Color trend forecasters from across the world tapped into the cultural and design zeitgeists to predict which palettes will be popping up the next year—and it looks like life will be a lot bolder in 2024. Color experts are predicting that people will be much more adventurous with their color choices with bright pinks , playful aquas , and rich browns leading the charge. Of course, neutrals will never go out of style, but they are warming up with buttery and blush tones rising in popularity. All experts also agree color will be more personal than ever in the coming years.
“Color is a language and as such plays an elemental role in personal self-expression,” says Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute . “Some will be turning to bold colors but others will be looking to softer neutrals and calming pastels. There are no rules, it is really about how one feels on any given day and what resonates at the moment.”
The colors we surround ourselves with inherently affect our mood and express our own personality. Choosing the perfect shade to paint your walls in or to dress in ultimately comes to personal preference. For those ready to take the colorful plunge, these are the seven color trends that will dominate 2024, according to color experts.
Erin Little
1
The Dark (And Chic) Side
On the opposite end of the spectrum, rich and deep colors will play an integral role in balancing the bright and light shades that will be seen in the next year. The shades vary from deep chocolate browns and interesting blacks to deep navies and forest greens.
“High-contrast colors are going to be important to counterbalance all the brightness of the pinks,” explains Wadden. “It’s sort of the yin and yang factor. you need that contrast to assert itself and calm things down a little bit.”
Behr celebrates the timeless allure of black hues with their color of the year, Cracked Pepper . Whereas, York Wallcoverings chose chic Bay Brown as their go-to shade of 2024 for its warm and inviting qualities.
Pieter Estersohn
2
Bringing Back the Blues
Blue is just one of those colors that will never lose popularity due to its innate connection to the natural world. Wadden predicts that there will be a shift from verdant tones to more airy and watery colors in late 2024 and early 2025. This shift inspired Sherwin-Williams to name Upward , a light denim blue with gray undertones, as their official color of the year.
“It’s a feel-good color that really people can relate to,” notes Wadden. “For the next year, it’s all about creating tranquil spaces, respite spaces, but done in this really beautiful, soft, breezy color that I think is really going to resonate.” Meanwhile, Benjamin Moore looked to the sky when selecting their color of the year, Blue Nova , which blurs the line between violet and blue. Andrea Magno, Director of Color Marketing and Development, said in an announcement press event, “It’s an intriguing blend of blue with a hint of violet that sparks adventure. It elevates the every day and expands horizons. It’s inspired by the brilliance of a new star forming in space. Blue Nova beckons us to unknown experiences and unknown places, so we can seek out that adventure.”
Pressman further agrees that blues will have a major moment in 2024, further adding that livelier shades like teals and aquas will be popping up everywhere.
Pressman says, “Our desire to spend time in nature coupled with our focus on health and wellbeing is coming through in refreshing, watery aqua blues as well as cooler, serene and meditative blue shade. Vivid teals and turquoise shades play into this as well as do herbal, oxygenated greens.”
Valspar recently named Renew Blue , a midtone blue-green, their color of the year, further establishing this shift to more playful shades of blue. Additionally, C2 Paint opted for a more aqua shade, Thermal , as their color of the year noting its fresh and versatile qualities.
Julia Lynn
3
Intriguing Purples
Purples can feel a little intimidating to work with, but experts urge that the color is extremely versatile. Pressman notes that “intriguing purples and lilacs” help empower people to stand out and experiment more with color.
Wadden adds that more muted, softer purple shades will also rise in popularity in the forthcoming year. The reason is that they’re a nice companion to pinks, blues, and greens, adding depth or vibrance depending on the shade of purple. Benjamin Moore also notes the compatible nature of purple, highlighting Hazy Lilac as one of the colors making up their Color Trends 2024 palette.
DAN PIASSICK
4
Unapologetic Pinks and Reds
Barbie’s reign over culture will continue to prosperous in the upcoming year. Sherwin-Williams , Dunn-Edwards and Pantone all predict vivacious shades of pink will continue to rise in popularity as feel both nostalgic and optimistic. Shades of blush and baby pink will also remain a staple as proven by the British paint & wallpaper company, Little Greene , which announced the soft pink neutral Masquerade as their color of the year.
“As we see the shift to warmer stone colors as consumers move away from cold greys, we also predict a natural transition towards earthy pink,” says Ruth Mottershead, creative director of Little Greene. “Masquerade is a timeless on-trend tone that brings a natural tranquillity into the home.”
Pinky peaches are having a moment in 2024 as well. Pantone announced Peach Fuzz as their color of the year, noting the romantic shade serves as a reminder to slow down and enjoy each other’s company.
Sue Wadden , Sherwin-Williams director of color marketing, notes shades in the red and terracotta families will also see a resurgence in the next year.”Red is really emerging, and we haven’t talked about red probably since the 1990s,” says Wadden. Even Benjamin Moore can’t stay away from the brilliance of red and pink, including earthy Topaz and cheerful Teacup Rose in their Color Trends 2024 palette.
Eric Piasecki/Otto
5
Lustrous Yellows and Oranges
VERANDA is making our own prediction that radiant yellows and oranges will be the “it” shades for 2024. Our Color of the Year, Electric Amber , illustrates the luminous beauty that these two shades hold—especially when blended together. Inviting and captivating, electric amber shines in design when showcased in textiles, jewelry , and even gardens .
VERANDA isn’t the only brand noticing the rising interest in sunny shades as HGTV Home named Persimmon their color of the year. This trend even carries over to the fashion industry with trend forecasters WGSN and Coloro naming Apricot Crush their color of the year for 2024.
David Tsay
6
Earthy Greens
Approachable and muted greens aren’t going anywhere in 2024. The nature-inspired hues evoke a calming quality that most people find comforting. This fresh and nurturing sense is what inspired British brand Graham & Brown to name a midtone green, Viridis , their color of the year.
Along with earthy tones, deep greens are also predicted to make a splash in the upcoming year. Paint company Dutch Boy named Ironside , a deep and comforting green, their color of the year, illustrating this move to darker colors embodying elegance.
Brie Williams
7
Warming Neutrals
Neutrals continue to heat up with warm off-whites and buttery tones becoming the new go-to’s among color experts and designers. Paint companies like Sherwin-Williams and Glidden —who named honey-forward Limitless as their color of the year—predict these colors will provide an energized yet solid base to color palettes.
Wadden further adds that one of the reasons warm neutrals are currently loved by designers has to do with lighting. “When we talk to designers, a lot of them mention that LED lighting really impacts color, and it makes things much cooler,” explains Wadden. “So, you see the rise of warmer colors when you have to sort of counterbalance all that coldness.”