Designers Have Predicted Pantone’s Next Color of the Year – and They're Eyeing These 5 Standout Shades

Color of the Year season is in full swing, but there's still one brand to announce its spotlight shade for the year ahead. As we await the grand reveal of Pantone's Color of the Year 2027, we asked designers what color trends they think will take the crowning spot. From rich aubergines to grounding greens, these are the hues making their mark in interiors – and they couldn't be more opposite to Pantone's Color of the Year 2026.

1. Chocolate Plum

'My bet is on Chocolate Plum (Pantone 19-1110), a smoky brown-black with a violet undertone,' says John Maloney McNamara of Coosa. 'It’s almost black, but stops just short, with depth and a little sexy mischief. To me, a move from Cloud Dancer, Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year, to Chocolate Plum would feel more like an evolution than a revolution. Rather than abandoning quieter, more nuanced colors, we’re simply seeing them deepen – becoming moodier, more complex, and a little less predictable. Chocolate Plum feels familiar yet unexpected, grounded yet glamorous, with the kind of versatility that makes a color interesting rather than merely easy to live with.'

When decorating with moody tones like Chocolate Plum, John suggests, 'I’d go all in rather than relegate it to an accent chair or a handful of decorative accessories. On walls, a deeply pigmented matte finish would allow the color to subtly shift between brown, charcoal, and violet as the light changes. Little Greene’s Purple Brown, Farrow & Ball’s Cola, and Sherwin-Williams’ Weathervane capture some of the depth and nuance I’m drawn to in this color.'

2. Olive Green

Grounding greens have dominated the Color of the Year round-up so far, so it's sensible to assume that Pantone's spotlight shade might follow suit, too.

'I’d love to see olive green as Pantone’s Color of the Year 2027,' says Diane Hemmersbaugh of Theo & Co. Design. 'Since 2026's Cloud Dancer white, I'm noticing a trend toward warmer, more inviting, organic interiors, and olive green would be a renewed focus on color! What makes olive special is its versatility throughout the home: it shines on walls, looks beautiful on cabinetry, and works well in fabrics for upholstery and window treatments. Whether or not we see it as 2027’s Color of the Year, olive green is a classic here to stay.'

'As a color drawn from nature, olive green provides a grounded feel to any space and pairs beautifully with different tones of wood, warm whites, and accent colors like dusty blue and terracotta. Using olive green as a focus or an accent shade is a way to bring color into a space in an understated way while adding warmth and depth.'

3. Eggplant

'If I were choosing two possibilities, I would put my money on an earthy moss green or a rich aubergine or eggplant,' says Blair Burton of Blair Burton Interiors. 'We've seen so much green and blue in interiors that I think there is room for a deeper, warmer color to emerge. Aubergine has some of the richness of brown and red, but it's more complex than either. It can feel historic without feeling old-fashioned, and dramatic without necessarily being loud.'

'Both colors also have something I think people increasingly want from their homes: depth. Neither is a particularly fleeting color, even if aubergine is perhaps more playful. To me, they both feel grounded and established,' she adds.

Paints like Farrow & Ball's Brinjal are perfect examples of these aubergine-inspired shades. 'In fact, I think these deeper colors often become easier to live with when you commit to them. Aubergine cabinetry can behave almost like a dark neutral while giving a room much more personality than gray or black.'

4. Soft Pink

Dusky pinks are perfect when neutrals don't provide enough punch. They're subtle, soothing, but far more characterful than whites or neutrals. And with Graham & Brown's Color of the Year named Rose Earth, it's fair to assume that delicate pink tones will be popping up in interiors throughout 2027.

'My guess would be some sort of dusty pink, soft blush, or mauve color,' says Brooke Mennen-Talsma of Brooke MT Interiors. 'We’ve had years of earthy greens and browns and I think people are ready for something a little softer and more romantic, but still feels mature and grown-up. A blush or muted mauve has that warmth and nostalgia that fits right into the cozy, lived-in homes everyone seems to be craving.'

'I think it would look gorgeous drenched on the walls of a sitting room, powder bathroom, or mudroom. It feels warm and livable. I think incorporating the color onto both the walls and décor and materiality is the ideal move, but if that scares you or your client, you could use it in simpler ways such as a Roman shade, a lampshade, or a lounge chair. It pairs beautifully with both light and dark wood tones and it could almost read as a warm neutral to live with for many years to come.'

5. Emerald Green

'If we’re honest, our hearts are holding out for a jewel-toned green as the Pantone Color of the Year 2027,' says Gina Elkins of Studio Casa Vita. 'We’d love to see something rich and vibrant, like the color of a magnolia leaf at peak bloom, where the sun almost reflects a navy undertone.'

'We’d absolutely love to use a jewel-toned green in a bar or study. To embrace the shade, we’d saturate the space in a lacquer finish or use it as a tone for a lime plaster with an earthy, troweled warmth,' Gina adds. 'To elevate design, we’d pair the green with a balance of copper and cream, and drench all of the upholstery in similarly toned mohairs, leathers, and linens.'

While we can't be sure which shade will take the crowning spot as Pantone's Color of the Year 2027, designers are convinced it'll be a playful, rich, saturated shade designed to bring life and character into any scheme.

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