Now that 2025's much-anticipated Color of the Year announcements are wrapped up – with leading paint brands having revealed their trend-setting shades for the coming months – we've got a much better idea of what this means for decorating trends this year.

At first glance of this year's Color of the Years, there are obvious themes to arise: purple is having a renaissance and brownish, earthy tones are the 'new neutrals' for the year ahead. But what exactly do these colors say about how we're going to decorate our homes throughout 2025?

We turned to paint and color specialists as well as interior designers, who share all below. We've summarized five main color trends observed from the Color of the Years which you can expect to dominate this year – from bold and colorful to earthy and warm.

1. Bold and personality-led interiors

This year's Color of the Year announcements confirm a continuation of personality-led interiors that embrace the boldest colors. While trends such as dopamine decor, which encourages homeowners to ignore the rulebook and decorate with shades that bring joy, have been gaining momentum in recent years, 2025's color trends such as Glidden's Color of the Year Purple Basil, suggest this is only expected to continue.

'Choosing a bold color like Purple Basil indicates a shift towards more personalized spaces,' explains Ashley McCollum, color expert at Glidden. 'Homeowners are increasingly looking to express their unique tastes and preferences through color choices, moving away from more traditional palettes.'

'Consumers are unapologetically selecting colors that bring them joy, worrying less and less about resale value and creating your space because of you,' Ashley adds. 'Consumers are becoming more and more comfortable with color.'

This color trend is further emphasized with Dulux's True Joy, a bright yellow paint, and Minwax's Violet, a bold purple wood stain that nods to maximalist color ideas.

2. Quietly colorful hues

While bold and statement hues have made their mark on this year's color trends, there's just as much to say about 'quieter' colors that focus on comfort in home decorating. Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year, Cinnamon Slate, is one of the best examples of this, a brownish purple that feels relaxed and soothing.

'For us at Benjamin Moore, 2025 is going to be very much about quietly colorful hues,' explains Helen Shaw, Director of Marketing (International) at Benjamin Moore. 'This is a shift from the saturated color story seen in previous years and will focus on a more subtle and comforting take on color.'

'Our Colour of the Year, Cinnamon Slate, perfectly encapsulates this idea of a quietly colorful hue – it has presence without distraction, with its delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown undertones,' adds Helen.

'Alongside Cinnamon Slate we have curated a Color Trends palette, featuring nine other ‘in-between’ hues that have the ability to transition gracefully from room to room, exuding an innate sense of ease and liveability. What makes these hues special is that each is rich with undertones that make a statement with relaxed confidence, whether taking a neutral or a moodier approach. The quietly colorful nature of these hues also provides an excellent vehicle to finding color confidence without overwhelming a space or its occupants,' Helen explains.

3. Nostalgia-inspired colors

Another color trend expected to inform this year's color choices based on the Color of the Year reveals is a return to nostalgic-inspired shades, as demonstrated by Sherwin-Williams' 2025 Color Capsule, inspired colors of the past and present.

'This year we decided to go with an entire capsule of colors instead of a singular one, and our 2025 Color Capsule of the Year tells a story of our past and our future in regard to trends,' says Emily Kantz, Color Marketing Manager at Sherwin-Williams.

'Nostalgia is having a big impact on design and homeowners are looking for authentic pieces of the past in their homes. This palette pulled influences from those iconic design styles from the past but with a twist. The capsule feels very eclectic and reminiscent of the 1970s, which is making a comeback in home and design, but we added a few modern shades to keep it feeling fresh and fun,' Emily adds.

Interior designers also recognize nostalgia as a key color trend, with Chicago-based designer Andrea Goldman weighing in: 'We have been noticing a return to paint colors that were more popular in the 1980s such as mauve, burgundy, burnt orange, and dusty pink. The same trend is surfacing in fabrics and rugs. The “every 20 years” rule for fashion seems to apply!'

4. 'In-between' shades

The rise of 'in-between' colors has been cemented with this year's color trends. From Dunn-Edwards' Color of the Year, Caramelized, a terracotta-brown to HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams' Color of the Year, Quietude, a blue-green, we're seeing popularity for shades that don't reflect one 'true' color but are a mix of different color families. This is a trend that stands out to interior designer Ghislaine Viñas, who elaborates below:

'I’m definitely noticing a theme with muddier, mixed tertiary colors gaining popularity. In the past, we’ve seen more obvious pops of color and jewel tones dominate, but now it feels like the color experts are expanding their palettes and leaning toward less conventional hues. These warm earthy tones are comforting without being too brash, bright, or bold, which I think reflects the complicated world we live in. It feels like people are moving away from the usual crayon box colors we often fall back on and are diving in and discovering new strange hues they love. Call me a lover of the underdog but the stranger the color the better for me!'

'These unconventional colors are also more nuanced and require a bit of introspection to truly appreciate, which could point to a broader trend of people seeking more individualistic and unique spaces,' adds Ghislaine.

5. Warm schemes instead of cool

Lastly, we can't overlook the dominance of warm tones in place of cool color schemes. While cooler tones have cropped up with shades like Encore, Valspar's 2025 Color of the Year, a dark blue paint, there's a general shift towards earthy and warm tones, from Behr's Color of the Year, the warming ruby red called Rumors to richer brown and purple paints, warm hues are officially 'in' for 2025.

'After so many years of bright white rooms or high contrast black and white, we are feeling the pull towards warmer, richer colors which I think is what we’re seeing in all the Colors of the Years,' observes designer Rosanna Bassford of Memmo Interiors. 'Various shades of browns and earthy tones are back in a big way so these paint colors work well with those hues. I think we’ll see a lot more tone on tone or monochromatic use of colors, less contrast, and more calm, enveloping design styles.'

'We’re at the antithesis moment of gray, so we’re going super warm and this is influencing people to use more brown furniture and antique pieces and I think it's a sign that people are embracing a vintage aesthetic and overall warmth,' agrees Chicago-based interior designer Claire Staszak of Centered by Design. 'Compared to the browns of the '90s, which are all cooler, the browns now are warmer and richer.'

Debbie Mathews, founder and principal designer at Debbie Mathews Antiques & Designs, also notes the dominance of warm hues, adding that they can make our homes feel more comfortable:

'I believe these colors, along with Pantone's Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, are all a bit earthier than what we have seen over the past few years. Warmer than the stark whites and grays that have been trending for many years, they all seem to be muted with brown undertones. Cinnamon Slate is softer than your typical purple and Carmelized is softer than your typical brown. I believe the popularity of these colors means that people are yearning for warmer, richer home environments that literally wrap them in comfort.'

Clear trends have emerged from this year's Color of the Year revels, from warm color schemes that reinstate the appeal for cozy and comfortable spaces to 'in-between' hues that reflect a more adventurous take on color. 2025 is all about using color to reflect personality, moving away from predictable neutrals to those that inspire creativity.

It's been just under one month since Pantone unveiled its much-awaited Color of the Year for 2025: Mocha Mousse. Since then, there have been mixed feelings about the 'mellow brown' – perhaps not bold enough amid a year largely defined by daring color trends.

Given the – by comparison – more adventurous nature of its 2024 offering, Peach Fuzz; Mocha Mousse takes on an unassuming form, but I am fully on board with it.

Liveable and grounding yet offering more warmth and depth than lighter neutrals; read on to learn why I think Pantone's Color of the Year 2025 makes a strong contender for a stylish kitchen color.

2024 saw plenty of 'new neutrals' ranging from plaster pinks to rich chocolate browns. But when it comes to designing a kitchen, often a costly and well-considered design project, I'm cautious of veering too far into the world of color trends.

For me, paint colors that fall into the Mocha Mousse camp: warming light browns and taupe shades, are a happy medium. They feel more interesting than predictable neutrals such as warm white paints, yet timeless enough to not feel too trendy.

Interior designer Andrew Griffiths, founder of A New Day Studio joins me in enjoying the understated quality of Mocha Mouse, adding that in addition to its calming feel, it's versatile enough to complement many rooms:

'I’m glad that this shade is being given its moment as it's part of a family of colors that I’m a big fan of. It brings both subtle warmth and a calming softness to a space, as well as being a really versatile color, playing well with different hues – both strong hits of punchy color but it’s also a balancing shade that blends with more subtle palettes of earthy tones.'

'I think this brings a comforting feeling to a room, something people are looking for more and more,' Andrew continues. 'The color is a natural evolution from the earthy pinks that have been popular for quite a while now, and I like this move in a slightly darker, earthier direction. For me, this color pairs extremely well with both dark and light woods and when paired with a soft off-white gives a feel of real sophistication and elegance.'

In this dining room designed by A New Day Studio, the beige walls demonstrate how colors similar to Mocha Mousse can create a soothing and stylish backdrop, without feeling overly trend-led.

If, like me, you're inspired by warm and earthy taupes as a color trend for the kitchen, why not try them out for yourself? Below, I've rounded up a few of my favorite Mocha Mousse-adjacent paint colors – if I were doing a kitchen decorating project myself, these would be on my list to try.

Looking for more color inspiration ahead of the new year? Take a look at the most popular paint colors of 2024 from the leading paint brands – from neutrals to bold hues.

As we look ahead to the new year, it's the ideal time to start thinking about home decorating projects to give your space a new lease of life come January. To do so stylishly, knowing which paint colors may have fallen out of favor is key.

2024 has been a color-centric year, with many designers embracing joy-giving shades, while neutrals have as ever been central to so many homes and decorating styles.

Here, we explore which paint color trends are going out of style in 2025. We asked interior designers, whose views we've rounded up below – read on to ensure your room color ideas for 2025 are designer-approved.

3 paint colors going out of style in 2025

'Cool colors are on their way out – bright black and white combinations, cool grays, and primary colors. Colors that have a little muddiness to them, or warmth are gaining popularity: off-whites and creams, interesting color combinations (think burgundy and mustard), and warmer grays. In general, more color is trending and spaces that are all neutral are on their way out,' says interior designer Maren Baker.

White

This year, stark white paints have been replaced with warmer off-whites, and this shift is expected to only increase in 2025. While bright whites can feel sterile, the more favored warm white paints add subtle coziness to our homes, while maintaining a light and airy feel.

'White paint colors are heading out in 2025,' predicts interior designer Jamie Gasparovic, founder of Studio Gaspo. 'Warmer tones are in, and we'll see once stark-white walls trending toward taupes and beiges.'

Debbie Mathews, founder and principal designer at Nashville-based Debbie Mathews Antiques & Designs also sees a continued shift from bright white interiors, adding: 'I think that after years of sterile white and gray minimalist interiors, we are yearning for warmth and coziness that these colors cannot provide. Instead, I recommend creamier whites, tans, browns, greens and yellows. These colors in just the right shade can literally wrap you in warmth and provide a sense of well-being.'

While there are many popular warm white paints that can be used in place of true whites, such as Benjamin Moore's Alabaster or Simply White, designers also suggest going bolder and swapping white with richer shades:

'White paint, especially everything white, has fallen out of favor as homeowners increasingly opt for bolder, more expressive colors,' explains interior designer Betsy Wentz. 'In its place, warmer neutrals, and rich, saturated hues are go-to choices for adding depth and personality to a room. Some of my favorites are Benjamin Moore's Smokey Green, Beach Glass, and Wedgewood Gray.'

Gray

In a similar vein to bright whites, cool-toned grays can feel equally drab. While interior design trends in recent years have already begun to move away from gray room ideas, designers predict warmer neutrals will continue to endure next year.

'Gray might finally be heading out in 2025 – it’s been overdone and can feel cold and uninspired if not used carefully,' says Kevie Murphy, principal and CEO at KA Murphy Interiors. 'If you still love gray, try a version with a bit of sheen to add dimension and warmth; it’s a subtle upgrade that elevates the space.'

A move away from gray coincides with the current appeal for warm color schemes instead of cool color schemes, which generally feel cozier. When it comes to decorating with neutrals, warm neutral paints such as brown are an on-trend way to add depth and warmth.

Katara Cade, interior designer at Pearson Design Group elaborates: 'Cool colors are going out of style in 2025! This has been a couple of years coming, but we are seeing people move back towards warmer paint tones. For quite some time, cool gray was everywhere. People filled their homes with gray. But whether it be walls or cabinets, cool colors can feel sterile and unwelcoming. Warm paint colors are much more inviting. Even Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year is Mocha Mousse – a soft, mellow brown that exudes comfort and warmth.'

'Rich and warm colors are on trend in a big way, and we love using colors that are flattering to homeowners and offer them sanctuary,' agrees Ryan Kopet of Miles and Kirk Design. 'The more jewel-like versions of traditional colors are allowing schemes to feel elevated. We recently used a deep brown in Benjamin Moore’s Brown Sugar that added richness and gravity to a dining room while still feeling inviting and cozy.'

Designer Jessika Gatewood of Gatewood Designs also sees grays diminishing next year, in favor of warmer neutrals, adding: 'I anticipate that cool-toned grays, which have dominated for years, will continue to wane in popularity. Instead, I’d recommend earthy neutrals like taupe or warm greige, which feel softer and more organic.'

While warm neutral colors make for a welcomed alternative to gray, they can equally be replaced with more colorful hues such as rich blues and browns, suggests Chicago-based designer Elizabeth Taich:

'Wasn't pale gray supposed to be out in 2024? I still see it showing up, and I truly hope it makes its exit this year. Instead, I would like to see deeper shades of blues and browns used to create cozier spaces where someone can curl up with a good book and just get lost in the warmth of the space. I'm currently working on a room that will feature shades of brown, midnight blues, caramelly taupes, and burnt oranges; the name of this room has been aptly named the cozy room.'

Navy blue

While dark blue has gained plenty of popularity as an interior paint color in recent years, not least in kitchens where it's used on kitchen cabinets, it may be finally time to say goodbye to this deep and dark hue.

'I feel like blue paint colors are on their way out,' observes Charlotte-based interior designer Alexis Warren. 'Over the past four to five years we have truly exhausted all shades of blue in our clients' homes and it's time to warm things up. I am seeing a lot of green, brown, purple, and even yellow. Everyone is wanting warmth in their homes and is pulling away from blues and whites. If you are looking to change things up in 2025 try reaching for a green instead of a blue.'

In the space below designed by Alexis Warren Designs, Farrow & Ball's Beverly is used to color drench the space, making for an earthier alternative to navy blue.

Beyond trending dark greens, there are many other moody paint colors that make a stylish alternative to navy blue. Warming, sophisticated hues such as burgundy and chocolate brown will create an equally impact-adding scheme, but with more warmth.

If you do want to use dark blue, try going for shades like Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue which feels nuanced with its green undertones, or even the much darker Railings which reads as a deep blue-black.

While these three paint colors may not be the most on-trend in the eyes of designers, that's not to say you shouldn't use them. Each of these colors can look good in the right room, depending on the look you wish to create; but there are more up-to-date alternatives to consider for the year ahead.

Last week, global color authority Pantone named Mocha Mousse as Color of the Year 2025 and the Gardens team at H&G couldn't be more excited. This warm shade of brown is one that easily complements foliage and florals, thanks to its earthy tone, making it effortless to incorporate into indoor gardens.

I personally don't see the Pantone Color of the Year 2025 going out of style any time soon. It's somewhat of a staple in the neutrals color palette, so there's no doubt investing in Mocha Mousse planters and vases now will serve your home for years to come.

Whether you have a large indoor plant collection or like to grow the best cutting garden flowers, I've got you covered. I searched high and low for the best Mocha Mousse planters and compiled them right here - I promise there's something for everyone.

Mocha Mousse Planters

Mocha Mousse Vases

There are so many options for styling your houseplants with Mocha Mousse planters and vases, all of which have their own unique touch. If you love Pantone's Color of the Year just as much as we do, you might be interested in other ways to decorate with brown to embrace 2025's winning hue.

Green kitchens topped color trends over the past few years, but this year, we're expecting new hues to overtake them in popularity. But what colors are replacing green kitchens this year?

While some kitchen color ideas prove timeless – like many shades of green – there are always certain hues that reign supreme. There are plenty of colors that work beautifully in a kitchen, and in 2025, it's all about embracing something new.

So, to find out which kitchen colors to choose instead of green, we've asked designers for their top picks – and they don't disappoint. From vivid blues to natural wood tones, there's a great range of hues to try this year.

5 colors replacing green in kitchen design this year

From saturated hues to dark neutral tones, the colors replacing the green kitchen this year offer a great variety for every interior design style.

1. Off-white and taupe

Warm minimalism is set to be a big trend in 2025, and with the right tones, you can create a chic kitchen design. It's also a great color choice if you want to pair green with something more neutral.

'We are seeing a lot more interest in off-white, taupe, and mocha coming into the color pallet for 2025. Greens will always be 'in' however they tend to be combined with a lighter beige color rather than overall,' says Jayne Everett, creative designer at Naked Kitchens.

'We are loving this trend as it gives a really calm feel to a kitchen and works wonderfully whether combined with deeper greens, blue, or greys,' she explained. This is a stylish approach if you prefer two-tone kitchen cabinets.

2. Wood tones

Sometimes, instead of choosing painted kitchen cabinets, sticking to something more natural and organic can add so much appeal to your scheme. This year, wood kitchen cabinets are making a big comeback – and are set to replace the ever-beloved green.

'In the kitchen, a ‘less is more’ philosophy will reign this coming year. This means pared-down design, celebrating clean lines and an airy ambiance,' says Nina Anastasopoulou, designer at Tom Howley.

'Moving away from the all-white spaces from previous years, wood cabinetry will be paired with large stainless-steel appliances – creating a warm and inviting yet contemporary atmosphere,' she adds.

3. Bold shades of blue

Colorful kitchens are still a big trend, so even if you're moving away from the green kitchen, hues that give the same atmosphere are proving popular this year.

'Blue is making a comeback in kitchens in a big way in 2025. While navy had a moment a few years ago, the blues of the future are more saturated and less neutral,' says interior designer Bethany Adams.

'A paler shade of blue works beautifully with modern cabinetry and bright white walls, while a bolder blue does well with traditional shaker doors and walnut accents,' she explains.

4. Regency hues

There's so much inspiration to take from eras passed – and none have had more influence than the Regency period. While the family kitchen might not have been a thing back then, there is much we can take from its designs into our kitchen now – color, for example.

'2025 is the year of the Bridgerton influence. Much like the show, it seems we’re also discovering the joys of mixing modern and traditional within our kitchens. Go bold with color but think Regency hues – vivid blues, pretty pinks, and regal reds,' says Rosalind Lang, designer at Tom Howley.

'It’s time to invest in traditional, locally made craftmanship. And patterns are back! Whilst it may be too soon to go full-fringed and floral with all your soft furnishings, a dash of pattern will add depth and perhaps a little romance to your space. Think William Morris and vintage Liberty prints,' she adds.

5. Warm browns

Perhaps unsurprising following the release of Pantone's Color of the Year 2025, warm browns are set to be a big kitchen color trend this year, introducing subtle color that caters to neutral and more colorful palettes.

'From warm browns to deep tans, homeowners are embracing warmer and moodier colors to reflect their personal style. Pulling inspiration from natural materials and textiles, warm wood tones and nuanced hues are timeless, comfortable, and thoughtful,' says Hannah Yeo, senior manager of color marketing at Benjamin Moore.

'With a neutral backdrop, warm tans and browns effortlessly pair with a variety of hues. Mix and match textures and patterns – think metallic hardware with matte silicone handles or patterned kitchen towels – to update the kitchen and make it feel uniquely yours.'

Whether you opt for a warm brown or a bright blue hue, the colors replacing the green kitchen this year offer a healthy dose of character, style, and personality filled design.

Global color authority Pantone has today revealed its much-anticipated Color of the Year for 2025 as Mocha Mousse, a warming shade of brown that feels comfortable and liveable.

Reminiscent of the rich brown tones associated with the sweet pleasures of chocolate and coffee, Mocha Mousse pivots from the more lively nature of Peach Fuzz, its 2024 Color of the Year, offering a harmonious and grounding shade that has an understated feel to it.

Brown has emerged as a major color trend this year, and the news of Mocha Mousse proves this isn't short-lived. Far from it, the warming, comforting appeal of brown is set to endure, shifting from harsher neutrals like white and black to something much more forgiving.

Pantone's Color of the Year 2025: Mocha Mousse

Many interior design trends favor brown – from quiet luxury to mid-century modern – and Mocha Mousse feels versatile to translate to many homes and decorating styles. Whether used in large volumes or as an accent color, warming brown tones are incredibly timeless – making this Color of the Year announcement one that feels beyond quickly passing trends.

'Underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence,' says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute.

'Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace the aspirational and luxe. Infused with subtle elegance and earthy refinement, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse presents a discrete and tasteful touch of glamour. A flavorful brown shade, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse envelopes us with its sensorial warmth,' says Leatrice.

Beyond the visual appeal of earthy brown, there's something to be said for its calming quality too. Colors like Mocha Mousse nod to the natural world with their warming, relaxed tones, and when used in our homes, that can translate to a comfortable environment in place of saturated tones that stimulate. Below, Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute explains how the theme of harmony was central to this year's color selection:

'The everlasting search for harmony filters through into every aspect of our lives including our relationships, the work we do, our social connections, and the natural environment that surrounds us. Harmony brings feelings of contentment, inspiring a positive state of inner peace, calm, and balance as well as being tuned in with the world around us. Harmony embraces a culture of connection and unity as well as the synthesis of our mental, spiritual and physical well-being.'

'With that in mind, for Pantone Color of the Year 2025, we look to a color that reaches into our desire for comfort and wellness, and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can gift and share with others,' adds Laurie.

Moving away from loud shades that demand attention to those that provide balance to our homes, there's much to love about this versatile and warming brown. If you're feeling set to incorporate similar shades into your own home, we have lots of decorating with brown ideas to give you some inspiration.

Today, home goods brand Ruggable has launched a limited-edition rug collection in collaboration with global color authority Pantone. If your home decor style welcomes a bold and playful take on color, this exciting new collection is for you.

Comprising 11 new color-centric designs spanning indoor and outdoor rugs, the collection reflects the latest rug trends through a palette of mood-boosting hues, designed to reflect personality throughout the home, from the kitchen to the living room.

The new collection is the second between Ruggable and Pantone, following last year's debut collection centered around Pantone's highly anticipated Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz.

'We are thrilled to announce the expansion of Pantone’s collaboration with Ruggable, featuring a bold and bright color palette across the new styles, designed to inspire creativity,' says Laurie Pressman, Vice President of Pantone Color Institute.

'By bringing together Pantone's color expertise and Ruggable's innovative design, we are excited to offer a range of contemporary and modern styles that make it easy for anyone to bring vibrant hues to elevate everyday living with colorful, mood-boosting designs.'

The new designs channel a lively take on color trends, reflecting Pantone's trending shades throughout. From blues and greens to warmer sunset hues, the new collection caters to many interior design styles; with bolder designs for those who love maximalist decor, and more muted options for neutral spaces.

Decorating with patterns is central to the new designs, with the likes of ginghams, bolder graphical prints such as color-blocked designs, and more subtle ombres running throughout the collection.

We spoke to Cassandra Leisz, Senior Creative Director at Ruggable, to learn more about the new collection and how it relates to the latest interior design trends. Read on to learn more about the mood-boosting designs, perfect for adding a healthy dose of color to your summer decor ideas.

'Our design team worked with Pantone to identify three design directions for the collection, matching those directions with trending Pantone color palettes that we felt would not only translate beautifully as rug designs but also serve to complement interior spaces in a way that felt current and exciting,' Cassandra tells H&G.

The popular dopamine decor trend was central to the trend stories, Cassandra tells us. 'Dopamine decor is all about creating spaces that make you feel good living in them by layering colors, patterns, and textures in a mood-boosting and often nostalgic way.'

'As dopamine decor rises in popularity, more consumers have embraced color as a medium for individualized self-expression in the home. Our Pantone collection taps into this increased desire for personalized interiors that enhance moods and inspire creativity by serving up a rich and diverse curation of designs in three trend-informed palettes: Digital Cozy, Retro Picnic, and Poseidon.'

Within each of these trend stories, color theory has been used to reflect various moods throughout the home. Below, we've rounded up each of the new trend stories and explained which styles they lend themselves best to.

Trend One: Digital Cozy

If you're looking to create a comforting and cheerful space, the Digital Cozy designs are soothing and upbeat, perfect for pastel room ideas.

'Our Digital Cozy designs showcase a soft pastel palette of lavenders, pinks, and blues, offering a digitally enhanced aesthetic that’s perfect for those seeking harmony and sanctuary in their home,' says Cassandra. 'The cool, calming tones and surrealist designs create a sense of simplicity, comfort, and escapism.'

Trend Two: Retro Picnic

If you prefer a more playful approach to your home decor ideas, the Retro Picnic designs are a celebration of retro-inspired hues and bold patterns.

'We combined fruit-forward brights and youthful geometric patterns to create designs that reference the nourishing joy found in entertaining friends and family,' says Cassandra.

'We felt this palette was especially perfect for the collection’s outdoor rug styles, invoking a sense of fun, nostalgia, and playfulness that memories of childhood summers often bring.'

Trend Three: Poseidon

Lastly, the Poseidon designs are deeply soothing with ocean-inspired blues, ideal for adding interest yet enhancing a calming feel in neutral spaces.

The styles in this trend 'use intriguing cool tones in light and dark shades that inspire a feeling of ease, tranquility, and awe in your surroundings,' explains Cassandra.

Although the collection champions a bold and playful approach to color, the designs integrate well into a range of design styles, even in more pared-back rooms.

'In minimalist spaces, these rugs can add a pop of eye-catching color and personality without overwhelming a room,' adds Cassandra.

'For bohemian and eclectic interiors, the dynamic patterns perfectly enhance the free-spirited vibe, and they could also soften industrial spaces, adding warmth, sophistication, and a sense of inviting the natural world in.'

Whether you prefer a reserved or all-out approach to your room color ideas, these rugs will uplift your home with their vibrant hues, boosting visual appeal and lifting the mood through color theory.

Find out more and shop the full collection online today at Ruggable.com.

Everybody wants to have a special spin on their coffee station's aesthetics. Whether you opt for an iconic brand or a stand-out coffee maker, how it looks is just as important as how delicious your coffee tastes. That's why the Nespresso X Pantone collaboration is so exciting, for both coffee enthusiasts and interior stylists alike.

Inspired by the sparkling seas and sun-ripened fruits of the Mediterranean, Pantone has created six, special colorways for Nespresso to use on some of their best single-serve coffee makers, travel mugs, and coffee capsules too.

I've got all the details on what to shop and where to buy it, but, be quick. Some of the pieces have already sold out. This collection will go down in history as some of the best Nespresso machines, but it isn't going to be around forever.

What is the collaboration?

This summer, Nespresso have teamed up with the American color icons, the Pantone Color Institute. They wanted to cultivate the 'essence of a Meditteranean summer,' says Kim Sterling, Head of Strategic Marketing and Partnerships, 'these designs echo the glamorous spirit of the seventies era, encapsulating both nostalgia and contemporary elegance. It's more than just a collaboration; it's a sensory journey.'

Kim says each color has been carefully selected to evoke different aspects of the Meditteranean Riviera. These are the six hues on offer and the thought process behind them:

• Mandarin Orange: this is at the core of the collection and is described by Pantone as 'gregarious and fun-loving, luminous and hot.' It's all about summer fun and adventures.
• Habanero Gold: unsurprisingly, this is all about sunshine and happiness. It's based on evoking that warm, contented feeling that you get when you're in a sunny spot with a cup of coffee in your hand.
• Muskmelon: it's not the Mediterranean without some juicy, sun-kissed fruits. This lively, sweet, natural color reflects the plump, fresh foods that taste extra special on holiday.
• Aquarelle: if you've ever imagined diving into the cool, refreshing Mediterranean sea, you'll have pictured this tone. It's the stuff we all long for.
• Tofu: picture sandy beaches and chalky rocks at the seaside and you'll see tofu. It's a wonderfully warm neutral, perfect for any kitchen.
• Blue Lolite: when the sun sets and the heat of the day softens, the sea goes this deeper shade of blue. Pantone wanted to represent the cool night sky, as seen through reflections on the sea.

What can I shop in the collaboration?

This is a fast-selling, limited edition collection, so there's a select few pieces from the collaboration available at Nespresso. The table coasters and tumbler mugs have already sold out, but, don't worry, there's plenty more where that came from:

More details on the collaboration

Alongside the products, you might be able to spot some other changes with the Nespresso X Pantone collaboration. Nespresso has announced that 'our boutiques worldwide will undergo a vibrant transformation, dressed in the hues of the summer palette curated by the Pantone Color Institute. From the moment customers step in front of the boutiques, they will be immersed in the spirit of the Mediterranean Riviera, surrounded by colors that evoke the warmth and vibrancy of summer.'

If you want to guarantee to come face-to-face with the collaboration, Nespresso will be transforming its Nespresso Plage into a 70s-style beach club at the Cannes Film Festival. It's set to be something seriously special.

2023 may have been The Year of the Girl, but its aesthetics have carried over into 2024. Influences like Barbie and Taylor Swift's Eras Tour brought feminine imagery to the forefront, and their popularity continues to grow. In Maude Apatow's kitchen, the Year of the Girl is neverending.

The Euphoria actress's West Village kitchen revolves around marble countertops and light pink kitchen cabinets. It's chic and stylish and blends timeless style with contemporary trends. 

According to experts, Maude's use of interior design trends with classic motifs is a winning combination.  First, it relies on the everlasting appeal of the color pink. NYC-based interior designer Kathy Kuo says, 'About eight years ago, it was #MillennialPink. Now it's #BarbieCore and Pantone's Peach Fuzz—there will always be a shade of pink du jour, especially among vibrant young trendsetters like Maude Apatow.'

Interior designer Soledad Alzaga adds, 'In Maude Apatow's space, the blend of soft pink cabinets with white and gray marble kitchen backsplash and countertops offers a visually striking and balanced aesthetic. The marble adds luxury, while the soft, warm pink cabinets add playfulness and fun contrast. This combination creates a modern and sophisticated kitchen design.'

Kathy continues: 'What I love about this sweet pink kitchen is that the shade of pink falls somewhere in between trendy Peach Fuzz and classic ballet pink, and the addition of the striking veined marble backsplash makes the whole space feel sophisticated and luxe, rather that gimmicky or childish.'

If you love Maude's kitchen, you're in luck. Experts slate it as a popular 2024 kitchen color trend. Soledad says, 'This combination will likely gain popularity as people embrace color, specifically pinks, in their home decor this year. The timeless marble allows for easy updates in the future, as it complements various cabinet colors in case you grow tired of pink.'

Shop the Pink Kitchen Edit

If Maude Apatow's kitchen sets the tone for interior design in the coming year, we can't wait to see what comes next.

The heart and soul of KitchenAid is color. That's what distinguishes these iconic stand mixers from the competition: KitchenAids can not only beat batter, knead dough, and whip cream better than anything else out there, but they look good doing it. The KitchenAid artisan is our pick for the best stand mixer for a reason.

When you picture a KitchenAid stand mixer, you might imagine it in a bright, block color. There's the iconic Empire Red, as well as the vibrant hibiscus and earthy beetroot shades of previous years. But the KitchenAid Color of the Year 2024 has landed, and this year marks a major departure from such warm color trends. Blue Salt is soft and cool, reflecting the natural shades of air and water.

Blue Salt isn't just blue. This color has tonal highs and lows, just like real rock salt. As it catches the light, Blue Salt takes on tinges of pink and purple. According to Brittni Pertijs, the Lead Color, Material & Finish Designer at KitchenAid, Blue Salt is 'a subtle sensory reminder to see every day in a new light', and a great way to put a new twist on blue kitchen ideas.

What's the KitchenAid color of the year 2024?

There's nothing like Blue Salt in the KitchenAid colorways. That's because the KitchenAid design team created this color themselves by combining light and dark shades of blue until they achieved their desired effect. 

After months of experimentation, Brittni says that she felt that something was missing. 'We knew we wanted an iridescent finish, so we began layering different shades of blue with chromatic nail polishes,' Brittni explains. Before long, the team had arrived at Blue Salt: soft, sweet, and slightly spacey. 

If you like to follow color trends, then you'll understand that Blue Salt marks a major departure from previous Colors of the Year. 2023's Hibiscus was a vibrant pink; so bright that you either love it or hate it. We had a sample in the test kitchen and the color had a depth to it that doesn't come across in pictures, but it's totally understandable if you think it's too garish for a neutral kitchen.

There's something subtler about Blue Salt. In the same way that you only need a grain of salt to unlock new depths of flavor, it only takes a dash of color to make a statement in the kitchen.

Color lovers who can cast their minds back a couple months might remember Pantone's Color of the Year 2024: Peach Fuzz. I like to think of Peach Fuzz and Blue Salt as sister shades, with Blue Salt as the cooler, quieter younger sibling. As we head further into 2024, I get the sense that we'll be leaving loud luxury behind, and playing with calmer hues. 

The KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer in Blue Salt

I wouldn't cover the KitchenAid Color of the Year without telling you exactly what you can buy in Blue Salt. At the moment, there's just the one product available for purchase, but it's the most iconic KitchenAid of all: the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer. 

If you're in the market for an attractive appliance, but you just can't get on board with KitchenAid, you might appreciate the Smeg Retro Stand Mixer. Smeg produce kitchenware in a wide range of bold hues and cute pastels to pop against plain white walls. This stand mixer is almost as capacious as the KitchenAid Artisan, and a little cheaper, too, and it's just as easy on the eye, though nowhere near as capable at mixing.

A pop of color is a timeless way to bring visual interest to your neutral home. Bethenny Frankel celebrated the ever-stylish look with a photo of her living room corner, most of which is black and white with two notable exceptions: A Tiffany and Co. book and a yellow pop art print from the aforementioned brand.

The turquoise pop of color instantly elevates the RHONY's space, and interior designers love the look.

Bethenney's living room color has its roots in a strong design history. Nicole Cullum, interior designer and founder of Color Caravan, tells H&G: 'Some things never go out of style. There are only a few colors in the design community that are more iconic than this shade. This instantly recognizable robin's egg blue was made famous by Charles Tiffany as his signature hue for his jewelry catalog and eventually became the branding symbol for his branding and packages in 1966.'

Nicole continues, 'The unique blend of a delicate light blue with a hint of green has become emblematic of luxury and refined sophistication. The color was formally trademarked in 1998 and is known as Pantone color ‘1837 Blue’ in honor of the year Tiffany & Co. was founded. This rare color is closely guarded and protected across most countries worldwide, adding to the allure of its timeless exclusivity.' This history makes it the perfect hue for adding subtle elegance to our living room.

'A small dose of a barely-there yellow-green adds a visually exciting tone to a normally basic light blue. This color combination was thought to be inspired by Victorian brides, who would gift wedding attendees with a turquoise brooch as a symbol of tradition in the early 19th century,' says Nicole. 

This specific blue living room color trend was popular in the 19th century, and its popularity will continue into 2024. 'In a time when we see a lot of classic and traditional styles returning, this type of blue will be an on-trend shade this year,' says Jennifer Ebert. 'The color's timeless elegance and bright, uplifting shade make it the perfect pop of color.

Nicole adds: 'Use touches of this iconic blue as a chic accent in your living room to instantly elevate your color scheme. Guests will immediately recognize this color as synonymous with not only elegance and wealth, but classic femininity and grace.'

Shop Our Blue Edit

For more inspiration on how to integrate turquoise pops of color into your home, our list of blue living room ideas is a great start. This shade has been on trend for almost 100 years, and it will continue to be popular for the next 100. Bethenny Frankel certainly knows it.

If you a fan of the Hollywood movie star and director, Bryce Dallas Howard, as we are, you may have noticed the interior backdrops in her social media feed have a running color theme. 

Decorating a pink room seems to come naturally to the daughter of Oscar-winning director, Ron Howard. 

As we've documented previously, Bryce Dallas Howard's kitchen is a soft and delicate success while her pink guest house bathroom is a huge hit and pays homage to old Hollywood glamour.

So, it is no surprise to find the Jurassic World actor has created a soothing sleep sanctuary by painting the walls of her bedroom a warming, rosy hue.  

After the movie success of Barbie The Movie a saturation of fuchsia pink Barbiecore filled us with a colossal dopamine hit. However, it seems that 'Hubba Bubba' bubble has burst as quickly as it was blown, and we are left with a gentler rosy hue that is so much easier to live with.

'This was a very ‘flash in the pan’ trend. Hot pink interiors aren’t great generally unless you’re going for a very artistic maximalism trend. Having the occasional hot pink item or wall doesn’t flow in a normal house.' explains Sarah Lloyd, Paint & Interiors Expert from Valspar. 

Instead, go for muted, saturated and soft pinks, leaning more into the ballet core trend. These tones are visually beautiful.'

If you are looking for pink bedroom ideas it will be wise to consider softer petal pink tones as these induce warming and romantic notes ideal for inducing a relaxing atmosphere to unwind in. 

Similar to Bryce Howard's pink bedroom, two 'colors of the year 2024' confirm just how alluring soft tones of pink can become.

The Dulux color of the year 2024 was named 'Sweet Embrace™' which is described as a kind, delicate tone that brings a feeling of positivity to our lives. 

'Sweet Embrace is a versatile hue because it can look different depending on the time of day – crisp in the morning, a light glow in the afternoon and more vivid in the evening', says Rebecca Snowden, Interior Style Advisor at Furniture And Choice.

'Take inspiration from Dulux’s calming color story with a Sweet Embrace on the walls to create a comforting atmosphere. Pair it with soothing neutrals such as a grey fabric bed and cozy white sheets as the base. Layer with pops of pastels by accessorizing with cushions and throws for a playful mix. '

Infused with orange pigments the Pantone Color of the Year 2024, named 'Peach Fuzz', is arguably within the pink color palette. However, the delicate shade does bear a strong resemblance to the color choice of the Twilight Saga star's paint choice.

'A cozy peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending time with others or taking the time to enjoy a moment by ourselves', describes Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at the Pantone Color Institute. 

Collaborating a softer alluring pink hue with natural elements such as warm wood panels, bamboo or macramé wall hangings, or an oversized mohair wool dreamcatcher, will offer a relaxed boho slant to the pretty hue that is just as feminine but includes a bohemian edge. The combination offers an extra layer of strength that simply inspires. 

Shop the pink bedroom edit

Every year color experts, interior designers and the interior press industry eagerly anticipate the release of a hue that will no doubt dominate color schemes in every creative field for the forthcoming twelve months, according to Pantone. 

Pantone is the creator of the revolutionary color tool that allows creatives to accurately match shades to exact spectrums via a specific number system anywhere in the world. So, believe us when we say these guys are the color therapy trendsetters to know about.

However, somehow a certain American television personality beat the color champions at their own game, by showcasing the anticipated colorway in their own extravagant hallway before the paintbrushes at Pantone were even dipped. 

RuPaul Andre Charles' 'Tutti-frutti' and fun hallway idea has caught our attention.

From his many TV appearances, it's quite clear the Californian-born celebrity does not shy away from bright colors. 

So, is it any wonder the A-lister teamed up with another colorful personality and Interior designer, Martyn Lawerence Bullard, to decorate his epic home in Los Angeles?

Martyn Bullard, picked up the entryway's tonal resemblance to the 'Pantone Color of the Year 2024, 'Peach Fuzz 13-1023' on his social media feed, and we agree with the resounding match. 

'Now, I'm not saying that Pantone was influenced by my @rupaulofficial entry hall color choice...but...it does look mighty like their newly announced color [of] the year 'Peach Fuzz'...just saying! What do you think?' posted Martyn Bullard.

It's a version of this warm and sunny 'Peach Fuzz' that welcomes guests of RuPaul and his husband, Georges LeBar into their flamboyant Beverly Hills home.

'In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance', says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute™

'A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless.'

The 'RuPaul’s Drag Race' creator and host, told Architectural Digest, that Martyn Bullard was inspired by great female designers of the 30s and 40s including Dorothy Draper and Elise De Wolf when decorating their grand and glorious home. 

The vast entryway with a central staircase showcases the classic Hollywood Regency style that's typical of the pioneering women. 

The pièce de résistance is the beautiful peach-toned back-drop that fuses the scheme in floral-toned warmth and the 'draper touch'.

Like Pantone, Bullard knows that peach tones resonate a welcoming ambience and therefore make an ideal backdrop for hallway spaces that require a higher level of optimism and character that plain neutrals fail to offer. 

The less saturated version of orange creates a refreshing forecast when framed with white-pained woodwork. The uplifting combination will open up tight spaces such as hallways with an optimistic heart that feels clean, bright and companionable. 

When decorating north-facing entryways consider teaming peach walls with natural textures and earthy tones to truly take advantage of the color's warm and gentle notes. 

This will compensate for the lack of natural sunlight rooms set in this direction can fall short of and will create a gracious welcome that's soft and delicate. 

'This soft, earthy shade harmonizes effortlessly with natural materials, encouraging eco-friendly interior design. Peach Fuzz can revitalize spaces, embodying a mindful approach to living,' says, Victoria Yardley, founder of eco-paint brand Victory Colors.

'Peach, with its gentle warmth and softness, evokes feelings of tranquillity and comfort. It imbues spaces with a sense of approachability and serenity, fostering a welcoming ambiance. This versatile hue inspires a subtle optimism, creating an inviting atmosphere that soothes and uplifts, making any room feel cozy and inviting.'

Another incredible room in RuPaul's chic and glamorous home is the jaw-dropping disco room, with no fewer than 26 dazzling disco balls that glitter from different heights of the high ceiling. Perhaps one of those is a crystal ball with a particular power for color trends...

The time has come, Pantone, the world’s color authority, has introduced to the world their Color of the Year 2024 – and it's fair to say, here at Homes & Gardens, we're already obsessed.

The launch of Peach Fuzz tells us that it's time to get cozy and comfortable for 2024 color trends. The release marks the 25th anniversary of the truly iconic Pantone Color of the Year program, with this year's color launch focusing on 'our need for nurturing, empathy and compassion.'

Soft, calming and comforting, yet wonderfully invigorating at the same time, Peach Fuzz is described as, 'a warm and cozy shade highlighting our desire for togetherness with others, and the feeling of the sanctuary this creates. Subtly sensual it is a heartfelt peach hue bringing a feeling of tenderness, and communicating a message of caring and sharing, community and collaboration.'

13-1023 Peach Fuzz: Pantone's Color of the Year 2024

To celebrate the release of one of the most exciting new colors that will be influencing next year's interior design trends, we explore the inspiration behind Pantone's new Color the Year, and how you can decorate with Peach Fuzz in your own home.

The story behind Peach Fuzz

'A cozy peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending time with others or taking the time to enjoy a moment by ourselves,' says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director, Pantone Color Institute. 

She continued, 'Drawing comfort from PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we can find peace from within, impacting our wellbeing. An idea as much as a feeling, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz awakens our senses to the comforting presence of tactility and cocooned warmth.'

How to decorate with Peach Fuzz

The sophisticated peach can create a warm and welcoming embrace when used for room color ideas in the home and sits between a soothing, pretty pink and earthy terracotta.

Over the last few years, we've seen a revolution in decorating with neutrals in interior design, for paint trends and more, with classic shades such as white and gray being replaced by warmer color schemes that have more depth, and that make our spaces feel more inviting, colorful and characterful. The launch of Peach Fuzz perfectly embodies the transition of embracing a more warming, modern palette of 'new neutrals' in the home; 'Peach Fuzz presents a fresh approach to a new softness.'

What we love most about the color is how its comforting yet energizing qualities allow for it to seamlessly integrate into interior spaces both minimalist and maximalist. From creating a bright and bold look for paint ideas (Farrow & Ball's Dutch Pink is the perfect warm-toned peach), to using it as an accent color across fabrics and soft furnishings, Peach Fuzz is perfect for uplifting a room with a cozy, warming and inviting feel.

For this year's launch, Pantone has a collection of official brand partners who have designed exclusive Peach Fuzz product collections. Explore our favorite collaborations below to bring the beauty of this color into your home.

Ruggable x Pantone Color of the Year 2024 collaboration

Spoonflower x Pantone Color of the Year 2024 collaboration

We're excited to see how Pantone's Color of the Year 2024, Peach Fuzz, will further take form in the world of interior design, and how this new color trend showcases the importance of designing a colorful home that prioritizes the importance of coziness and compassion. 

For more paint inspiration, we explore the 11 other color-of-the-year trends that forecasters and paint experts predict will dominate interiors in 2024.

The Snapchat logo, Instagram-fad skincare packaging, sherbet-colored hues at Ganni, or Beyonce’s lemon Roberto Cavalli dress worn for her best-selling album Lemonade. These are just some of the hallmarks of what was once tipped as the next millennial pink: ‘Gen Z Yellow’. 

Dawn for all things Gen Z yellow first came around as early as 2015 when the Oxford English Dictionary announced the word of the year was not, in fact, a word, but an emoji: the ‘tears of joy’ one. It is distinctly digital, pixel-happy coloring (bold, sickly, zingy, acidic) gave the hue this viral quality that could quickly cut through the noise on the internet – helping products like Korean beauty brand Dr. Jart+, and Starface acne pimple patches reach youthful faces of this chronically online cohort. 

Decorating with yellow has one foot in the digital world and the other in the 1980s euphoric Brit youth dance scene it references, where this acidic yellow (seen with the childlike smiley faces of the time) became synonymous with a subversive rave scene; you only have to think of Nirvana's smiley logo to get the idea. 

This youthful zingy yellow continued to hit the cultural touchstones of the mid to late 2010s: think of Zadie Smith’s Swing Time cover (2016), Ottolenghi’s Simple cookbook, available at Amazon, and a whole suite of Spring/Summer 2017 runways (Dries Van Noten, Jason Wu, Emilio Pucci). It was then coined ‘Gen Z Yellow’ by Haley Nahman in 2017 in the now defunct Man Repeller online magazine. 

So it makes sense it was the sartorial choice of Harry Styles’ bright yellow suit for the 2020 Brit Awards, because then quickly after it became solidified into the zeitgeist as a Pantone Color of the Year in 2021 titled ‘illuminating’, heralded as an optimistic, sunny, expressive color –  a ray of hope during the worldwide pandemic. 

But much like the tears of joy emoji (sorry if you haven’t already heard: it’s now apparently deemed deeply millennial, ‘replaced’ by the skull emoji) – the question lies: does this also spell doom for Gen Z yellow?

What is the new Gen Z yellow in interior design?

When it comes to replacing Gen Z yellow, the answer lies within your kitchen. Yes, designers are looking to nature and everyday food and beverage items for their color trend inspiration in 2024. 

Here are the two colors that trend forecasters predict will replace Gen Z yellow in 2024:

Decorate with a matcha green

Gemma Riberti, head of interiors at WGSN, has tipped a cool matcha green as one of the key color trends for interiors for A/W 24/25. 

Cool matcha, a light pastel type of green, she says, is ‘a calming, soothing pale with a therapeutic quality, the perfect combination of a vegetal green and a mindful pastel. Greens are a highly restorative color family thanks to their immediate connection to the natural world and we are starting to see them being treated as a natural neutral.’ 

‘Cool matcha connects to both nature and technology, highlighting the importance of developments in nature-powered bio and plant-based materials, dyes, and pigments. There is at the same time also a more ethereal, almost surreal side to this color which makes it interesting for Metaverse-inspired narratives, where it can be used to create a soft yet eerie aesthetic – think coatings and pigments for playdough-like clay, matte velvet, ceramic glazes, foam-like plushness, and lightweight sheers. The glowing quality of decorating with green also leads the way to narratives around bioluminescence, glow-in-the-dark effects, and more.

This pastel room color has a similar digital literacy as Gen Z yellow; it’s a color that comes under what you might call ‘digitized brights’ – the type of colors that are deeply informed by AI platforms (Midjourney, DALLE) and animation, that give this deeply electric, saturated, vibrant palette. We’re perhaps beginning to see some early adopters. In design, there’s architect and researcher Adrian Chan’s recent design project, and Studio Wok’s latest design, Pan. And in art, there’s this sense of minty matcha freshness flecked on the canvas, and barnacled on the sculpture pieces by artists like Hannah Lim, Joanna Vasconcelos, Colleen Barry, and Flora Yukhnovich; think also of the ultra-popular Scandi interior furnishings by Gustaf Westman and Hay. 

In technology too, there are rumors swirling that the next iPhone15 is tipped to be mint green too in the coming months. So when thinking about how this reverberates into the home: consider paint colors like Little Greene’s Wormwood, or Whirlybird by Farrow & Ball, or for more intense iterations it’s Arsenic or House of Hackney’s Anise. And for complementary colors, Studio Wok for their Pan project, says this color works well when it’s ‘contrasted with the warm and natural shades of the palette’ that includes cool whites, woods, and starling blacks. Gemma Riberti, says this cool matcha green works ‘especially when paired with midnight plum tinted darks which really set it off.’

Accent your home with midnight plum tones

Gen Z's sunny yellow may also be retreating into the night with its darker, intriguing, and complementary counterpart: midnight plum. What’s often assumed is that along with colors like Millennial pink, and Gen Z yellow, is that younger generations are only drawn to the lighter pastels of life. Not so, says Riberti, suggesting its darkness offers a calming mood for the home: ‘Dark tints that address the focus on rest and wellbeing that are front of mind for consumers. This purple room color has many facets according to whom it is working with: treat it as a jewel tone that conveys a premium look and feel alongside gleaming warm metals, especially in plush materials, glossy glazes, and silky sheen.’ 

This premium association stems from deep purple’s ancestry. In the West, it was used to symbolize regality, same in ancient Japan where a deep purple Murasaki was once kinjiki (a forbidden color) to anyone outside of the higher social strata of society. There’s also a strong sense of mysticism and creativity associated (think Tarot readings, esotericism, where purple is connected to higher realms of consciousness). 

Midnight plum is a color that’s both steeped in the past but also one that’s deeply forward-looking. Think of the virtual worlds, and Web3 and you’ll probably of purple; ‘this purple also connects to themes of space exploration and the fascination for the emergence of the Metaverse,’ says Riberti. 

‘It can take on an otherworldly quality thanks to transformative finishes such as anodized, metalized, iridescent treatments, so it’s ideal for directional products with a futuristic aesthetic.’ You might take Audrey Large’s Low Table Cosmic strings as your cue for design inspiration here. 

Futuristic, but equally calming, Dominic Myland, CEO at Mylands also sees the darker shades of plum as a soothing balm against the everyday stresses of life: Deep and rich shades of plum feel warm, intimate, opulent, and romantic, like Mylands’ Plum Tree that’s an earthy and natural hue, reminiscent of fresh plums and its familiarity can feel comforting and reassuring.’ 

Which rooms work best for this paint? Myland suggests it’s best ‘to use for spaces that you want to feel comforting and welcoming like the bedroom, TV snug, living room, or dining room. They can be used as wall paint to create an enveloping space, or as an accent color.’

After a dramatic life event – be it your children flying the nest, a breakup, or a new job – our homes become the best place to seek refuge, rest, and recuperate to avoid stress. But how we decorate our spaces can have a huge impact on how well this works for us – and there are some vital colors to avoid painting your home after big life changes, experts warn.

Between avoiding the most stressful colors, and picking the most relaxing colors for rest, color therapy can drastically alter how we process changes in our everyday lives and could make the difference between sailing through your troubles and being bogged down in anxiety. 

Here, top paint experts have shared the five colors to avoid painting your home after big life changes if you want your home to be a sanctuary.

Colors to avoid after big life changes 

Working out your new decorating ideas when you are weighed down with stress can lead to rash decisions and unhelpful thinking patterns. Luckily, there are several mood-boosting hues that color therapists urge you to use after a big life change instead. Here’s what to avoid, and what to use in its place.

1. Avoid red when you’re experiencing heartbreak or grief

When struggling with heartbreak and grief, it is often recommended that you spend time with yourself to rest, recuperate and slow down – and our homes are the perfect place to do this. When focusing on self-care, however, it is best to avoid overstimulating, stressful colors, such as decorating with red, or decorating with yellow to avoid ‘overwhelming a fragile heart,’ says Marianne Shillingford, color expert and creative director at Dulux – ‘unless you want to distract yourself or party through the pain,’ she adds. 

Instead, it is a good idea to add some stability to your home, giving yourself some space to breathe with tranquil colors such as green, suggests Patrick O’Donnell, color expert and international brand ambassador for Farrow & Ball.

‘You won’t put a foot wrong if you want to create a restful environment by finding a perfect mid-green, not too clean but not too drab either. You can team it with a gentle gray, such as Farrow & Ball’s French Gray which will work beautifully in any room, or pair it with the softest Wimborne White as a perfect trim and/or ceiling color for a soft space.’

2. Stay away from neutrals when the children have left home

Children leaving home can drastically change the dynamics of a household. If you are looking to transform your old teenager's bedrooms into more usable spaces, then it can help to avoid picking stark white or neutral colors to prevent removing all personality from the room, or making them feel like a hotel room, Marianne Shillingford, color expert says. 

Rather, you should seize this challenge and take the opportunity to show your kids just how daring you still are,’ Marianne recommends. ‘For sure, it can be a sad time, but when you are ready for a fresh start to the next exciting chapter in your life, you can try decorating with blue. The perfect colors to refill your nest with are rich ocean shades of teal, navy, and sky blues – these shades are both bold but calming, perfect for a time of transition.’ 

3. Find alternatives to gray when you’ve started a new job

When starting a new job, whether you have moved house or are shaking up your routine after feeling stuck, it is important to use some of the most motivating colors – especially in home offices, and avoid subdued tones like grays and cool neutrals ‘which are not so great for boosting mood and self-confidence when you need it most,’ Marianne Shillingford, color expert says.

Patrick O’Donnell, color expert instead recommends using bright, bold tones and playing with yellow room ideas, for example. 

‘Bright shades like yellow help to recharge the batteries,’ he says. ‘Nothing says sunshine more than a cheering yellow, and whilst painting a whole room can feel like too much commitment, consider flipping the convention and use it on your woodwork for a nod to optimistic cheer!’

4. Keep it neutral when you’ve just moved house

Moving house has been declared one of the most stressful life experiences we all live through, so it can again help to avoid decorating your new space with bright, eccentric colors right off the bat. 

Instead, it can be a good idea to opt for decorating with neutrals, such as a warm-toned cream or white, to help you settle into the new house to avoid making big design decisions under pressure, suggests Erika Woelfel, Behr’s VP of color and creative services.

‘When it comes to big life changes, Blank Canvas, a soothing warm white, is the perfect fit – it is a color of renewal and fresh starts,’ she says. ‘Blank canvas is the ultimate solution for someone looking for a color with the transformative power that will leave a clean and optimistic background for limitless possibilities.

‘Swiss Coffee, Spanish Sand, or Perfect Taupefrom Behr are also wonderfully relaxed neutral shades that give a warm, relatable feeling amid life changes. They also offer flexibility for you to play with and ultimately transform a space from a place of rest to creativity.’

5. Be wary of red if you’ve just got married

The chances are that you have already been living with your partner for a while before getting married, but your wedding can be a massive life change in and of itself that can spark a desire to redecorate your home. When working on bedroom ideas for couples, Marianne Shillingford, a color expert suggests avoiding red. Although touted as the color of passion, there can easily be too much of a good thing, she warns:

‘Red is the most stimulating color, and you have to use it carefully. Too much of a good thing sometimes isn’t so good, and passion can flare both ways when you’re going through big life changes. While you may well have more fun in a red bedroom, red in a living room or kitchen may be too overpowering, so I recommend that newlyweds stick to cooler tones in their living spaces to retain that post-marital bliss.’

Named the most beautiful color for a room, toning down red hues and using pink or pastel shades is a more suitable alternative Helen Shaw of Benjamin Moore continues. 

‘Color drenching and blocking is a perfect method to bring these shades to life. For instance, soft pastel hues such as sage greens and romantic blush pinks or lilacs pair beautifully and are a perfect entry point for adding a subtle layer of calmness into the home whilst looking fresh and optimistic.’

Why color makes such a difference after a big life change

We may not immediately think of repainting our homes when our life seems to be up in the air, so to speak, but how we use color and paint have drastic impacts on our mood and redecorating can be a great form of alternative therapy, suggests Laurie Pressman, VP at Pantone Color Institute. 

‘Color influences us both psychologically as well as physiologically,’ they begin. ‘As a part of our psychic development, color is tied to our emotion as well as our intellect, this means that every color holds meaning, whether we consciously think about it or not. Some of these associations and feelings we may inherently sense, while others can be learned by association and/or conditioning – such as red being danger and green being nature. This then enables us to recognize the messages and meanings delivered which has an effect, ultimately, on how we feel.’ 

As a result, switching up your paint ideas can be a wonderful way to heal.  

FAQs

Painting intuitively and working with colors that you know help to relax you and cheer you up is the best way to work when decorating after a big life change. Always use colors that don't hold any negative connotations in your life, using paint trends and the expert's knowledge as guidance, but never law, when creating a relaxing space for you.

Flowers are an exquisite and easy way to add life and natural beauty to your interior space, and the latest floral trends for 2024 see a diverse mix of styles; from bold neon palettes and wild, rustic arrangements, to sourcing stems locally.

Decorating with flowers really can transform the look of a room, brightening a space with beautiful color, inviting scent and eye-catching natural texture. From a simple, small vase of flowers set down on a console table in an entryway, to a grand floral tablescape in a dining room, flowers are not only a key decorating tool, they can make us feel happy and relaxed, too.

So, what do the 2024 floral trends have in store for us? Whether you’re a lover of all things simple and sustainable, or a fashion-forward thinker that craves bold statement designs, discover the most fashionable floral trends set to enrich our interiors in 2024.

Our 6 favorite floral trends for 2024

With key insight from experts at Bloom & Wild, 1800 Flowers and the Flower Council, explore the favored floral trends for 2024 below.

1. A palette of neon pink and cyber lime

With Peach Fuzz revealed as Pantone's color of the year for 2024, expect to see palettes of subtly soothing shades this year.

However, Emma Forsey, a lead florist at Bloom & Wild says the industry is also anticipating a new trend for the year that’ll feature the contrasting hues of cyber lime and fondant pink. 

'The combination of delicate pastel pink flowers with accentuated lime-coloured foliage, within a relaxed and airy arranging style, is sure to be a hit,' she says, with a growing demand for this color combination picking up for florists and designers. 

Peach would tone beautifully with either of these shades, for those wanting to achieve a real on-trend color hit. Another way to get the look might be to invest in a statement vase, such as this pink and green LA DoubleJ statement bubble vase from Net-a-Porter. 

2. An eclectic mix of flowers

Expect to see floral displays embody a rustic and wild character throughout 2024, created through a diverse mix of different flower varieties, unique shapes and contrasting colors, establishing a more unrefined and asymmetrical feel.

The experts at the Flower Council have termed this more eclectic floral trend as 'Vintage Folklore' and say that this trend, 'represents the attention for diversity and a product’s useful life. Its motto is not to throw out, but to repair and patch up with love. In this trend, bouquets (and flowers) are mostly wild and colorful. Plants are also cherished, even the misfits.'

Key flowers to use to achieve this look include:

• Hyacinth
• Chrysanthemum
• Delphinium
• Stocks 
• Icelandic poppies
• Tulip 

3. Locally sourced blooms

The trend for supporting locally-sourced flowers and foliage is only set to grow in 2024 among designers, stylists and wedding couples alike. More and more of us are valuing the eco-friendly element of home-grown blooms, appreciating the chance to support local flower growers.

The advantage of locally grown flowers is you often get much more movement from your stems - they look so much more natural - making arrangements a whole lot more interesting. The quality and longevity of blooms is also greater, giving much better value for money. 

4. Soft and soothing colors

We not only love flowers for their gorgeous natural beauty, but how they make us feel, with many of us filling our homes with beautiful floral displays and houseplants to make our spaces feel more calming, grounding and relaxing, just like being in the great outdoors.

Our interior spaces not only need to look beautiful, they need to make us feel good, too, and now more than ever were are styling and designing our homes to be more comfortable and cozy. 2024 will see a rise in floral trends that enhance these feelings of comfort and wellbeing in the home, with a focus on soft and soothing color combinations. 

Neutral vases work beautifully in harmony with these palettes. You can go for something with a bit more texture to contrast the softer hues, such as this off-white balloon ceramic vase by Louise Roe at Net-a-Porter. 

5. Pretty pressed flowers

Decorating with dried flowers has been hugely popular over the last few years, with lovely dried bouquets sitting beautifully in homes all year round, and they are set to continue in 2024 as a floral trend, but with a focus on pretty pressed designs.

Once you know how to press flowers, the creative possibilities are endless. From elegant framed displays, to adding them to homemade cards and decorations, it is a truly wholesome activity. 

Florist Caroline Grimble says at Bloom & Wild, 'we noticed an uplift in people sharing ways to preserve their wedding bouquets on Pinterest this year, but this trend will hit the mainstream in 2024, with flower presses no longer reserved for crafters.'

This also ties in perfectly with what The Flower Council are calling, 'Collecting Memories', a floral trend that focuses on, 'soothing products that help create a home in which fond memories can be stored and cherished.'

From meaningful wedding bouquets, to flowers received from friends and family, keeping and pressing these sentimental displays can add an elegant touch to an interior space that comes with a story.

6. Serene all-white displays

Jo Reason, director of brand & range at Bloom & Wild says, 'in 2022, white was our top selling flower color, and we expect the demand for all-white bouquets to increase, in line with interior and cultural trends.'

A beautifully enduring trend, white flowers can establish a serene and calming atmosphere in the home. White flowers can effortlessly integrate into spaces of all styles, and the layering of different varieties, such as hydrangeas, lily's, baby's breath and carnations, can make just as big an impact as a bright and bold, colorful display.

FAQs

Are florals in for 2024?

As a timeless trend, florals are definitely in for 2024. 

Flowers and floral room decor ideas have always been a huge part of interior design, from patterns and prints for the very latest fabric trends, to providing beautiful inspiration for paint ideas, and, of course, you cannot beat the beauty of a vase of fresh flowers on display. 

2024 will see bright, bold and eclectic blooms filling our homes, mirroring the adventurous leaps many of us are taking for the style of our spaces. It will also see flower trends of calming color palettes and more rustic, organic looks that feel beautifully natural, calming and elegant.

If you’re planning to switch up your home design this year, look no further than these wallpaper trends dominating 2025. Every year, different designs have their moment, but this year’s selection proves eclectic style is here to stay.

Interior design trends come and go, but as people's tastes lean into lived-in style with sustainability in mind, these wallpaper ideas are expected to endure. Whether you’re looking for something busy and maximalist or simply want to add a metallic sheen to a scheme, the right wallpaper can completely elevate your design.

From soft murals and botanical repeats to plaid and decorating the fifth wall, these designer-approved wallpaper trends for 2025 will make redecorating so much easier.

 11 Wallpaper trends that will be huge in 2025

Wallpaper is an easy and effective way to inject personality and interest into a scheme, and these trends for 2025 are set to last. Whether you’re a maximalist looking for the perfect pattern or simply want to create a calming and tranquil space, these wallpaper trends are stylish and timeless.

1. Flora and fauna prints

A wallpaper trend that proves an enduring style, designs depicting flora and fauna are set to be a popular choice this year. Opt for bold colors and busy designs for a statement scheme.

Liz Potarazu, CEO and principal designer at LP & Co shares her thoughts on the classic wallpaper. 'It creates whimsicality and brings the outdoors inside, and when the tones are dark, it adds a ton of drama to a space.'

‘Because flora and fauna-themed wallpaper can be bold and busy, pair it with coordinating colors or earth-toned moldings. Keep the furnishings and colors simple so the paper can pop,’ she suggests.

2. Designs in earthy tones

Wallpaper trends aren’t just about the patterns and prints but also the color. This year, the trend for paints in earthy tones will carry over to wallpaper, with these new neutral and muted hues being the go-to when choosing a wallpaper, whatever the design.

Caramel tones have been proven to be popular this past year, and it seems this neutral trend will continue into 2025, with Pantone naming Mocha Mousse as its color of next year.

‘Earth tones, in particular browns and greens, are having a moment currently with people wanting to bring the outside into their homes. These tones are a great way to achieve a comforting and restful environment in your home,’ says Chloe Vince, decorating consultancy sales executive at House of Hackney.

From soothing greens to warm brown hues, these hues will introduce a sense of tranquility and a nod to the outside – whether you opt for a botanical print or a scenic mural, these colors transcend styles.

3. Scenic wall murals

Wallpaper murals are nothing new, but they’re experiencing a particular resurgence this year. With the versatility to work in many interior design styles, wallpaper murals can be adapted to work in plenty of schemes.

1st Dibs has forecasted that vibrant painted murals in particular will be a big trend for 2025, continuing from this past year. 'When it comes to design features and elements expected to be popular in 2025, colorful painted murals will be one of them.'

Natural scenery murals are just one of many types of this wallpaper style. Susie Atkinson, Founder of Studio Atkinson, notes the following on the wallpaper found in her design. 'The moment you emerge into the penthouse you are transported into a mystical woodland space created by the wallpaper that wraps around the space.' These type of wallpaper murals showcase the beauty of nature and give a nod to vintage-style paintings.

Wallpaper murals are the perfect luxurious statement that will spruce up any wall. Romo is at the forefront of exciting wallpaper and mural design. Emily Mould, the Romo Group's Director of Design and Excellence, says, '2025 will bring a bolder approach to wallcoverings. Whether it's a small-scale print or a striking graphic mural, 2025 will focus on infusing spaces with character and building interiors that seamlessly blend artistry with everyday living.'

4. Papers with personality

The days of uniform pattern and neutral wallpaper have gone. 2024 has proved to be the year of bold and eclectic, so it comes as no surprise that maximal style wallpaper is a big trend for 2025 too. Gray Walker describes this unique and bespoke wallpaper style as 'papers with personality'. There's an array of illustrative, hand-crafted patterns to choose from meaning selecting a paper that encompasses your personality has never been easier.

'There will be a more adventurous approach to color, where bold tones will come together to create unique uplifting spaces full of personality.' Romo's Emily Mould suggests that wallpaper looks will be all about incorporating individuality through rich shades.

Vibrant, patterned, and ornate wallpapers are part of the ever-popular Maximalism style. 'It reflects the person who lives there; it's about being unique and showcasing your aesthetics and the electric energy you want your space to radiate,’ says interior designer Isabel Ladd. ‘More than paint or textiles alone, wallpaper is the most direct, most visual, most dramatic way to achieve this aesthetic. A maximalist wallpaper is the ultimate, most confident way to convey: This is Me. This is what brings me joy. This is my space, and I make the rules,’ she adds.

5. Palms and botanical prints

If classic florals aren’t much your style, then the 2025 trend for wallpaper depicting botanicals and exotic animals is a fun alternative while retaining a sense of timelessness. Designs of this style vary from classic designs to more abstract and bold creations, so you can really tailor your wallpaper to your desired aesthetic.

Animal-inspired Patterns have been loved for some time, but the upcoming year will showcase bold and unique horticultural prints mixed with lively depictions of wildlife. Tanya Selway and Benjamin Stelly, co-principals at Stelly Selway, say 'In 2025, we see more animal-inspired patterns showing up in upholstery and furnishings. Maximalism is in for the year to come, whether from a place of escapism or the need for whimsy and fun. Competing prints, but done with a keen and intentional balance.'

Botanical and animal-inspired prints are bold in design and are brought to life through vibrant color and embellishment. Interior Designer Nina Lichtenstein forecasts that 'Lush, oversized botanical prints in deep greens and jewel tones are making a statement in 2025. These nature-inspired designs bring life to interiors, especially when paired with neutral furnishings and natural textures.'

6. Pretty plaid

Decorating with stripes will always establish a timeless look, however, this year we are seeing a resurgence in preppy, traditional patterns in wallpaper trends. Rather than busy abstract designs, opt for a design that feels elegant yet impactful.

Plaid wallpaper is the most effective step to nail the classic Americana aesthetic. Reminiscent of Ralph Lauren's early designs, it encompasses chicness and tradition in one bold yet cozy print. Studio McGee has predicted this wallpaper style to be a big trend this year. Known for creating sophisticated, classic masterpieces, the studio's own Shea McGee has used a plaid wallpaper (pictured above) in their Tahoe Pines bunkroom.

Using a plaid wallpaper can be a great place to begin if you want to introduce a more subtle pattern into your space, rather than a busy print – wonderfully shown above in the bunk room. The wallpaper lifts the room and gives it an inviting yet refined feel.

7. Metallic designs

Metallic has long been incorporated in wallpaper patterns; acting as an uplifting feature that provides variety to a one-dimensional design. Shiny accents won't be leaving in 2025, with designers predicting the technique to feature in geometric, retro patterns and luxurious, vintage-style papers.

Charlotte Cosby, creative director of Farrow & Ball, sheds light on the brand's new papers, a combination of glittery shine and angular shapes. 'If you are looking to create a luxe feel, try a metallic colorway. Our metallic wallpapers take from some of our best-loved patterns and transform them with silver, gold, and copper paint for added glamour. Enigma, a design of interlocking rectangles, reflects light beautifully and provides a real glow to a room.'

Nina Lichtenstein concurs with the opulent quality of metallic papers. She says, 'Glimmering metallic wallpapers in gold, bronze, and silver are being used as statement backdrops, especially in dining rooms and powder rooms. Subtle shimmer adds a touch of luxury without feeling over-the-top.'

8. Wallpaper the fifth wall

In recent years, there has been more focus on the ceiling, and decorating it to feel cohesive with the rest of a scheme. While painted ceilings prevailed last year, 2025 is all about adding wallpaper to celebrate the fifth wall, creating an immersive design.

1st Dibs' trend survey was taken by over six hundred interior designers. A large proportion of the voters said this trend was one of their favorites. 'When it comes to design features and elements expected to be popular in 2025, wallpapered ceilings were voted among the top choices at 26%.’

Gray Walker is all for wallpapering the 'fifth wall', saying 'I love to wallpaper in unexpected places to create a cloud of pattern… ceilings, alcoves, quirky old house dormer niches.'

Ceiling wallpaper ideas vary from continuing the designs from the walls to creating a tented feel with bold stripes. Whatever you choose, make sure it evokes the atmosphere you’re trying to create – a bedroom might call for a calming design, whereas a children’s playroom will benefit from something bold and playful.

9. Tonal wallpaper schemes

There has been an emphasis on soothing decorating ideas this year, with designers and homeowners looking to create calm and comforting spaces. As such, tonal schemes have been trending, with rooms introducing tonal wallpaper, paint, and decor proving popular.

‘We are seeing the rise of tone-on-tone decor, with people opting for uniformity throughout the scheme. This helps to create a considered and timeless space. I suggest mixing textures to enhance your scheme further. This conveys a collected scheme that just amplifies that element of luxury,’ says Chloe Vince.

Cohesion is the overall goal when creating a subtle and relaxing environment. Charlotte Cosby says matching your paint color to your wallpaper is the perfect way to create a harmonious balance.

'To bring your scheme together, try using a color from the paper on your trim and architrave. We use our own paint on our wallpapers, meaning that you can achieve a perfect match and seamless flow of color, allowing for your space to feel truly considered.'

10. Vintage-inspired wallpaper designs

Decorating with vintage has become increasingly popular recently, so it’s no surprise that vintage-inspired wallpaper designs are on-trend for 2025. Think toile and chinoiserie designs that you’d expect to find in a French or English country house.

Dubbed the Marie Antoinette style, this timeless and opulent look can be achieved with repeat-patterned wallpaper. Try pairing your paper with rococo-style, upholstered furniture, and ornately gilded pieces.

In 2024 Farrow & Ball introduced a new wallpaper line called The Purnon Papers. Inspired by five patterns uncovered at the 18th century Château de Purnon, they were brought to life and given a new meaning. Charlotte says, 'In 2025, we will continue our focus on using these lovingly designed papers in homes of all shapes and sizes.'

‘We love toile, chinoiserie & vintage wallpapers! We used this style in our Neoclassic Revival project's dining room,’ says Lindsay Biondo, of Houz of Rebel.

11. Repeat patterns

This year’s wallpaper trends see the return of simple repeat patterns that feel subtle yet add interest to a room. ‘We're seeing a resurgence of patterned designs. They are soft and not overly geometric, making them suitable for a variety of spaces,’ says interior designer Barrett Oswald.

Harking back to the distinctly recognizable, William Morris style, repeat patterns have been given a new meaning through contemporary motifs and color. Emily Mould has predicted that the classic patterned wall style will be 'one of the leading wallpaper trends of 2025.'

A great way to add character to your home, these wallpaper trends are set to dominate this year. Whether you love a geometric print, keep it classic with floral, or prefer a tonal scheme, there's something here to satisfy every design style.

It's time to celebrate. The biggest day in the color calendar is here, courtesy of Pantone, who today released their 2023 Color of the Year. 

The long-anticipated shade is Viva Magenta – a color that will dominate fields far beyond the interior design industry from right now. The crimson hue is described by Pantone as an 'unconventional shade for an unconventional time,' – foreshadowing a shift in color trends as we know them – to reflect the ever-changing world around us. 

Viva Magenta (18-1750) is a color that 'vibrates with vim and vigor,' says Pantone. Despite its vividness, the shade is surprisingly 'rooted in nature', stemming from the red family as an expression of strength. In all its fearlessness, the color prompts joy and optimism and invites you to 'write a new narrative' on the fringe of a New Year.

Here's what we know.

This crimson exhibits a balance between warm and cool, but it also blurs the lines between reality and our multi-dimensional world, says Pantone.

'In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real,' says Pantone's executive director, Leatrice Eiseman.'PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known.'

Assertive but not aggressive, this dynamic shade was chosen with the digital world in mind, but that doesn't lessen its impact in the real world (and in our homes). As the Leatrice explains, 'it is a transformative red tone capable of driving design to create a more positive future.'

How to decorate with Viva Magenta

Pantone hopes their new crimson red Color of the Year will encourage people to unleash their rebellious spirit in 2023, and Viva Magenta certainly knows how to make a statement in its own right.

So how to decorate with red, when it's a deep, dramatic magenta like this? 

1. Be bold and use color drenching

'Decorating with Viva Magenta takes a dexterous touch, and while it's a good idea to pair it with crisp whites or soothing neutrals that won't fight the color, you can use color drenching to maximize its effect, though I would limit it to rooms that you tend to use in the evening or that you want to feel a little light-starved and very cozy,' says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief, Homes & Gardens. 'That means considering it as a bedroom color or for you snug.'

2. Create drama with Viva Magenta as an accent

Naturally, Viva Magenta will directly impact paint trends, but it is a wonderful opportunity to add it into a space as an accent color. 

'Whether on a console in an entryway, a couch in a living room or within the pattern of a drape fabric, it brings instant warmth and drama to a space,' says Lucy Searle. 

3. Create a focal point with Viva Magenta

If you have a painted kitchen, a walk-in pantry, a bathroom vanity that can be repainted, why not consider Viva Magenta? 

'The difference with this shade of red is that it is restrained and somewhat subtle,' says Lucy Searle. 'This means you can safely use it on to large pieces of fitted furniture to create a focal point in a room. It can immediately lift a neutral space, without it looking brash. We love it.'

If you are looking for apartment kitchen ideas, then you’ll be more than aware of the tricky task of making a small kitchen look much bigger than it actually is, while also trying to make every corner stylish as well as functional. 

Though it can be challenging to find the right kitchen ideas for apartments, there are several benefits to compact living. For a start, when designing a small kitchen for an apartment, you'll soon realize that it’s easy to keep everything to hand. Plus, there is a wealth of clever small kitchen storage ideas available to get the very best out of every inch. 

Here we explore the very best apartment kitchen ideas, with expert advice from a selection of our favorite kitchen designers.

Apartment kitchen ideas – 10 ways to enhance a studio or rental space

One of the main advantages of a apartment kitchen is the convenient accessibility of everything that’s needed. Easy maintenance is another reward. All you have to do now is to find the perfect kitchen layout ideas, color palette, cabinetry and kitchen storage ideas to suit your space. These apartment kitchen ideas will help inspire you to achieve the space of your dreams, no matter its size.

1. Team different materials together for a modern look

Stop your apartment kitchen from looking dull or dated by mixing materials for added interest. Since the past year has forced us to adapt our kitchens to fit several different roles – versatility has taken on an entirely new meaning. However, versatility doesn’t need to be boring. In fact, according to home designer at Neptune, George Miller, versatility in an apartment kitchen is vital. And, mixed material kitchens allow you to shake up your scheme as you desire.

'For a recent apartment in Covent Garden, we complemented the stone-topped cabinetry with satin gold taps, distinctly warm tones and added padded faux-leather bar stools for a contemporary yet practical look,' says Rosie Ward, creative director at Ward & Co.

2. Zone the kitchen area with a bold red

If you are looking for kitchen color ideas that will never date, a red kitchen is certainly one to consider. 

'Apartment kitchens usually act as multi-functioning areas, so color zoning can be a simple solution to creating different spaces within one room,' says Patrick O'Donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball. 'It can be as easy as painting a contrasting color on furniture or a bookcase or larder cupboard, or an accent wall in the kitchen area with a bold pop of color such as the warm Terre D'egypte.'

When it comes to using color in the kitchen, Ruth Mottershead, creative director, Little Greene agrees: 'As well as the walls, consider your kitchen cabinets and storage: highlighting these essential elements within an apartment kitchen is a fantastic way to deliver design impact. Are there architectural features or areas of interest to draw attention to? Color is a fantastic way to highlight a favorite feature. If you don’t want to use a bold color all over, highlight the back of your shelving in a contrasting color or opt for a dynamic two-tone color scheme by adding one color to the lower cabinets and contrasting colors for walls and upper cabinets.’

3. Use the same floor in an open plan space

'Space is usually at a premium in apartments, so making sure each room or zone feel spacious is important,’ says David Snazel, hard flooring buyer at Carpetright. 'Where you have an open plan kitchen, one of the best ways of achieving this is to use a single type of flooring to unify the spaces. Using a durable material such as wood, laminate or luxury vinyl means that if your space includes a kitchen, the flooring can withstand the bumps and spills of everyday life.'

4. Let in the light with glass doors and a pale floor 

'A ground floor apartment kitchen may be lacking in natural light, to combat this use glass doors where possible and choose neutral colored cabinets and a pale stone floor,' says Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, Homes & Gardens. 'Introduce textures like wood, metal and a tactile rug to soften the edges visually.

5. Use warm colors for a cozy feel 

Purple room ideas are having something of an interior design moment. With Pantone having recently announced ‘Very Peri’, a bold blue-violet shade, as its color of the year 2022, we’re seeing the color feature more in apartment kitchens.

'Purples in general are warm, comforting colors, and they have the receding values of blue, making a space feel larger, as well as the warming properties of red, making a space feel cozy,' says Annie Sloan, color expert at Annie Sloan. 

6. Create a grand affair with marble, gold and velvet 

Luxury kitchen ideas should not be reserved for large kitchens. In fact, apartment kitchens are the perfect place to invest in expensive materials that exude opulence. 

'If you're lucky enough to have an apartment kitchen in a period property you'll possibly have high ceilings, architectural detailing and original wood floorboards,' says Melanie Griffiths, editor, Period Living. 'To carry on the 'grandness' of such a space invest in luxury elements like a marble kitchen countertop, plush velvet bar stools and hints of gold.'

7. Add decorative details to your kitchen cabinets

'Whilst we always prioritize creating nuanced and refined interiors, practicality and comfort are central to everything we do,' says Clara Ewart, head of design at Kitesgrove. 

'When designing a kitchen space, this means maximizing aesthetic but practical storage solutions. The addition of brass accents to the drawers in this apartment kitchen add character and depth to the space, whilst high level kitchen cabinet ideas create much needed storage. Introducing a central island creates a social area within the kitchen space, therefore making the space multifunctional.'

8. Keep it contemporary with steel-framed windows and doors

'There's absolutely no reason why you can't have the kitchen of your dreams in an apartment,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor, Homes & Gardens. 'This modern kitchen idea is a great example – the steel-framed windows and pantry doors give it a smart edge and we love the blush pink cabinets and kitchen island. The result is a light and airy space that you'll want to spend time in.'

9. Invest in as much kitchen storage space as possible 

'In this apartment, a large window in the entrance hall opens up another view to the kitchen,' Gary Singer, founder and creative director, Eggersmann Design. 'We combined the exposed brickwork with hand-applied dark concrete with vintage oak and hot-rolled steel surfaces to create a hard-working and tactile kitchen space with an elegant industrial presence.'

'If the space permits it then I will always recommend an island or peninsula. It creates a much more social and functional kitchen while also providing lots of additional storage.'

10. Choose white to create the illusion of more space

The best white kitchen ideas simply never date – but don't think they're a boring option. There’s nothing cleaner or crisper than a pure white kitchen; it’s a look that lasts, no matter what the latest kitchen trend may be.

'The brief for this beautiful one bedroom apartment in west London was to create an elegant kitchen that would blend well with the rest of the living space,' says Richard Moore, design director at Martin Moore. 'However, with only one room to accommodate the owners’ cooking, dining and living needs, careful planning was essential when approaching the design.'

'The central kitchen island forms the heart of the kitchen, providing not only ample storage and prepping space but also a small, informal breakfast bar idea that offers another casual, social zone within the room. The dominance of the beautiful, large French windows left just one wall for fitted cabinets; in order to use this area as effectively as possible, and taking full advantage of the property’s high ceilings.'

'The color scheme of the kitchen was kept deliberately warm and neutral, interacting with the abundance of natural light within the room, in order to create the illusion of a brighter, larger kitchen space.'

How can I improve my apartment kitchen?

If you want to improve an apartment kitchen, then getting the right designer on board is key and, crucially, the kitchen needs to be designed to suit the space, rather than picking a range or style and trying to adapt your apartment kitchen ideas to fit. 

Dual purpose pieces and good internal storage will make the most of cupboard space. You should also make every attempt to keep work surface clear of clutter. 

Look for compact appliances, choosing premium models that give the optimum internal space while still fitting a standard or compact footprint. It's also worth taking shape into account – U-shaped kitchens for example, can work really well in a small space, or if your apartment kitchen is on the narrow side, then consider a galley kitchen layout that will maximize every inch.

Paint your kitchen is a cost-effective way to improve an existing apartment kitchen. 

'Don’t be afraid to use color – even really bright kitchen color ideas are worth experimenting with. It’s a great way to give your kitchen a boost if you haven’t got a great deal of space in your studio or rental home,' advises Adrian Stoneham of Stoneham Kitchens.

If you’re looking for purple living room ideas then you’re in luck as they are making a comeback. With Pantone having recently announced ‘Very Peri’, a bold blue-violet shade, as its color of the year 2022, interior designers and homeowners alike are re-discovering the potential of this color to create myriad interior looks.

Purple is a hugely versatile color for using in the home – with a spectrum stretching from the deepest aubergine shades and striking royal purples, through to lavender, mauves and soft lilac, there’s a shade of purple to suit all rooms and tastes.

To help inspire your living room ideas we've rounded up a variety of ways to use this on-trend shade in your home, from beautiful paint ideas to quick updates, along with some handy advice from the experts.

Purple living room ideas

When it comes to living room color schemes there are myriad looks to create. Whether you’re looking for a head-turning space to entertain guests, or a cozy country retreat, decorating with purple offers huge scope within interior design with all sorts of living room paint ideas, fabrics, wallpapers, furniture and accessories available. 

To create a lasting impression, try decorating in bold shades of ultra-violet and amethyst, or, for a cozy, relaxing space consider purples with warm undertones that will bring a cocooning, comforting mood. Alternatively, to bring a subtle hint of color to fresh, neutral schemes try adding in soft lilac accessories.

'Whether you opt for a statement or muted hue, purple is full of life and optimism,' says Punam Chada, buyer at Carpetright. 'Being so versatile, it works just as well in living rooms and bedrooms as it does in kitchens and bathrooms. Accessorizing with black and white accents and oversized foliage will accentuate the color – and ensure it feels fresh and inviting.'

1. Liven-up a neutral scheme with a purple sofa

Upholstery is a brilliant way to inject color and personality to neutral living rooms. In rooms brimming with beautiful original features such as a parquet floor and wall panelling, it can be hard to know where to introduce color – a sofa in a delicate textured lilac fabric will add a touch of color without distracting from the architecture of the space. 

2. Paint a bookcase

Paint ideas are a quick and easy way to inject color into a home, but using them wall-to-wall is a bold choice. For a more relaxed approach you could try painting a floor-to-ceiling bookcase to create a characterful feature wall. A rich aubergine shade, the purple of this bookcase really helps to showcase the decorative ornaments and sculptural pieces dotted about the shelves.

3. Use dark purple to create a cozy feel

Versatile and cocooning, warm, rich purples make beautiful cozy living room ideas as this space proves. New from Neptune, this Clove paint helps ground this modern living room idea when used on the bottom half of the wall and pairs beautifully with sage and warm neutral tones in a celebration of nature's rustic tones.

‘Not quite as purple as our Juniper paint, nor as brown as Walnut or Fine Mahogany, Clove is the ultimate dark shade. Deep but not overwhelming, Clove works on all four walls (and even the ceiling) of a snug but is equally effective as an accent on a kitchen island or bath tub,’ says Rebecca Elderfield, product and service creative director at Neptune.

‘Contrast it with the freshness of Silver Birch, pair it with our Old Rose and Moss shades for subtle balance, or even combine it with stronger hues like Olive and
Mustard for a hint of eccentricity.’

4. Add a statement chair

A statement cocktail chair is a brilliant way to give purpose and interest to an empty living room corner. With its distinctive ogee arched back, this Fabrizio cocktail chair in Dedar’s Amoir Libre lavender moiré, color Parme adds an eye-catching pop of color to this space and pairs with contrasting mustard and cobalt tones to give this tapestry-covered room a contemporary twist. 

5. Use a dusky purple for a country feel

A beautiful shade for a country living room, this velvety Eggplant paint from Sanderson brings subtle color to this space and pairs beautifully with warm natural wood and nature-inspired fabrics.

Opting for a matt, soft purple can make a beautiful backdrop for layering up decorative fabrics as this space proves. Capturing the beauty of nature, Sanderson's Elysian fabric, used here on curtains, showcases a beautiful painterly landscape artwork in an array of subtle colors, which really shines when set against plain purple walls. 

6. Choose soft lilac seating for a restful space

White living room ideas are fresh, bright and timeless, but they can benefit from some delicate touches of color to help create depth. A beautiful pairing with white and grey, soft lilac is a great way to bring a touch of femininity to living areas and is an exciting alternative to the blush pink which has been so popular over recent years. 

‘Lilac is a soothing color and can add a touch of sophistication if used with greys. It is a lovely soft color and perhaps more ambiguous than many pinks with the underlying blue tone enabling it to sit well with blues,’ says fabric designer Sarah Hardaker.

‘Lilac works well with greys for sophistication, deep blues and pinks and also fawns and creams where a more warm toned lilac is used, or for a contrast try a touch of olive green,’ adds Sarah.

If you are thinking about introducing lilac over upholstery in a white living room then consider a tactile material such as velvet, or a textured weave as this will not only bring soft color but cozy texture, too.

7. Turn heads with a jewel palette

If you're looking to create an opulent, glamorous space why not consider using striking Amethyst as part of a jewel-themed living room color scheme? A living room sofa upholstered in a sumptuous velvet is guaranteed to bring luxury and richness – to continue the jewel-theme try teaming it with a contrasting peridot green shade on walls as this will create an exciting contrast and make the sofa really pop.

8. Try a purple footstool

Sitting at the center of a living room a footstool or an upholstered coffee table offers a great opportunity to make a design statement. Sitting at opposite ends of the color wheel, this purple footstool works particularly well with the olive-green walls in this quirky living space. Covered in a Kantha fabric, distinguished by its running stitching, this footstool brings added texture as well as color to this cozy space. 

9. Immerse yourself in parma violet

If you're looking to create bold, head-turning scheme why not decorate in wall-to-wall lilac and a matching fitted carpet? While it may sound daring, using the same color across all surfaces can help a small living room to feel larger. 

To keep purple room ideas looking fresh and contemporary try introducing furniture with streamline silhouettes and sculptural light fittings. A super soft fitted living room carpet idea such as this Splendour design from Carpetright will help the space cozy and inviting. 

'Carpet can provide an instant refresh, it also adds comfort, natural insulation and is an excellent choice for living rooms, being warmer than hard flooring and softer on the soles of feet,' says Punum Chada, buyer at Carpetright.

'People are increasingly bold when it comes to choosing flooring for living rooms, with practical, neutral carpets no longer necessarily the automatic choice, instead, we’re seeing more on-trend patterns and colours being used for a far more aspirational style.'

10. Pair purple with striking tangerine

Large living rooms with high ceilings are great spaces to be experimental with color, as they allow space for bold hues to really shine. A mid-century chair in a striking violet velvet is guaranteed to create wow factor – to balance vibrant, saturated purples consider pairing them with strong orange curtains and warm reflective surfaces. 

11. Create a statement ceiling

Paint is a quick and easy way to make a statement in a living room. For a playful modern living room idea consider painting the ceiling in a warm lilac and pairing it with rich, deep red as demonstrated here with a ceiling in Lady Char’s Lilac and walls in Grenache, both from Paper & Paint Library.  

As well as bringing color, paint can also be a clever device for highlighting architectural features, plus can change the feel of a space, too. Dividing the wall with bands of color as done here can help to make large living spaces feel more intimate. Furthermore, painting the ceilings of Georgian properties in a contrasting color to the walls can help showcase their beautiful original plasterwork such as coving and ceiling roses. 

What colors go with purple in a living room?

There are many colors that work well with purple in living room color schemes – to find the right shades be sure to think about the warmth and tone of the color.

'When selecting a complementary shade for purple, consider the undertones within the shade and opt for neutrals with a pink or lilac undertone for a harmonious finish – a suite of these can be found in the Grey section of our Color Scales colorcard,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director of Little Greene.

Bold, Amythest purples work well within jewel-toned palettes while dark, rich purples partner well with olive green and earthy terracotta tones. At the other end of the spectrum, ’once known as the color of the nineties, lilac is having a bit of a comeback as a natural go-to partner for the ever popular shades of grey,' says Sarah Vanrenen of Vanrenen GW Designs. However lilac can also work well with contrasting shades of mustard, olive green and even warm reads.

For more information on what colors work well together, take a look at the colour wheel theory which can help you chose complementary colors for use in interiors.

Is lilac good for a living room?

Delicate and soothing, lilac makes a good color for a relaxing living room. Conjuring scenes of pretty trailing wisteria and fields of lavender, it is perfect for bringing the beauty of nature into the home as well as a feminine touch to living spaces.

‘Soft Lilac has an extremely inviting, friendly energy and is great for creating a relaxed feel within a home,' says Francesca Wezel of Francesca’s Paints. 'Associated with open-mindedness and sociability it has the effect of making people feel at ease – perfect for communal areas. It also has a slight feminine edge to it, which again reinforces the feeling of comfortability and care.'

’The paler shades of lilac and mauve are surprisingly versatile and when applied correctly, can be undeniably pretty,’ adds Sarah Vanrenen of Vanrenen GW Designs.

Color masters Pantone recently has announced Veri Peri as their Color of the Year 2022. The ‘periwinkle blue hue’ with vivid red undertones has since become the most talked-about shade of the season – and it’s not going anywhere fast. 

Pantone’s Executive Director, Leatrice Eiseman, praised the shade for its trustworthiness and ability to provoke a ‘novel perspective’ in the year ahead – but what does this mean for our decorating ideas? 

Naturally, this color trend-setter is set to make waves in all rooms – from a statement wall to a piece of accent furniture. However, while the shade has approval in the interior world, we asked, how will this affect your space psychologically? And what tone will the shade set for all who pass through your home? 

The psychological meaning behind Pantone’s Color of the Year 2022

According to Psychologist and Wellbeing Consultant Lee Chambers, the therapeutic blues of Veri Peri provides stability after a ‘turbulent year’ – as it offers a ‘feeling of calming confidence that we have a reliable platform to build upon.’

Behind the scenes, the violet undertones bring a level of energy and reinvigoration that give us permission to start stepping out and expressing ourselves again, unrestricted and unbound,’ Lee says. 

The Psychologist adds that Pantone’s paint idea offers a sense of warmth whilst ‘conveying a subtle optimism and a vision for the future of finding solutions’ – so naturally, we’re racing to bring the hue into our homes. 

‘More than ever, Very Peri represents an agile and flexible world where even the coolest of colors needs to bring some heat as the boundaries are blurred, and individuals step out to create their optimal ways of living,’ he adds. 

Plus, color consultant and therapist Suzy Chiazzari emphasizes Lee’s suggestion that Pantone’s announcement ‘reflects the changing times we are living through’ – and so is an apt addition to your decorating ideas for 2022. 

‘Indigo is linked to our higher mind and intuition, and violet is a powerful color that taps into our creative spirit,’ she adds. 

Has psychology changed the way you see Pantone’s Color of the Year 2022? If anything, we think we love it that little bit more... 

Every year, global color authority Pantone reveals the shade that will make headlines in the seasons ahead. Today, the waiting game is over. Pantone Color of the Year 2022 is Veri Peri – a dynamic ‘periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet-red undertone’. This is the color that you’re going to see everywhere – from right now. 

Pantone Color of the Year 2022 is set to reshape interior design trends instantly, but why did they choose the shade?  With hopes for a sense of renewal in 2022, Pantone chose Veri Peri as a reminder to ‘embrace the altered landscape of possibilities’ and trust in the possibilities of the future. 

Combining the faithfulness and constancy of blue with vivid red undertones, Veri Peri empowers you to revolutionize the familiar with something new. 

‘As we move into a world of unprecedented change, the selection of PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue color family,’ explains Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute. Leatrice praises the color of its ‘joyous attitude and dynamic presence’ that provokes ‘courageous creativity and imaginative expression’ for the year ahead. 

But what does this mean for future decorating ideas? We are about to see a refreshing sense of playfulness in our homes. This can mean anything – from the experimentation of unusual color combinations to the introduction of a boldly-hued statement piece in your scheme.  

‘Very Peri is suited to an array of different materials, textures, and finishes,’ Patone explains. They add how the shade will provide a ‘pop of color’ when incorporated through a painted wall, accent furniture, or piece of decor. ‘[It will act] as an intriguing and eye-catching accent in a pattern.’

Its combination of blue and red mean this tone is grounded as well as daring – meaning it can stand-alone or as part of your new color combination. This is how to mix patterns in a room this 2022. 

Last year, Pantone announced Ultimate Gray and Illuminating (yellow) as their Color of the Year before these hues dominated our interior trends. Naturally, we expect Veri Peri to follow suit. The process begins now.  

Pantone has revealed a list of five shades that are set to remain ‘seasonless’ – meaning these colors will stay fashionable for years to come. 

The global authority on color categorized the significant tones as ‘Core Classics’ whose ‘versatility express longevity’ following a recent trend report for S/S 21. If you’re looking for paint ideas with an enduring appeal, this list is for you. 

In response to color trends from the recent New York Fashion Week, Pantone shared their predictions for the tones set to be big news next year. It was alongside these fashionable crazes, that they explored the ‘core’ collection that, Pantone believes, will continue to make waves in the interiors industry. 

The Spring/Summer 2022 Core Classics showcases an ageless selection of safe but nonetheless beautiful shades that will remain the basis of all paint trends – but which shades make the cut?

1. Snow White

Decorating with white remains enduringly popular, so we are pleased to report that white makes the list – Pantone launches the selection with the minimalist tones of Snow White, labeled by the authority as a clean and pure shade that provokes our craving for simplicity and continuous serenity. 

2. Perfectly Pale beige

Next on the list is Perfectly Pale, a sandy beige shade reminiscent of a calm and sunny beach – though we think it has more than a touch of gray to it. It's easy to see why beige living rooms and bedrooms have remained popular – this easy-to-work-around neutral adds a touch of warmth to rooms that are north- and east-facing, which is particularly welcome if your rooms are light-starved.

3. Basil green

Decorating with green has become particularly popular post-pandemic – and this wouldn’t be an iconic list if green failed to make an appearance. But thankfully, this natural color holds a place in the top five – so you don’t need to rewrite your easy paint ideas anytime soon. Pantone chose Basil, a dusty green that promotes organic health and wellbeing

4. Northern Droplet gray

Gray proper makes the list in the form of Northern Droplet, a subtle gray that oozes tranquility. It doesn't surprise us – our grey living room ideas gallery is amongst the most viewed on our website, and this color is incredibly easy to build around.

5. Poppy Seed gray

Finally, to solidify gray’s enduring power, Pantone concludes the list with Poppy Seed – the second gray shade with a deeper aesthetic that radiated an ageless familiarity.

‘Colors for Spring/Summer 2022 bring together our competing desires for comforting familiarity and joyful adventure through a range of soothing and timeless colors, along with joyous hues that celebrate playfulness,’ explains Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman. 

Leatrice adds that these color trends allow us to explore new ‘personalized style and spontaneous color statements.’ 

We predict these colors will remain a part of interior trends for countless seasons to come. They are core classics, after all. 

Blue living room ideas come in all shapes and sizes – and shades, and tones, and tints. That’s because blue is one of the most multi-functional colors in the interior design spectrum. 

Pick cooler shades to make a south-facing space feel positively serene, and warmer tones for east- or north-facing living rooms to keep the space feeling welcoming, and you'll be spot on.

Plus if you're looking for living room ideas that are calming, even in the busiest of households, this is the color to choose.

‘Blue is a surprisingly versatile color that can work all around the house’, says Kathryn Lloyd, color specialist at Crown Design Studio. ‘Its different tones have the power to convey a variety of moods, from bold to peaceful, so they can be easily introduced in any type of living room, no matter the size or style.’

‘With blue being one of the world’s longest standing most popular colors, it’s safe to say it’s been added to the timeless palette’, adds Kelly Collins, head of creative at Swyft. ‘It’s hard to go wrong with this elegant, rich color.’  

Blue room ideas' adaptable nature means they work especially well in a living room, a part of the home that can take on many functions, from home office to playroom. 

Blue living room ideas

To find out how to make decorating with blue and its many facets work for you, we spoke to design experts about their favorite blue living room ideas, and pulled together some stunning examples to inspire some blue-sky thinking. 

These will inspire you if you're looking for living room paint ideas, although we have included wallpaper below, too.

1. Don’t be afraid of the dark

While lighter shades are always the knee-jerk go-to for wall colors, blue is a hue that you really can dive deep into.

‘Darker colors can imbue a magical quality in your living room, maximizing its coziness’, says Patrick O’Donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball. ‘Colors such as the complex blue-green notes of [Farrow & Ball’s] Inchyra Blue would look elegant in a blue living room, paired with off-white woodwork such as Strong White in Estate Eggshell. Add notes of spice in burnt orange through accessories and furnishings.’ 

2. Pair with white — or, even better, cream

Whether you’re majoring in blue’s lighter or darker side, pairing it with a white is an easy win for refreshing blue living room color schemes. 

‘Blue generally looks fantastic paired with crisp white, giving the room a fresh and summery feel’, says Lloyd. ‘Warmer tones of cream bring out its warmth, ensuring the color scheme doesn’t look too stark.’

‘Why not stick with a royal blue and pair it with an off-white, neutral color?’, suggests Collins. ‘These colors will definitely create a relaxed vibe in your space and be completely on trend. You could even add a bit of fun and use different tones of each of the colors to create more interest.’ 

3. Blue loves other colors 

One of the key characteristics highlighted by almost all of the experts we asked was blue’s versatility. Not only is it an emotionally powerful color in itself, but it is also easy to pair with a whole host of friends, from gray living room ideas to more eclectic combinations, to create a more dynamic scheme.

‘Blue is a color with infinite possibilities’, says Francesca Wezel, founder of Francesca’s Paints. ‘It is extremely versatile in that it can be combined with a variety of shades, from brown and cream, to gold, gray and pink.’

In this eclectically designed blue living room, a soft, periwinkle blue serves as a stable, calming base onto which a variety of bold colors and graphic patterns are layered. 

4. A blue sofa will bloom all year round 

Blue wall paint isn’t the only way to bring the color into your living room — it’s also a smart selection for the room’s most important piece of furniture. 

‘Blue makes for a great sofa choice as it works well with a variety of tones, and transitions well into different seasons’, says Dani Burroughs, head of product at Snug. 

‘A navy velvet, for example, can bring a regal flair to your home, instantly elevating your living room. A lighter hue such as a soft teal can bring a calming influence. It’s perfectly mellow, not too loud or bright, and not too dull either.’ 

5. Sprinkle some gold for a glamorous look

While scientifically proven to induce calm, blue has a wild side too. When employed in jewel tones like royal blue or a deep turquoise it can be unendingly lavish – especially when paired with gold accessories. 

‘If you’d like to introduce a little shimmer, gold is the perfect complement,’ says Lloyd. ‘A sophisticated and refined pair, blue and gold will give the living room a glamorous feel that can be adapted to suit different styles, from industrial to country.’

6. Navy blue is a nighttime wonder

‘The living room is the place we all look forward to retreating to after a long day’, says O’Donnell. ‘Add a well-chosen scheme, and you’re assured of space you can’t wait to come home to.’ 

If your living room is a space primarily used in the evening, consider painting it a shade that will look at its absolute best when you need it most – for O’Donnell, that’s the perennially popular navy blue. 

‘Navy blue is incredibly smart for a living room and extremely cosy in the evening light. For interest, no matter the time of day, try contrasting tones of equal intensity on walls and ceilings, or taking the color straight up and over to create the ultimate evening retreat.’

  7. Keep it cozy with texture

A blue and white living room makes for a super clean color scheme – but while its freshness is invigorating, it needs some added rough and tumble to make it feel more sea breeze than hospital scrubs. 

‘To avoid your scheme feeling too clinical, incorporate different textures such as linen cushions in contrasting blue hues, tactile throws, and wooden accessories for a rustic country finish,’ advises Ben Stokes, interior designer and founder of Kagu Interiors.  

This monochromatic white and blue living room sticks dutifully to the pairing, but introduces cozy living room ideas in the form of textures – from a rustic patterned screen to an intricately woven carpet – to help it feel lively and lived-in. 

8. Working from home? Blue is a brainy choice

With working from home likely to become a continuing habit, living rooms are set to take on yet another function. If your living space has recently taken on the mantle of home office, tailor it to your newfound needs by painting it blue. 

‘If you are wanting to create a soothing relaxing space that also improves your focus and productivity, then blue is the perfect color to go with,’ says Collins. ‘Blue is a very popular choice for bedrooms or working spaces for all of these reasons, but it’s also a very timeless color.’

9. Channel the Mediterranean with patterned wallpaper

As a classic combination drawn from nature, blue and white has historic design connotations in multiple cultures all around the world. In this room, a statement wallpaper takes notes from Portuguese tile design, channeling the blue and white ceramics that climb the exterior walls of homes in cities like Lisbon. 

Whether it's tile-style or winding florals, blue and white patterned wallpaper ideas generate a bold look, but reign in the fuss. 

10. Brighten it up with yellow 

Blue can have a sunny disposition – it just needs a little help from the other side of the color wheel. ‘A color we are seeing blue paired with a lot is yellow, the [2021] Pantone Color of the Year,’ says Collins. ‘Royal blue and yellow living room schemes are bright, fun and joyful. These can be hard colors to pair together, so I would recommend choosing blue as your main color and the other as your accent.’ 

In this blue living room, light blue winds its way around the room through an elaborate patterned wallpaper, while both navy blue and bright, cheery yellows punctuate the soft furnishings.

It's worth noting, too, that if you're favoring a blue that would sit comfortably on a green living room ideas moodboard, yellow is a great choice for adding a welcoming shot of warmth to the scheme. 

Should I paint my living room blue? 

Absolutely – blue is regularly voted high on the list of best colors to paint your living room, according to the color experts. You’ll need to choose the right shade for your space, but blue is generally a color that works well across large areas. 

‘Blue works extremely well in the living room, as it has a calming, welcoming effect and reacts well to natural light,’ says Wezen. ‘I always include burnt umber in my blues to ensure they are never too cold, tonally.’

‘Having painted a room blue, it may take time to accustom yourself to the look. You're likely to be horrified,’ says Martin Waller, founder of Andrew Martin. ‘Leave it for a week and your feelings will alter. I suspect you won't hate it and if you do, repainting isn't that difficult.’

‘If you are still hesitant, start your transformation in a cloakroom or small bedroom, since richer colors work well in such spaces, despite the accepted wisdom that white paint makes a room seem larger.’

Global color authority, Pantone, this morning announced their selection for Color of the Year 2021 and it's a combination of two. The shades chosen are Ultimate Gray and Illuminating - a rock gray and a sunshine yellow, respectively.

This is only the second time ever that Pantone has made the bold move of naming two Colors of the Year. 

'The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one color or one person, it’s about more than one,' says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.

See more: Paint trends 2021 – the colors you need for the ultimate wonder walls

For 2021 this combination of colors brings the message of strength and reliability paired with the joy of sunshine filled days to come.

'Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope,' adds Leatrice. 'We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit.'

How to use Pantone's Colors of the Year in your home

The gorgeous combination of Ultimate Gray and Illuminating is a wonderful choice for nearly any room. 

Here are a few of our favorite ways to include them in your own home.

1. Make an entrance

The two Pantone Colors of the Year create a wonderful combination, but as they are both such striking shades individually, you can have fun using them in varying proportions to highlight one of the other.

One such way to do this is on a front door. Give your guests - and yourself - a bright and warm welcome to your home with an optimistic sunshine yellow entrance. Try including Ultimate Gray on the door knocker, letterbox or the border of the door itself, to ground the area into practicality.

2. Go all out

Turn a room into an ode to this pair of inspiring shades. Bright yellow walls combined with warm gray seating creates a positive and grounding feel. Living rooms and kitchens especially benefit from this burst of energy and enthusiasm.

Home offices, too, can benefit from the Colors of the Year. Ultimate Gray is an ideal and firm foundation to the awareness and intuition prompting Illuminating, leading to both curiosity and resourcefulness.

3. Layer with accessories

Nearly any room in the house can benefit from the solid background of Ultimate Gray, punctuated with pops of Illuminating. 

In a bathroom, practical tiles in this gray tone are lifted with splashes of bright yellow through textiles, decor and small necessities. Similarly, a living room can be layered with bright cushions to lift a dependable space.

Grey has been revealed as the nation’s favourite design colour, according to a new study.

Retailer Modern Rugs carried out the study that used a decade of Google Trend data for the most popular interior design colour searches from January 2010 to January 2020, all visualised in an animated bar chart.

See: The most popular Fired Earth paint colours

The biggest winners of the decade along with grey, were black and white, consistently duking it out for the nation's favourite. This was down to the nation's love of monochromatic colour schemes that complimented many modern motifs.

In the end, grey came out on top, bolstered by the resurgence of Scandinavian design in homes that swept across the country. Grey is loved for its ability to be versatile, while being a great middle ground to blur the edges of black and white.

While grey, black and white were huge winners this decade, other colours weren’t as popular with the nation. The study found that, while red is hugely popular during the festive period for obvious reasons, it failed to gain any interest during the rest of the year. Earthy brown did not fare much better either, as the nation opted for variations of other plain hues, such as muted clay to introduce warmth into their homes.

See: Colour trends 2020– the top hues of the year

The study also found that, compared to previous decades, we became more colour-curious, with an eye-opening 37% of increased colour-related searches.

With annual announcements of ‘Colour of the Year’ by Dulux and Pantone, pink, yellow and orange all topped out with Honeysuckle, Cherished Gold and Tangerine Tango taking COTY throughout the decade.

Teal was also a huge riser during the decade, coming from almost non-existence to racking up thousands of searches every month by 2019. The study found that this can be attributed to its all-season appeal.

An unexpected burst onto the scene was rose gold, sparked by the release of the iPhone 6 in 2015. The latest edition of the Apple phone sparked a cultural clamour for the colour, being used for picture frames, kitchen appliances and more.

See: The 10 most popular Farrow & Ball colours, according to the internet

The Pantone Color of the Year 2020 is Classic Blue - a regal and comforting hue that we can easily incorporate into our interiors.

A timeless and enduring blue hue, Pantone Classic Blue is elegant in its simplicity. Suggestive of the sky at dusk, the reassuring qualities of the thought-provoking color highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.

The color is reflective of the nostalgia trend that's sweeping through interiors, offering comfort, calm and a connection to nature as well as being a beautiful hue to look at. It's all about wellbeing, biophilia, and creating a restful sanctuary within your home.

See: Blue room ideas – wonderful room schemes to inspire you

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, says: 'Imprinted in our psyches as a restful color, Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser like clarity, Classic Blue is a reflective blue tone that fosters resilience.

'As technology continues to race ahead of the human ability to process it all, it is easy to understand why we gravitate to colors that are honest and offer the promise of protection. Non-aggressive and easily relatable, the Pantone Classic Blue lends itself to relaxed interaction. Associated with the return of another day, this universal favourite is comfortably embraced.

‘We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Pantone Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on.'

• See: Decorating with blue – a fresh update on this cool, contemporary color

The Pantone Color of the Year 2020 Classic Blue: Get the look

There are numerous ways you can bring the color into your home, from soft furnishings and accessories, like beautiful velvet quilts, to sofas, wallpaper, and paint.

Deep blue is a beautiful and on-trend hue for 2020.

Loaf describes Pantone Classic Blue as 'a cool, calming cobalt blue hue which is a universal favourite'. The brand has a host of furniture pieces that reflect the look, including the Ruffle bed in True Blue.

• See: The best Farrow & Ball paint – to create a brilliant blue room scheme

Will you be indulging in Classic Blue? We're definitely fans.