REVEALED: The Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2021 – plus how to use it

Introducing the fresh and delectable Aegean Teal, the Benjamin Moore Color of the Year for 2021. A warm blue-green with gray undertones, it has a unique quality wherein it lends a fresh, crisp feel to a scheme, while simultaneously creating a relaxed and soothing atmosphere - exactly what we need in the current challenging climate.

Keep reading to find out how to use this shade. And learn more about the color wheel – and how to use color in your home in our dedicated guide.

The Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2021

Aegean Teal 2136-40 as it is officially known was selected for its ability to add balance and calm to spaces, whether used on cabinetry, walls or woodwork. 

Helen Shaw from Benjamin Moore says: 'As we spend more time at home, it’s important to create a space that feels warm and welcoming. This year's Color of the Year is a balanced and soothing hue, softened with a touch of gray to create spaces with a casual elegance.' 

Aegean Teal teams beautifully with neutrals, like warm beiges and soft cream hues, while the gray undertones ensure spaces retain a sophisticated and super smart feel. The amount of natural light it receives will change the color, too, switching from a fresh, cool hue in bright light to a richer, muted blue-toned gray in moodier spaces.

Alongside Aegean Teal, the brand has announced its Color Trends for 2021 - must-have hues for every home for this season and beyond. 

Together, the twelve colors range from earthy tones to rich neutrals, aim to create a space that promotes relaxation, yet one that still retains a fresh and vibrant atmosphere. 

'Our homes are a space of flexibility and multifunctionality and this palette correlates to that, ' continues Helen. 'On the warmer side of the color wheel, the twelve colors have an organic synergy and are reminiscent of  faded rumpled linen sheets in the morning and perfectly ripened fruits on the windowsill. These are colors that make your home feel even more like home, so settle in and connect.'

The Benjamin Moore Color Trends for 2021 are:

Aegean Teal 2136-40 - a fresh blue-green hue

Atrium White OC-145 - a cool, serene off-white

Muslin OC-12 - a fresh natural linen tone

Foggy Morning 2106-70 - a pink-toned neutral

Rosy Peach 2089-20 - a yellow-toned blush color

Beacon Hill Damask HC-2 - an elegant, stately pale yellow

Potters Clay 1221 / CC-360 - a rich, orangey terracotta hue

Chestertown Buff HC-9 - a muted mustard yellow shade

Amazon Soil 2115-30 - a deep purple hue with black undertones

Gray Cashmere 2138-60 - a blue toned, pale gray hue

Kingsport Grey HC-86 - a nutty brown-toned gray shade

Silhouette AF-655 - a rich sultry gray, with red undertones

How to use the Benjamin Moore colors in your home

This season, be inspired to introduce the Benjamin Moore colors 2021 to your scheme

1. Make a great entrance

An easy project and an instant home pick-me-up, painting your front door in a new color like Aegean Teal is the perfect way to ring the decor changes.  Don't forget to give your hallway walls and woodwork a fresh coat of paint too so that the new door doesn't upstage the rest of the space.

• Find more easy paint ideas in our inspiring gallery

2. Add a dramatic backdrop

Silhouette is a super cosy rich brown with deep red undertones, that creates a cosy, matt effect when wrapped around a room on both walls and woodwork. Brighter shades of orange, red, yellow or green pop against a rich background like this, creating an elegant yet vibrant scheme.

3. Bring warmth to a neutral scheme

Warm pink-toned neutrals like Foggy Morning will add a warmth to a pared-back space. Team the look with soft textiles in crisp whites and deep eggplant shades to add a layer of freshness and depth to a simple scheme.

4. Give your hallway a warm welcome

The rich maize hue of Chestertown Buff on a hallway wall provides a warm and sunny welcome to anyone who visits. Teamed with stair balustrades in a deep walnut wood shade and trims in crisp Atrium White, this color combination is a classic win.

• Find out how to decorate a staircase in our guide

5. Try color in unexpected places

The deep baked mauve of Amazon Soil provides an excellent base on which to let brightly colored books, keepsakes and ornaments shine. The unexpected pop of contrasting color from Rosy Peach creates an eye-catching effect that can't help but make you smile.