Given the challenges we’ve faced for over a year, it’s safe to say we could all use a refresh — and that includes our living spaces. In many cases, transforming a worn-out room is as simple as applying fresh color to the walls.
If you’re tackling a paint project this fall, consider the vibe you want to create. Design experts say that in 2021, people are craving peace and comfort in their homes, and that mood is reflected in the most popular paint choices.
If you’re having trouble choosing the right hue, read on for some trend-driven inspiration.
EMBRACE THE BLUES
Blue is associated with tranquility, so it’s no surprise that this color tops the list in 2021. Consider these choices to make any room a restful retreat:
• Vintage Blue: Minwax’s first-ever color of the year turns up the nostalgia factor.
• Aegean Teal: Benjamin Moore’s color of the year, a blue-green blend with a gray undertone, is elegant as well as versatile.
• Aqua Fiesta: An eye-catching and vibrant aquamarine shade, Glidden’s first-ever accent color of the year can turn any space into a spa.
EARTHY APPEAL
Few things provide more calming energy than nature, so if you’re doing a color update, why not bring the outside in? Get grounded and add warmth with this palette inspired by the great outdoors:
• Canyon Dusk: The magnificent, sun-baked landscapes of the American West have an unmistakable appearance and feel, which Behr has captured with its color of the year.
• Urbane Bronze: This modern gray-brown combination, Sherwin Williams’s color of the year, evokes the organic quality of stone or metal and gives any space a down-to-earth, cozy look.
• Maple Leaf: Valspar chose a dozen colors of the year, including this camel-colored hue, that promote a sense of serenity and simplicity.
LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
Hope for better days is a hallmark of 2021 — and it’s reflected even in this year’s biggest paint trends. Bring some of that optimism into your home with these bold hues that instantly elevate your mood:
• Illuminating: The Pantone Color Institute, a global color authority, chose a vibrant, sunny yellow that embodies resilience and positivity for one of its two colors of the year; pair with Ultimate Gray for the full, uplifting effect.
• Satin Paprika: With an emphasis on warmth and wellbeing, Rust-Oleum has announced this spicy-yet-soothing shade is its 2021 color of the year.
• Passionate: HGTV HOME’s color of the year, as rich and invigorating as the red wine it resembles, manages to be both daring and comforting.
