The Color of the Year 2024 picks we’ve seen so far suggest that while today’s greens are still relevant, tastes might be tilting towards soothing blues. Though you’ll see a variety of blues in predictions for the next year—ranging from misty sky-like shades to bolder hues inspired by the sea and twilight—companies are also offering up plenty of other options for designers with an eye towards trending colors.
From light and airy hues to earthier, more muddy tones, 2024’s selects serve moods for any room. Read on to see how trending color predictions can offer all sorts of ideas and inspiration for the year to come.
1. Upward by Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams looked to the skies to source its 2024 Color of the Year. Upward is a soft and beautiful blue, imbued with slight red undertones, a hint of gray, and some of the natural attributes we associate with green. Evocative of Scandi slow living or coastal vibes depending on its application, Upward is an asset for anyone looking to create a calming contrast from the busyness of modern life.
2. Skipping Stones by Dunn-Edwards
Similar yet distinct from Sherwin-Williams’s Upward, Skipping Stones takes its cues from the sea rather than the sky. Described by Dunn-Edwards color expert Deming Carpenter as “a perfect bridge between warm and cool,” this moody, meditative blue is a welcome addition to an interior, whether it appears on cabinets, all four walls, or more subtle applications. It’s also right at home alongside the other nature-inspired colors of the New Dawn collection, part of the brand’s broader 2024 Color + Design Trends selections.
3. Limitless by PPG
A color that truly lives up to its name, Limitless is a light yellow that represents energy and optimism. Described by PPG’s color expert for the Glidden brand Ashley McCollum as a “modern honey beige,” it has the versatility to function as a neutral while representing a distinct break from the cool grays of years past. Whether meant to conjure a sense of wellness, a connection to morning sunshine, or a reference to historic design eras, this color can live up to its name when applied to walls, kitchen cabinets, or anywhere else that calls for a pop of colorful possibility.
4. Viridis by Graham & Brown
Viridis, Graham & Brown’s 2024 Color of the Year, is a garden of earthy green delight. The color plays well with the lush, forest scene of New Eden, the brand’s Design of the year, grounding the jewel tones of its illustrated flora and fauna. However, Viridis is more than capable of holding its own, bringing out the best of dark woods, soft decor, and any number of adjacent shades of green.
5. Cracked Pepper by Behr
Behr’s top pick for 2024 goes boldly back to black at a time when brighter near-neutrals would seem to rule the day. A luxe charcoal tone, Cracked Pepper proves that even a darker color can feel soft, cozy, and comfortable while still making a statement. Whether used as an anchor in a modern space or as feature of something more classic, there are plenty of reasons why this top seller in Behr’s Designer Collection Palette is worthy of its Color of the Year status.
6. Blue Nova by Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore’s Blue Nova is another mid-toned blue that balances the warm with the cool. Andrea Magno, the brand’s color marketing and development director, describes Blue Nova as a “captivating, otherworldly” color that captures the spirit of twilight to achieve something magical. As a matte finish, Magno appreciates its ability to introduce a “velvety feel,” but it’s also got the versatility to add an air of approachable excitement to kitchen islands, cabinetry, and even front doors.
7. Renew Blue by Valspar
Can’t decide between the greens of today or the blues of tomorrow? Renew Blue, Valspar’s 2024 Color of the Year, rejects that false binary. As the name suggests, this blue is all about restoring equilibrium and recharging, managing to feel peaceful yet provocative. Whether grounded with help from neutrals like Perfect Backdrop and Dusk in the Valley or standing out on its own, there’s no doubt that Renew Blue has what it takes to help your home feel like a space for getting in touch with your true colors.
8. Bay Brown by York Wallcoverings
As rich as fertile soil and fine leather, York Wallcoverings’ choice of Bay Brown for 2024 is a reminder that greens and blues aren’t the hues found in nature. This particular neutral is stately enough to function in classical design contexts while possessing a depth that makes it a provocative choice for moodier, more contemporary spaces. But no matter how it’s used, Bay Brown carries with it a sense of quiet—yet unmistakable—luxury.
9. Sweet Embrace by Dulux
Described by Dulux as “delicate and optimistic,” Sweet Embrace exudes warm, welcoming qualities. Ready to illuminate rooms that otherwise don’t see much sun or to create an oasis of calm in a home office, this lavender-leaning near-neutral can be either a foundational or transformational color depending on its application. No matter if it’s paired with greens and blues, an earthy orange, or a soft gold, Sweet Embrace’s light, airy attributes are a fit for any style or season.
10. Peach Fuzz by Pantone
Amid 2024’s rising tide of cool tones, Pantone’s Peach Fuzz is a warming counterweight. Whether as a rug offering a textural contrast to harder surfaces or deployed as a dining room accent wall to create a convivial atmosphere, Peach Fuzz brings comfort, compassion, and connectivity to any space where people want to feel at ease. Capable of both standing out amid traditional neutrals and holding its own among today’s landscape of brighter, bolder colors, expect to see Pantone’s pick pop up anywhere that calls for chilled out vibes or creative inspiration.
11. Mountain Sage by James Hardie
Mountain Sage marks the first-ever Color of the Year selection for siding manufacturer James Hardie. Specifically billed as a trending color for exteriors, this neutral-tinged take on an earthy green shows that turning the home into a soothing sanctuary can start from the outside in. Available in various James Hardie sidings and trim battens, Mountain Sage offers mood-boosting tranquility while blurring the boundaries between the built environment and the natural world.
Originally published in Architectural Digest
Text by Tim Nelson and Mel Studach
