Trending Paint Colors in 2021…are we done with gray?
Watching how home decor trends change over time is fascinating. Our needs, desires, and current events are all reflected in the way we design our homes, from furniture style and wall color, to accents, art, and fabrics. As we plan our own room interiors, whether building or redecorating, it’s fun to look at where the trends are going, and where they’re coming from. In this blog we wanted to look specifically at trending paint colors and talk about what’s in, what’s out, and what may be coming next. Some styles that have been embraced for a while now are starting to wane in popularity, while other–perhaps unexpected–colors are becoming decidedly on-trend.
The psychology behind the trend…
A lot has happened in the world in the past year. It’s been a time of upheaval and change on a global scale, and the pandemic has especially changed our relationship with our homes. Because of this fast-paced change in lifestyle, people are actually gravitating toward different colors. There’s a move toward warmth, comfort, and nostalgia. Current trending paint colors also reflect a certain serious mood, but also the hope people are beginning to feel, according to The Nordroom.com blog.
Colors of the year
Pantone announced their colors of the year as Ultimate Gray and Illuminating and nothing could be more symbolic of the deep feelings of ambivalence people are having right now. The The Nordroom.com blog. describes this color trend as “encapsula[ting] deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the promise of something sunny and friendly.” The gray is not the lighter more silvery gray we’ve seen dominate the decor in people’s homes in so long, but a darker, more stoic, even industrial feeling shade.
Benjamin Moore announced its color of the year as Aegean teal. Which also seems to be in line with trending warm colors, and colors on the spectrum of green and blue that are gaining popularity. In color theory, blue triggers feelings of peace and calm, stimulates productivity, and makes us feel secure. Green signals nature and health. No surprise that these are feelings that people are currently trying to cultivate in their living spaces.
Photo: Behr.com
Muted pastels and…pink?
Love it or hate it, pink is creeping into places outside your five year old girl’s bedroom.
We’re starting to see more corals and softer pinks in places like kitchens and bathrooms. Decorators are starting to use it as an accent or balancing color to give personality and pop to the space.
Other pastels are also on the rise for areas like bedrooms, living rooms and offices. The key is that they are somewhat muted, not quite the bright easter egg colors you might expect when you hear “pastel.” The result is spaces that are uplifting and airy.
“Light” is still in, but “cool” has worn out its welcome
Warm neutrals dominate the color palette of designers in 2021. Dark teal, lighter brown tones, and deep gray or blue-grays abound.
The all-white or all-gray design palette is not gone, but it is starting to give way to design schemes with more color and warmth. According interior designer Rachel Street, “For a few years now, we’ve been making everything from walls to countertops bright white. Next year, I predict people will return to creating visual interest through color” (Insider blog).
Expect also to see lighter grays less commonly in the kitchen, especially in cabinetry. The move is away from coldness and uniformity.
What’s moving into the kitchen scene fast? Green cabinets and indigo blue.
Blues for your blues
Blue is being utilized in multiple ways. The trend of navy blue cabinets continues in kitchens, but navy is becoming a popular accent color in almost any room. Light blues paired with darker blues is a current favorite, as is the combination of blue and toasty browns. The name of the game is comfort and safety right now, so blue is a color that’s having its hey-day.
Blue is a perennial favorite, but likely because of its associations with serenity and calm, blue is extremely prevalent in interior design at the moment.
The accent wall
Accent walls have been waning in popularity for a while now, but this year they may all but disappear from design. Seen as distracting and even “childish” according to Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas of Interiors by Design, accent walls were once a way to add dimension and interest to a room. But it looks like that’s no longer our feeling about accent walls.
What has been making a comeback? Wallpaper. New forms of wallpaper that can be stuck to the walls as an accent, then easily peeled off when it’s outworn its welcome…we didn’t see it coming either, but it’s part of a handful of trends toward nostalgia that are prevalent at the moment (Insider blog).
Check out Daily Dream Decor for more tips on what’s in and out.
Trends are fun to think about and get ideas from, but at the end of the day, the choices you make about your home are all about what suits your style and makes you happy–after all, you live there!
Are you looking for a home that will be perfectly suited to your tastes? Paint color is just the beginning. Contact us for a home that inspires and comforts you every day.
