Trends for 2024 indicate color, color everywhere.
Story by Tracy Dickinson
Featured in Autumn 2023
For the past several years, the annual paint company Color of the Year selections have leaned toward the understated. Homeowners were looking for calm after the unsettling months of pandemic life, so soft neutrals and nature tones were the predominant choices.
But for 2024, color has come out of hibernation. If there’s a prevailing trend, it’s that color is back, it’s refreshing, and it’s everywhere.
Wall color
Neutrals may still lead when it comes to walls, but homeowners and designers are getting bold and using wall color as a statement rather than a backdrop.
Behr’s Color of the Year for 2024 is proof of that. Cracked Pepper, a versatile soft black, according to the paint company, is one of the darkest selections announced. With decor as with clothing, black goes with anything, and this rich neutral adds sophistication and drama to any style.
Another moody alternative, Ironside from Dutch Boy, retains the botanical feel while reaching even deeper into the shades of the forest. A rich olive green, Ironside is a strong yet soothing neutral ideal for bedrooms and dens, and it pairs beautifully with sandy taupes and even blushy whites and pinks.
If it’s playfulness and fun you’re after, Sherwin Williams’ Persimmon is another option. Described as “an earthy terra cotta,” Persimmon is one of several citrus shades that make up the company’s Renewed Comfort Color Collection. Each sherbet-hued shade offers a refreshing change from the typical neutrals without veering too far into the bold end of the spectrum.
Whether it’s color for island cabinetry alone, just the base cabinets, or color throughout the kitchen, coastal shades are leading the list.
Cabinetry
The trend toward contrasting kitchen cabinetry continues, and this year’s paint colors introduce some colorful options. Whether it’s color for island cabinetry alone, just the base cabinets, or color throughout the kitchen, coastal shades are leading the list.
For homeowners who aren’t ready to jump into the deep end with cabinet color, Glidden’s 2024 shade, Limitless, is a perfect alternative. A honey beige that avoids the heavy yellow tones, Limitless has just the right balance of warm and cool tones for any decor. The shade is well-suited to cabinetry and trim, creating a warm accent without overpowering even small rooms.
Valspar’s Color of the Year, Renew Blue, represents the changing trend beautifully. Described as a versatile shade that evokes balance and calm, Renew Blue adds a pop of color to kitchen or bathroom cabinetry that feels refreshing no matter the season. Its cheerful shade works well with light wood finishes, bright whites, and sandy neutrals.
Decks and More
Neutrals and natural stains still dominate the market when it comes to decks and outdoor spaces, but even stain options are trending toward the colorful for 2024.
Grays and blacks are growing in popularity, as are deep chocolate browns and even sage greens. Such companies as Behr, Sherwin Williams, and Benjamin Moore offer a wide range of stains and paints for these applications that can turn a basic deck into a decorative outdoor living space.
Minwax announced its latest coastal-inspired stain, Bay Blue, which the company says is suited to everything from built-in shelves to decks. The stain is available in solid as well as semitransparent finishes and brings a blend of contemporary and traditional to any application.
Mix and match
Although some companies announce single shades as their Color of the Year, many offer color collections as well. Pairing the latest pick with complementary shades throughout the home is a simple way to update your space.
Sherwin Williams, for example, announced a four-family collection, made up of 12 paint colors. Each color palette focuses on an individual trend while offering several alternatives within that shade. The four palettes range from darks to soft tints and are suited to any room in the home.
The Retreat palette from Dutch Boy, which includes its Color of the Year, Ironside, is a collection of paint colors that work well in any combination. Ranging from Ironside’s deep olive and the gray-green of Antiquated Olive to the soft blush of Wild Orange and the rich neutral of Sanded Grout, the palette offers a full spectrum of complementary shades to complete your decorating scheme.
Neutrals will always be the backdrop for any decor, whether they’re warm or cool tones, beiges, or grays. But after several years of living and decorating with a self-preserving lockdown mentality, it’s time to break out some color. The 2024 paint trends are a great place to start. •
