “a luxurious canvas and add depth to create an inviting atmosphere.” It’s a trend we’ve seen gather steam over the past few years, and interiors will continue to lean on these versatile shades. Clinton Brown by Benjamin Moore is the designer’s go-to, noting that it “complements lighter tones nicely by introducing striking contrasts.”
Deep Purples
Joshua Smith, Principal and Founder of Joshua Smith Inc. is happy to welcome a surprising new color family to the design zeitgeist—purple. But it’s not the poppy, jarring pigment that first comes to mind. “Think deeper shades like plum and amethyst, even magenta,” Smith says. If cultivating inner peace is on your 2024 vision board, purple is your color of the year. “From a psychology perspective,” notes the designer, “purple promotes harmony of the mind and the emotions. It contributes to mental balance and stability, calming the nerves.” Smith loves the trend so much, he painted the front door of his Vermont studio Farrow and Ball’s Pelt.
If you’re not ready to go all-in with the trending hue, Stathis-Lynch loves purple as an accent, simultaneously spanning the spectrum of emotion to capture both an eclectic and moody vibe. With its subtle red tint, she recommends Brinjal by Farrow and Ball.
Nature-Inspired Hues
A common consensus among the designers we interviewed is that natural influence will reign over the paint color trends of 2024. Shelagh Conway, Principal and Founder of Triple Heart Design in Austin, predicts the year will be defined by a “mix of soft neutrals and rich earth colors. Think of the morning light at sunrise—the soft, dreamy pastels and the drama of the night sky.” Colors will continue to draw influence from nature’s inherent calm and peace.
Eddie Maestri, Principal Architect and Owner of Maestri Studio in Dallas, coins the moment a deep lean into “biophilic design.” Ginger Curtis, CEO and Founder of Urbanology Designs agrees with the terminology, predicting that “shades of taupe and beige will infuse spaces with a sense of timeless elegance and a palette that evokes the comforting warmth of sun-kissed landscapes.”
The nod to all that’s organic will make its away to our exteriors as well. But because of the exposure to the elements, exterior paints favor preservation and longevity through more muted tones, says Nastassja Bowman of Kristen Elizabeth Design. There’s also a desire to seamlessly blend a build into the environment around it. “Pulling colors from nature is a great way to bring in color without impeding on the exterior landscape,” says Bowman.
Interior decorator Kathrain Rhudy loves the blending of this trend with the year’s shift toward timeless appeal. “Rather than choosing a bright white, opt for something a little more subtle and combine with dark grey green for a dramatic and sophisticated look.”
Accessible Whites
Achromatic and neutral, white is often slated as an afterthought—the default shade designers opt for without consideration for what a room truly needs. But this year, we’ll see white contributing to our penchant for comfort and stability in our spaces. Matthew Blonand of MMB Studio captures the trend using Dunn Edwards DEW380, loving its warmth and versatility “for an art-filled interior with wood floors.”
Eleanor Trepte, Principal Designer of Dekay & Tate predicts a similar role for whites in 2024—a salve to soothe and subdue other hues. She calls Benjamin Moore’s White Dove an “easy” white, citing its ability to pick up and play well with other tones. Melinda Trembly of Rincon Rd loves this off-white as well, pairing White Dove with Natural Cream on the trim of a recent project. A proponent of the trend, she loves Swiss Coffee as a universal shade and the creamy warmth of Mascarpone on cabinetry.
Peach Fuzz
It comes as no surprise—any hue Pantone names its Color of the Year is bound to find its way to our walls. Designer Laura Chappetto Flynn of Element Design Network loves peach for the “cheerful, playful vibe” it lends to any space, encouraging homeowners to experiment with the hue as an upbeat accent color. To keep the retro shade from overwhelming a room, she advises pairing it with a grounding color—”rich navy, deep green, and chocolate brown being our favorites.” Two trending paint colors in one? We’re here for it.
And if you’re hesitant to lean into the year’s ubiquitous shade, Chappetto Flynn suggests opting for a wallpaper that incorporates the color into its design. Complete the look by painting the ceiling for an “unexpected accent.” The designer loves employing the trend in either a powder or mud room.
Bright, Accented Exteriors
Amber Guyton of Blessed Little Bungalow suggests opting for vibrant shades beyond just peach in 2024, with blues and greens making their appearance in exteriors. “Exterior doors are also a great way to add a warm pop of color like brick red, orange, or yellow.”
And while Bowman loves the look of muted tones used in large swaths across an exterior, she agrees that striking, bold colors can work well on a trim if used in a gloss finish.
It’s proof that no matter how much inspiration we draw from the natural world, color—when used thoughtfully—will always be in.
