Injecting color into a historic home can be a precarious job. Ask any interior designer, and they'll tell you bolder colors and timeless design are a balancing act. Of course, bringing personality into a scheme is always the goal, but on top of that, being faithful to the home's era and keeping things sympathetic is important, too. In this 1920s townhouse, though, interior designer Anne McDonald struck a delicate balance between the two (rather opposing) objectives.

Spacious and cocooning, this quietly colorful 1920s living room was given a new lease on life all thanks to a clever color palette and some rather bold ceiling trim. Moody yet bright, it's a lesson in using color unconventionally while still honoring the character and history of a period property.

From her days as a historic color consultant, Anne knows exactly how to keep things well-balanced. Delving into all things color, she walked us through the room's design process, from selecting the moody color palette to the unexpected trim that frames the room.

Much of the inspiration behind the living room's design came from the house style. 'This project is located in a picturesque neighborhood of Minneapolis filled with historic homes from the 1920s and 30s, which are typically quite manicured,' Anne tells Homes & Gardens. 'This specific client wanted to approach the project in a way that felt less expected for that area, and I was totally game to experiment.'

While white paint can read timeless, it can also feel a little 'new' in character-steeped homes that feature delicate original features. 'A white-on-white living room just wouldn't have done some of the home's architectural details justice,' she adds. 'This living room has beautiful windows and light coming in that we highlighted with a solid teal drapery from Holland & Sherry.'

Anne had the job of being considerate of the home's age, while also keeping things fresh and playful. 'We brought in furniture shapes that were interesting and unexpected, like the amorphic coffee table and cool scalloped day bed to bring in some modern touches. We were able to highlight and honor the architecture of the home, but have some fun through color and contrast.'

Timeless paint colors don't mean playing it safe. Rich and moody, the jewel-toned green paint (Troubadour from Portola Paints) stands out. It brings attention to the beautiful moldings without stealing the show and distracting you from the room's naturally bright, airy feel. Not to mention, deep forest greens evoke a real heritage feel.

For balance, Anne selected Farrow & Ball's beloved Wimborne White as the living room wall color. It brings just the right amount of contrast against the vintage layers, richly piled fabrics, and moody tones, and bridges the gap between past and present.

'My first interior design job was working for an historic paint colorist, where I learned so much about combinations that complement each other and evoke emotion, especially within an interior space,' Anne explains. 'I love working in jewel tones and we were able to create a harmonious space by bringing in the high-gloss evergreen on the painted moldings and fireplace surround, deep teal through the drapery and BDDW fabric on the lounge chairs, and the eggplant sofa in a way that feels modern yet timeless.'

Anne explains that, more than anything, doing something different was the primary goal. While there's nothing wrong with going down the authentic route, Anne chose a different approach, using color bravely and playfully to keep things lighthearted, personal, and, most importantly, current.

The goal was not to create a time capsule, but to create an eclectic interior that feels like a reinvention of the past. 'It was really about doing something unexpected, and these colors contrasting with the creamy white walls bring an element of conversation,' she adds. 'The touch of color on the moldings and fireplace surround allowed us to continue to bring in color and texture within the furnishings without feeling overdone or trend-driven.'

Shop the Look

Choosing a color scheme isn't always straightforward, particularly in history-rich homes where breathing new life into a room is a delicate affair. That's not to say you can't be adventurous with color, though. This characterful living room challenges conventional uses of color, and embraces both the old and the new. It's filled with rich, moody tones and uses inspired paint techniques that bring the intricate architectural details to life.

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

1. Chocolate Plum

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

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

2. Olive Green

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

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

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

3. Eggplant

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

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

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

4. Soft Pink

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

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

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

5. Emerald Green

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

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

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

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Rich brown tones have been the neutral of the season, the neutral of the year even, but alongside the classic chocolates, designers are turning to a smokier, more sophisticated shade that adds all the comfort of brown but is elegant and elevated.

Inspired by the natural hue of dried tobacco leaves, tobacco brown is a timeless brown paint with tons of complexity. It's the perfect fall color, with a dusty, almost faded quality that makes it rich without feeling overly saturated.

'Tobacco brown has an inherent warmth that feels especially appealing in autumn,' says interior designer CeCe Barfield Thompson. 'It reminds me of polished wood, leather-bound books, antique furniture, and all the beautiful natural colors we associate with the season. There’s something wonderfully comforting about it.'

'What I love most, though, is that it feels timeless rather than seasonal. It can be rich and dramatic, but also incredibly restful. As the days grow shorter and we begin spending more time indoors, I think we’re naturally drawn to rooms that feel intimate, layered, and welcoming. Tobacco brown creates that atmosphere beautifully, particularly in the evening when the lamps are lit, and the room takes on an almost jewel-box quality.'

Reminiscent of fallen leaves, tobacco brown evokes a wintry warmth that's so fitting for this time of year. 'I just read Emily Dickinson's poem, Autumn, where she writes that 'the morns are meeker than they were, the nuts are getting brown; The berry's cheek is plumper, the rose is out of town'. Similar to her autumnal references, I think the tone of tobacco brown conveys the essence of the changing seasons, from summer to fall,' says Stephanie Luk, Creative Director for Electric Bowery.

'We wanted the sitting room's color palette to be distinct from the rest of the house – darker, moodier, warmer, and centered around the fireplace. Since the space is usually used at night, we incorporated a deep, warm, and earthy brown color palette in luxurious fabrics to set the tone of the room.'

'With any color palette, you can either contrast or complement,' Stephanie adds. 'If the goal is balance, I usually pair dark browns with complementary colors like warm umbers, siennas, rich reds, and plums. When pairing similar colors and tones, it's always a good idea to play with different textures, patterns and finishes – whether it's the grain texture in wood, the sheen on a velvet fabric, or a glossy paint.'

While dark brown paint cocoons small rooms, it also shifts beautifully in daylight. 'This south-facing room gets lots and lots of sunlight during the day, and I’d always thought that if anywhere could support a dark wall, it was here,' says interior designer Brandon Schubert on the living room pictured above. 'As soon as I saw the chocolate brown linen, which was the perfect shade of brown (not too purple, not too pale, just the color of rich milk chocolate), I knew I had my walls sorted.'

'It is a cozy color,' Brandon says. 'When you are sitting in a brown room, especially in the evening by lamplight, or with candles burning and a fire going, the light just hits the wall and stops spreading. It brings everything inward. It also feels incredibly contemplative and calm during the day. Shadows and reflections lose their contrast. Everything feels gentler.'

'The key is not to make the room feel too dark. So when thinking about the flooring, I opted for a pale oak,' Brandon adds. 'When thinking about the rug, I chose a creamy ground. The strong colors in the room are deep red, yellow and blue, but they are merely accents. Pops of color to keep the room from feeling drab and boring.'

'I’d also avoid anything too bright white against a brown wall. So for the cornice and skirting in this room I chose a lovely milky-tea color from Farrow & Ball called “Cat’s Paw”. The ceiling is off-white, but a shade dingier than elsewhere in the house.'

Brown kitchens have been on trend this whole year, replacing grays and whites with warmth and richness. Brown kitchen cabinetry brings depth to this light-filled, airy kitchen (pictured above) designed by deVOL. 'Our love of period interiors. Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian eras were renowned for using these colors, especially in the below-stairs kitchens,' explains Helen Parker, Creative Director of deVOL Kitchens.

Paired with off-white walls and organic wood countertops, tobacco brown brings a rich depth to the room. 'A soft mink-brown-gray is a wonderfully chic autumnal color to pick for kitchen cupboards; it feels less harsh than regular gray and works well in both contemporary and more period interiors, as it is so easy to combine with rich dark reds and greens or more muted pinks and browns.'

'The room has limited natural light, and rather than fighting that, I wanted to embrace it,' says CeCe about the dining room pictured above. 'We chose a rich tobacco brown to contrast with the windows, making the natural light feel more pronounced. The high-gloss finish reflects light throughout the room, adding depth and luminosity.'

'The space also serves as both a library and dining room, a combination I particularly love for urban living,' CeCe continues. 'The dark palette creates an intimate, enveloping quality that feels equally suited to curling up with a book or hosting a glamorous dinner. I believe the best rooms are both beautiful and truly lived in.'

'For me, it’s all about contrast and layering. Dark brown is a wonderful backdrop for art, antiques, and interesting textiles, but it’s important to introduce elements that catch the light and keep the room from feeling too heavy. In this room, the gilt portrait frame, brass lighting, and polished wood bring warmth and reflection, while the lighter patterned upholstery and pillows provide relief from the richness of the walls.'

'I particularly loved pairing tobacco brown with soft pinks, lavender, cream, and touches of burgundy inspired by Pierre Frey’s Madame Elisabeth fabric. The combination feels sophisticated and interesting. I also like mixing finishes – glossy walls with soft velvet, crisp linen, and aged brass. This interplay of color, finish, and texture adds depth, making a dark room feel inviting rather than somber.'

The Tobacco Brown Edit

Smoky, rich, and enduringly comforting, tobacco brown brings lasting warmth to every kind of interior. Whether you want to lean into the tight proportions of a cozy snug or in a light-filled, spacious room, create a warmth that shifts as the day progresses, tobacco brown is luxurious, sophisticated and versatile, and perfect for evoking a wintry feel that aligns with the season.

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Benjamin Moore just released the 'Feels Like Fall' palette, a seasonal whole-home color scheme inspired by the organic tones that surround us during this time of year. While the palette features a few typical hues that crop up in fall color schemes (burnt oranges and burgundy, we're looking at you), timeless warm neutrals and deeper shades create plenty of balance.

'When you think of fall, certain colors like taupe, amber, burgundy, and persimmon often come to mind,' Arianna Barone, Color Marketing Manager at Benjamin Moore, tells Homes & Gardens. 'Those are the colors we tend to see a lot of through this season change. We wanted to create a color palette that stretched a bit outside of that but still had the cozy, inviting feeling that comes inherently with fall. You have those more iconic fall shades, and those that feel a bit more unexpected but still cohesive. The neutrals bring the balance and versatility to an otherwise saturated palette.'

Featuring a scattering of the usual fall color trends and some unexpected additions, the palette balances freshness with moody, rich tones. 'Because the palette isn’t filled with only fall foliage colors, that prevents it from feeling overly seasonal,' Arianna explains. 'When we create these seasonal palettes, the expectation isn’t that people will repaint their homes every season, but if they are trying to create that feeling that fall gives, these are good colors to consider.'

'While these colors could all work together in a space, I would choose one for the walls and bring in the other colors through artwork, textiles, accents, etc,' she adds. 'These colors could also serve as a beautiful whole-home palette offering a charming color flow from room to room.'

First in the mix is the earthy red paint, Southwest Pottery. Its faded finish creates a softer, more subtle look that makes walls drenched in burgundy feel less overwhelmed and dark, perfect for small rooms or spaces that lack daylight. 'A nuanced hue that captures the warmth of brown and red-toned kiln-fired clay, Southwest Pottery is a red-based brown that brings warmth and presence to a space,' says Helen Shaw, Director of Marketing (International), Benjamin Moore. 'Pair it with muted cream tones for an elegant, timeworn feel, or introduce rich bronze accents to bring a touch of Old World opulence.'

A fall palette wouldn't be complete without a brown-infused orange. Refreshingly, Greenfield Pumpkin feels more like a warm neutral than your stereotypical pumpkin orange, making it a timeless shade that lasts beyond fall. 'Greenfield Pumpkin is a deep, distinguished shade with warm yellow and brown undertones,' Helen says. 'Its richness brings depth and dimension to a room, but balancing it with a warm, sandy beige or an almost-neutral green keeps the scheme feeling relaxed rather than overtly seasonal.'

To balance the warmer, richer hues, there's a trusty neutral paint throw in the mix, too. The ultimate beige, Benjamin Moore's Manchester Tan is a liveable alternative, perfect for pairing alongside the red, deep green, or orange for balance. 'Manchester Tan is a fresh, sophisticated beige inspired by stately sandstone façades,' says Helen. 'Delicate green-brown undertones give this soft neutral added depth, while pairing it with a feathery light blue creates a calm, airy feel in a bedroom or bathroom. In a living room or dining room, introduce rich brick through upholstery, curtains, or accent furniture for added warmth and contrast.'

Manchester Tan is not the only neutral in the Feels Like Fall palette. A warm gray paint brings a clean simplicity to counteract the bolder autumnal hues. Bridging the gap between the red and deep browns, its purple undernotes bring a real sense of cohesion. 'Hints of violet and brown bring a velvety richness to Elephant Gray, giving this medium gray a modern, sophisticated feel,' Helen adds. 'Pair it with a cool, dark blue-gray for a scheme that feels refined and quietly dramatic, or use it alongside softer neutrals to create a more understated backdrop.'

An almost black paint with a rich brown finish is the moodiest out of the six shades. 'Black Bean Soup is a rich black grounded by brown undertones, offering warmth and depth while retaining the versatility of a neutral,' Helen says. 'It’s an ideal choice for spaces where a bolder backdrop is needed, from cozy snugs to characterful kitchens. For maximum impact, use it across the walls, ceiling and woodwork to create an enveloping, cocoon-like finish, then layer in rich furnishings, soft lighting and candlelight for a warm winter retreat.'

Last is a dark green hue that evokes a real seasonal feel, reminiscent of wintry pine trees. 'A dark, muted olive green inspired by the lush rolling hills of the Italian countryside, Tuscany Green is rich, warm and naturally grounding,' she adds. 'Use it on its own in a home office or kitchen for a more enveloping feel, or soften the look with a muted sage green with a soothing gray cast. It’s a good example of how deeper, autumn-inspired shades can feel timeless when balanced with quieter tones.'

Benjamin Moore's 'Feels Like Fall' palette is the perfect balance of seasonal and livable. Yes, there's a scattering of deep oranges and earthy reds, but it's balanced by timeless neutrals that make the palette feel enduring, classic, and refreshingly far from stereotypical.

'These six shades capture the warmth and richness we naturally gravitate towards in autumn, while offering a more considered take on traditional fall color,' Helen explains. 'The palette brings together deep neutrals, earthy tones, and softer, muted hues, creating a versatile collection that can be layered together or used individually throughout the home.'

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As much as we love a delicate butter yellow, sometimes a rich, saturated shade is just what a room needs to feel warmer and cozier, while creating a truly striking statement.

Ever since soft, buttery tones became the new neutrals, yellow has had a much-needed revival. From the palest lemons to deep golden tones, yellow room ideas come in many glorious, cheerful forms, and there's one fall color we can always rely on for a dose of comfort as soon as autumn hits – mustard.

And perhaps the most beloved mustard yellow paint out there is Farrow & Ball's India Yellow. 'It is really more of an ochre than an all-out yellow,' interior designer James Mackie tells Homes & Gardens, 'with a depth and richness that brings warmth and depth to a room.'

While decorating with yellow isn't for everyone, it can add real depth and warmth to living rooms when balanced with warm tones and vintage fabrics, creating the coziest of spaces to relax in.

'India Yellow felt like the perfect choice for this room (pictured above) because it has such depth and warmth to it,' says interior designer Rebecca Hughes. 'Rather than reading as a flat mustard, it shifts beautifully with the light throughout the day, and has an almost earthy quality that makes the room feel inviting and cocooning. I wanted a yellow that could hold its own against the artwork and rich textiles without competing with them, and India Yellow has just the right amount of character.'

'My favorite way to style this color is to lean into its warmth and then introduce plenty of contrast through texture and pattern,' adds Rebecca. 'Here, I’ve paired it with deep navy upholstery, which gives the yellow a lovely richness, alongside rusty reds, terracotta, and touches of teal. I love bringing in woven fabrics, stripes, checks, and embroidered cushions against a painted wall like this – the mix keeps the scheme feeling layered and lived-in rather than too coordinated. Natural wood, aged brass, and a little bit of ceramic also work beautifully with it.'

Powder rooms are the perfect canvases for bold, saturated color. While these spaces can be overlooked, introducing a rich hue like India Yellow gives small bathrooms real purpose and intention.

James Mackie applies India Yellow to the wall panelling of a guest bathroom for this exact reason. 'The room is a downstairs WC but conceived with a dual-function as a flower room, hence the large sink,' James explains. 'As a somewhat back-of-house space, India Yellow felt right, evocative as it is of the color often used in below stairs rooms in English country houses.'

'To my mind India Yellow is really more of an ochre than an all-out yellow, with a depth and richness that brings warmth and depth to a room,' James adds. 'It works brilliantly with other strong colors in jewel tones such as the blue in the curtain here but it’s also very versatile, working just as well with an earthy palette such as the reclaimed terracotta floor tiles in this room and the bronze finish of the wall light. I think it would take black accents very well and could see an ebonised Dutch ripple framed mirror hanging very well here.'

Interior designer Laura Stephens used India Yellow to create as much warmth and saturation as she could in this light-filled, spacious living room (pictured above).

'I wanted to create a warm, enveloping feeling in this room, and India Yellow has just the right depth to do that,' she explains. 'It is a rich, slightly earthy yellow rather than a bright or overly cheerful one, so it feels sophisticated and works beautifully with the period character of this Victorian house. I also wanted a color that would give the room some real personality and make the architectural details feel more pronounced.'

'This property is a Victorian villa and we wanted the sitting room to feel rooted in the character of the house, but not overly traditional. The India Yellow gives the room a strong sense of identity, while the mix of antique-looking pieces, traditional upholstery, artwork and more playful fabrics keeps it feeling relaxed and personal,' Laura adds. 'I love mixing pieces that feel quite classic with more contemporary colors and details. The pale pink cushions and blue lampshade bring a freshness to the room, while the dark wood furniture and framed artwork add depth and a sense of history. It is that balance of old and new, formal and playful, that makes a room feel lived-in rather than too perfect.'

'I love pairing India Yellow with colors that are slightly unexpected rather than creating a very obvious tonal scheme. In this room, we used soft, chalky blues and pale pinks alongside the yellow, which stops it feeling too heavy and gives the scheme a freshness.'

India Yellow's warm orange tint makes it a great option for 'clinical' spaces that need a dose of homeliness. Take this yellow kitchen as an example. It's bright, light, and spacious, so a color like India Yellow brings the perfect amount of warmth and character into the space while still keeping things fresh.

'I really like the warm earthiness of the color,' explains Lisette Voute, who designed the space. 'It’s yellow but not overly bright; even though it’s colorful, it still feels very organic. I never tire of it! It works so well with other colors and natural tones.'

'We wanted this kitchen to truly feel like the warm, bright heart of the home. The color gives it that life, and yet isn’t something you’d get bored of. It works really well against the natural colors in the garden – which the kitchen opens up to.'

'India Yellow sits fabulously with natural tones, such as wood, jute and stone. It also works well with greens, neutrals, blues, pinks or deeper colors such as aubergine. It’s very versatile,' she adds.

The Yellow Edit

Rich, warm, and always comforting, India Yellow is a timeless yellow paint that's loved for its luxurious, cocooning qualities. For more yellow decorating inspiration, we explore how to decorate with yellow without overwhelming the home in our dedicated piece.

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Looking over the houses we have featured recently, there is one detail that so many have in common. Color, yes, but more specifically, color used on built-in bookcases and shelving – turning them into vibrant feature walls that give rooms personality and depth.

While we have seen plenty of color drenching over walls, it's proving an impactful way to transform a bookshelf into something a little more special. These corners are chances to channel our creativity and get adventurous with bold, inspiring colors that become the perfect backdrop to collections and decor. From rooms wrapped in color to alcoves fitted with bold shelving, this is how designers are using this bookshelf trend.

For rooms with walls drenched in moody tones, colorful shelving provides a vibrant contrast. In the room pictured above, Tamsin Saunders, founder of Home & Found, used a bold red to bring a playful edge to the scheme. 'The house needed color,' Tamsin explains. 'All the walls and all the furniture were shades of gray, and it was feeling very sad and unloved. Color is such an important part of a home – it is the biggest determinant in how a room feels.'

'This small study, on the north side of the house, was white and empty save for a large eighteenth-century mahogany linen press which dominated the room,' she continues. 'I wanted it to feel snug and cozy – the kind of room you would want to hunker down in. I painted the walls a soft plum to absorb the weight and solidity of the armoire and the bespoke joinery (shelves and desk) red to blend with and in response to that.'

While each color works hard to bring comfort and coziness, the shelving brings a real enticement to the space. Paired with the moody plum walls and mustard fireplace, it's the perfect balance of characterful and fresh.

Color-drenched shelving isn't just a way to create a section or 'pop' of color; it's an opportunity to transform a blank wall into a vibrant statement that anchors the room.

This pink and green built-in bookcase becomes the focus of the living room. 'The client is an author, so she wanted to create a dedicated space to house all her books alongside a spot for her piano,' explains Jo Beresford and Anna Butler, founders of Beresford Butler. 'We started by showing her a beautiful Designers Guild fabric to cover the piano stool, and the color palette started from there. Rather than painting the entire room green, we wanted the interior inserts of the shelving to be painted in Farrow & Ball's Lake Red to beautifully frame and show off her collection of books and artifacts.'

'A bold, colorful bookshelf is a brilliant way to use color when you want to add impact and personality but feel slightly nervous about committing to a full room,' Jo and Anna say. 'It also looks really smart and can elevate some quite simple, inexpensive shelving. Highlighting architectural features can be just as impactful; we love introducing two contrasting colors if possible because it creates wonderful depth.'

While color-drenching is impactful, it can also create balance. In this library, the deep green shelves feel harmonious, rather than overwhelming. 'In this room, because the walls are lined with bookcases, the dose of color isn’t small, but it is effective,' explains Elizabeth Macfarlane, co-founder of Macfarlane Van Der Heul. 'It delivers real impact – instant mood. At the same time, counter-intuitively, color drenching the bookcases has a calming effect in this room.'

'Books are wonderfully colorful, but en masse against white shelving, their spines can feel busy – colors, images and typefaces competing for attention,' Elizabeth says. 'The green here creates visual balance, a place for the eye to rest and makes the collection feel composed rather than cluttered.'

'We wanted to create a room in the spirit of a traditional gentleman’s library and began with a desk with a lovely green tooled leather top. The particular shade of olive we chose for the joinery is from COAT paints. It’s called East for Trees and has just the right nostalgic masculine feel – evoking the green baize of card and billiards tables and the green of cloth-bound books.'

'Color drenching the joinery here does more than add color; it draws attention to the decorative detail,' Elizabeth adds. 'The paneled cupboards, the cornice, the library lights and the papered ceiling. It also draws attention to a very personal collection of books and objects. The result is a room not only with color, but architectural presence and personality.'

Bold bookcases aren't just about introducing color into your scheme; they are a way to create a visual statement and change the mood of a room. 'Be brave and bold,' advises Tamsin. 'Don't wimp out with painting only tiny sections of ‘color' – think of the whole room as your canvas – gentle tonal shifts even in stronger colors will look a lot softer and gentler than big jumps from one color to another.'

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As the desire for warmth and coziness in kitchens continues, cool gray schemes have fallen out of favor. But this misunderstood color isn't always cold, stark, and outdated; certain shades with green and blue undertones can feel warm and inviting – and Farrow & Ball's Pigeon is a perfect example.

Described by the brand as a 'cozy and nostalgic' paint, Farrow & Ball's Pigeon offers the perfect middle ground between lighter coastal tones and more neutral shades. And it's a kitchen color that should be on everybody's sample list this year. It taps into the desire for more lived-in, inviting spaces that feel more like a room than a functional space. Here's why designers love the color and how to introduce it to your own design.

If you look for the common denominator in many of this year's biggest kitchen color trends, it all comes back to a connection to nature. Earthy palettes that bring depth and interest to a design without straying from timeless principles remain key, and it's an ethos that Farrow & Ball's Pigeon taps into seamlessly.

'Pigeon is a soft, earthy neutral with green, blue, and gray undertones that brings warmth to a space without making the room too dark. It's also a very calming color yet adds depth and interest – the rich pigment means that it subtly changes color throughout the day,' says Fiona Parke of Johnston Parke Interiors.

'Pigeon is a wonderfully versatile color for a kitchen,' adds Emma Sims Hilditch, Founder and Creative Director of Sims Hilditch. 'It has a softness to it that makes a space feel welcoming and relaxed, while the gray undertones give it a timeless quality. It works particularly well in kitchens because it feels understated rather than overly colorful and can sit comfortably alongside both traditional and contemporary elements.'

The versatility makes it more appealing. So often, paint shades fall into specific style categories, but a chameleon color like Pigeon grows and evolves with your style, and broadens the opportunities for interesting application and color pairings. 'We often use it with School House White, and it pairs very well with antique brass hardware and lighting and natural wood and limestone flooring,' says Fiona.

Paired with white, such as School House White or Off-White, it brings a lighter, crisper feel, while richer wood tones alongside it feel more organic. And then there are the moodier colors, like Picture Gallery Red and Green Smoke, which bring a more alluring quality that feels warm and inviting, yet still filled with depth.

'Pigeon works beautifully with warm whites, soft creams and earthy neutrals, as well as natural greens and muted blues,' Emma adds. 'For finishes, I would pair it with natural stone countertops, aged brass or bronze hardware, and timber. These materials bring out the warmth in the color and help create a kitchen that feels layered and lived-in.'

And its versatility doesn't stop at style; it extends to where you use it. It's the sort of color that looks just as beautiful drenched across the entire kitchen as it does on the cabinetry alone or an accent island. It depends on the atmosphere you want to create, something classic and subtle or confident and moody.

'I particularly like using Pigeon on cabinetry, where its muted quality adds depth without overwhelming the room. It works beautifully across a whole run of cabinetry or can be used on an island to create a subtle focal point. In a country kitchen, pairing it with natural timber, stone and aged finishes helps to add warmth and character,' says Emma.

Using Pigeon as a statement color is a popular approach among designers, adding a charming contrast to more neutral schemes. 'We love using it as a statement, and letting it have its moment. We used it on lower cabinets and a range hood in a recent project, and it shone,' says Taylor Bates of Elliott Tate Design. 'We love using walnut and other earth tones with it. It creates a harmonious palette that promotes calm.'

But just because it makes a striking statement through smaller accents doesn't mean it can't be just as impactful when used in larger ways. Used as a wall color, it creates a warm, cozy base that instantly makes your kitchen feel more room-like. 'We tend to use the color on the walls, with a lighter color on the cabinetry,' says Fiona, who also notes Pigeon's appeal in smaller spaces, like pantries. 'It is also a very practical color for utilities and bootrooms, particularly in country projects.'

Shop Pigeon-Inspired Kitchen Buys

Whether you want your kitchen to feel bright and modern or moody and traditional, Farrow & Ball's Pigeon brings a beautiful warmth and character to kitchens of every style. Consider where you apply it and the colors you pair it with – it's the sort of color that reads differently depending on the finishes it sits next to.

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At this time of year, warmer tones tend to dominate the conversation – yellows, oranges, reds, and browns – all very cozy hues, as you would expect to be drawn to as we head into the cooler months. However, this year, an unexpectedly cool-toned, zingy shade is squeezing in among the typical colors of the season.

Not a classically 'fall' color, cornflower blue has been getting an honorable mention whenever we speak with designers about the color trends for the year ahead. Not quite a light blue and not quite a vibrant cobalt, it's a very livable, mid-toned blue that's calming and cocooning while also feeling fresh and uplifting. Here's how designers are using this uplifting color in their schemes.

In this light-filled kitchen, a cornflower-blue range and hood stand proud at the center. 'The cornflower blue really came from the clients,' explains its designer, William Lyon. 'Early on, they told me they wanted a cornflower-blue oven and range hood, and I knew immediately that they weren’t afraid of color. From there, the palette grew around that sense of optimism.'

'We balanced the blue with warm woods, natural stone, brass, and softer, quieter tones so it could be a strong point of view without feeling disconnected from the rest of the home,' William explains. 'The goal was always for the house to feel bright, cheerful, and full of personality, but still comfortable enough for everyday family life.'

'I believe that blue behaves like a neutral when you give it the right things to live alongside. Rather than repeating the exact same shade everywhere, I like to let a bold blue have its moment and then surround it with warmer, more natural materials. That contrast keeps the color from feeling too precious or overly coordinated. A room feels calming when there’s balance. You can absolutely make one confident choice; everything around it doesn’t have to compete for attention.'

Cornflower blue is undeniably vibrant, but paired with warm white paints and eclectic decor, it feels remarkably uplifting, perfect for cheering up our homes in the colder months.

This colorful living room features Farrow & Ball's Bothy Blue, a cheery, ultramarine paint. 'It is a vibrant, uplifting color with an inherently happy feel, but it has an underlying elegance due to its deeply saturated tone, which typifies its thoughtful historic roots,' explains Joa Studholme, Farrow & Ball's Color Curator. 'Such a strong tone should be used with restraint – moderation is the key. If you drenched a whole room in this color it would be overpowering and uncomfortable, so it's a great choice for woodwork combined with a neutral soft wall or for furniture.'

'I would advise not to use this color with a bright white on your ceiling or trim – the contrast will be too stark, and the room will look unsophisticated. A complementary white like Shaded White or School House White will result in a much more considered space.'

While cornflower blue can overwhelm small rooms, it can also give them a real sense of purpose and permanence. Whether it's a powder room or a small study, committing to a bold, playful shade like cornflower gives these 'secondary' spaces just as much presence within our homes.

'This is the guest bedroom in a very hardworking annex space,' says Jennifer Pelzig, the designer behind Parnsip Design. 'The room is very small, but it was important that it felt considered and not an afterthought to the main house. The color-drenched cornflower blue is both peaceful and cocooning, creating an inviting space for guests to retreat to.'

'The right shade of blue is important; natural shades that can be found in nature are more soothing to the eye,' adds Jennifer. 'In this small space, there is very little else other than the bed in the room, so we color-drenched the ceiling for maximum impact.'

The Cornflower Blue Edit

Cornflower blue is an elegant room color idea that brings real cheer to homes. Yes, it's a little bold, but paired with layers of organic materials, warm neutral tones, and a touch of eclectic decor, it's a vibrant, playful twist on all the usual fall color trends.

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British paint brand Little Greene has announced Marle, a soft mid-brown paint, as its Color of the Year 2027. While it's technically a neutral, this gentle, clay-inspired hue couldn't be further from boring; it balances sophistication with just the right amount of moodiness.

Marle isn't the first brown in the Color of the Year 2027 line-up so far (Dunn-Edward's French Press Coffee made its debut last week); it's unique in its layered, complex nature, designed to bring an effortlessly lived-in feel to every interior.

'Heavy on yellow ochre but with plenty of black to desaturate and soften, and a touch of red oxide to offset the greening of these two pigments, Marle is a perfectly balanced mid-tone brown paint, making it easy to incorporate in any scheme,' Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene, tells Homes & Gardens. 'Containing a touch of red alongside rich golden yellow hues, Marle feels naturally present and connected to a variety of other colors within a room.'

While 'safe' neutral tones have shifted away from recent color trends, Marle balances being both deep and interesting with being livable and versatile. Yes, it's a brown paint, but its rich undertones make it just as characterful as the bolder hues we are seeing rise in popularity. Designed to cocoon light-filled, open spaces, and bring warmth and saturation to rooms tighter on square footage, it's just as versatile as a an off-white or beige paint.

'Gone are the associations of dated 1970s interiors and drab or dull spaces; it is wonderful to see browns such as our Color of the Year for 2027, Marle, re-taking their rightful place in contemporary interiors,' says Ruth. 'Browns are being embraced and recognized as warm, earthy and indulgent shades. Due to their gentle and subdued nature, Brown-based hues can be used in every room of the home; they are the perfect choice for bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms, or any space where you wish to create a restful atmosphere.'

The beauty of Marle is that it can warm a space and create a cozy feel without dominating small spaces. When decorating with browns like Marle, pair them with fiery, orange-infused reds for contrast or gentle, plaster pinks for a soft, cocooning color scheme. It works with organic colors too, like grounding greens that bring out its earthiness.

'A combination we see so often in nature, mid-tone brown Marle will also partner beautifully with greens,' Ruth advises. 'Pair it with the vibrant Boxington to provide a subtle nod to nature, which will work wonderfully alongside natural materials such as stone, wood, wicker or rattan finishes.'

'For a playful approach,' she adds, 'consider pairing with gentle pinks such as Mochi. I love to see this pairing used in surprising settings such as kitchens, where the grounding nature of Marle will add gravitas and sophistication to the light-hearted and whimsical use of pink.'

Neutrals like Marle may be overshadowed as brighter, bolder color choices dominate interior design trends, but Ruth says these balanced neutrals are coming back.

'Over the past few years, we have seen color trends move through rich blues into teals, then softer, nature-based greens, before moving towards stone-based neutrals and richer caramel tones,' Ruth explains. 'Recently, we have seen a shift to mid-tones, balanced colors, gentler, yet still characterful shades with less intensity, where the saturation is turned down.'

'We have seen a shift; colors are becoming very balanced, neither too cool nor too warm! If they were to sit on the PH scale, they would sit at 5 or 6. Our new mid-tone brown, Marle, embodies this approach; it will add depth without overpowering a scheme. It is a quietly confident shade that adds character whilst allowing other design elements, be they patterns, colors or textures, to shine.'

Little Greene's Color of the Year for 2027 couldn't be more classic. It's a mid-tone that's saturated and rich, without straying into moody. 'Marle feels sumptuous and impactful, yet relaxed and grounded, Ruth adds. 'It is the perfect brown for creating spaces that feel intimate and cocooning, whilst exuding warmth and comfort.'

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There are few decor ideas as effective at transforming a room as a fresh coat of paint. And while your choice of paint color sets the mood, the most stylish rooms are embracing creative ways of using that color that go far beyond painting four walls.

From tonal interpretations of color drenching, high-gloss finishes, and painting often-overlooked architectural details in a room, 2027 is looking to be a color-confident year when it comes to using paint. Not only do these new ways of painting a room add design flair, but they can make spaces feel far more atmospheric.

As we look ahead to the coming year, we caught up with designers to get the lowdown on the paint trends predicted to lead the way. Below, you can browse each of them for some fresh paint inspiration while getting useful tips from designers on how to pull them off successfully and the color trends that make them shine.

1. Gloss Finishes

Recent years have seen plenty of appeal for decorating with dark paints, bringing a moody and immersive feel to rooms, but as we head toward 2027, designers are taking this a step further with gloss paint finishes. Not only does this give a room more dimension by reflecting light around the space, but it adds another layer of drama and intrigue.

In this living room, the NYC-based designer Jennifer Hunter chose Farrow & Ball's 'Brinjal' to drench the room (along with a fun floral wallpapered ceiling) in a 'Full Gloss' finish. 'I love how reflective a full gloss finish is and how it changes throughout the day,' she says. 'In natural light, it’s incredibly reflective, bouncing light around the room and keeping the space feeling light and bright. At night, it takes on a completely different mood. The sheen catches the warm glow of lamps and sconces and makes the walls feel almost luminous. It adds so much depth and dimension to a room, and I love the way it makes the color feel that much richer.' To achieve that much-desired rich coverage look, prep your walls first with Farrow & Ball's Wall and Ceiling Primer.

While it could be tempting to coat the ceiling in the same dark hue, Jennifer advises a lighter approach on the ceiling when using gloss paint finishes. 'One of my favorite tricks is to keep the ceiling white, which gives the eye a place to rest and helps balance all of the sheen on the walls,' she says. 'If I’m feeling a little more adventurous, I’ll wallpaper the ceiling with a pattern on a white ground. You still get that light, airy feeling overhead, but the wallpaper adds another layer of interest without competing with the glossy walls.'

2. Colorful Trimwork

While trimwork is often painted default white – whether that be in neutral rooms or those with more colorful walls – designers are proving that this isn't a surface to forget about. In 2027, expect to see the boldest of colors used on architectural details, from door frames and baseboards to window frames and paneling.

In this colorful living room, the red window frames not only add a fun pop of color, but they create a cohesive look alongside the warm-toned cork wallpaper. 'White would have distracted from the rich colors of the room and made it look busy,' says the Boston-based designer Cecilia Casagrande.

When choosing a color for the trim, Cecilia usually takes inspiration from the decor. 'I generally pull a color from either the wallpaper, window treatment, sofa, or art in the room,' she explains. 'And of course, making sure it is either a nice complement or contrast to the wall. The in-between can be wishy-washy.'

Don't forget to use a good Painter's Masking Tape when painting architectural details to achieve a neat edge.

3. Tonal Color-Drenching

Color drenching has arguably been the biggest paint trend over the last few years. In rebellion against the controversial accent wall, color drenching provides a more modern, cohesive way of decorating with paint where the same shade is used all over a room. But as we look ahead to 2027, designers are taking the sentiment of this popular paint trend and adding more depth and movement by using a mix of tonal shades.

At first glance, you may think this living room is drenched in one color, but there are actually three different shades (and finishes) used. On the walls, Benjamin Moore's 'Robin's Nest' was used in an eggshell finish, 'Copper Patina' in a high-gloss finish on the molding and trim, and 'Par Four' in a flat finish on the ceiling.

'I wanted this room to feel completely immersive and transportive,' says designer Avery Cox, based in Austin. 'Drenching the room in these robin’s egg blues and pale gray greens helped to distort the experience of being in the space by altering the white balance completely and flooding the visual sense with color.'

'Color drenching shouldn't be interpreted literally,' she adds. 'Every room still needs some contrast, so choosing one color and finish for a room devoid of other elements may not give you what you’re looking for. Plan to use a few different finishes and tones near the original color to provide a bit of contrast. Adding structure to the room through applied molding or paint applied as architecture helps make the space feel more dynamic and layered.'

Looking for help choosing colors? Benjamin Moore's Classics fan deck allows you to compare similar shades, so you can see how they appear alongside each other before purchasing.

4. Colorful Joinery

In the same spirit as a more colorful approach to trimwork, designers are making way for a new paint trend: colorful joinery. Rather than painting joinery, such as built-ins and shelving, the same color as the walls or defaulting to a neutral tone, a much more impactful look can be achieved with a pop of color.

In this case, the wood-clad walls meant that it wasn't about matching the joinery to the walls, but about giving them their own identity. The designer, Julia Miller of Yond Interiors, based in Minneapolis, chose Benjamin Moore's 'Henderson Buff', a soft yellow-green paint. 'We wanted the joinery to provide a little moment of contrast and playfulness against the dark wood,' she explains. 'The chartreuse also felt like a natural extension of the palette we had already established throughout the house. It brings some energy to the room without taking away from the warmth and character of the original paneling.'

'Adding color to the joinery can be a nice way to bring color into a room without covering up other materials that you want to celebrate,' Julia adds. 'In this cabin, we wanted to keep all of that beautiful dark paneling, so the painted built-ins gave us an opportunity to layer in another color and create some contrast.'

When painting woodwork such as built-ins, don't skip the primer, which can help achieve a more seamless finish. Benjamin Moore's Fresh Start Primer is designed for use on interior wood.

5. Hand-Painted Botanical Motifs

As interior design trends continue to favor decor ideas that feel truly personal, it makes sense that this is extending to paint trends. In this powder room, the burgundy color scheme gives the room a moody, sophisticated feel, but it's the hand-painted flowers that give it its personality.

'The walls are Venetian plaster by Segreto matched to our trim color,' explains designer Lindsey Herod, who is based in Houston. 'Then, Segreto hand-applied white plaster flowers on top of the Venetian plaster.'

Rather than being a random design choice, the floral motif nods to the homeowners' interests. 'Since our client loves gardening and the landscape designer planned a vine to grow up the stucco exterior just outside this window, bringing that botanical vining motif inside with these handmade chalky white plaster flowers, leaves, and vines felt appropriate as a reference to the outdoor spaces,' Lindsey explains. 'These elements juxtapose the shiny, varied texture of the Venetian plaster walls.'

'Think about the elements or motifs that bring you joy and find ways to bring them into your home,' she advises.

6. Lifting Neutral Rooms with Pockets of Color

Using paint in an interesting way doesn't mean that the whole room needs to be colorful. As decorating with neutrals continues to evolve – moving away from all-white schemes to those with more contrast and interest – we're seeing designers use touches of colorful paint in the most pared-back schemes.

This can be an especially effective paint idea in large spaces that need some definition, suggests Louisiana designer Anne Underwood. 'The ceilings are tall in this dining room, and the blue-painted trim raises the eye to focus on what’s above – an energetically artful ceiling,' she says. 'It really puts an exclamation point on the thick-profile wood trim that might otherwise go unnoticed. Here, the trim is the focal point, creating a “frame” around the wallpapered ceiling.' Using an angled paintbrush can help you achieve a neat finish when painting architectural details like this.

'Keeping the rest of the room simple with strategically placed boldness feels crisp and fresh,' Anne says. 'While there are traditional furnishings in the room, the bold blue trim elevates the space in an unexpected, modern way.'

'If a homeowner is timid about using bold color or wants an easy way to inject some energy into a room, painting the trim is a great first step,' she adds. 'You can go bold because it’s a small part of the overall room and not a huge commitment. It will also aid in moving your eyes around the room.'

7. Colorfully-Painted Ceilings

Ceiling paint ideas have been quietly emerging as a fun way to decorate with paint in recent years, but as we near 2027, expect to see rich and bold shades used on the fifth wall to add real depth and an immersive feel.

While soft, tonal colors are no doubt stylish when applied to the ceiling, using much bolder colors makes a statement and delivers impact. When paired with lighter walls, the look is easy to live with. 'When the room is white, you can get away with using almost any color, and it will still look classy,' says Boston-based designer Sarah Scales, who used Benjamin Moore's 'Bermuda Turquoise' on the ceiling. 'It brings a type of energy,' she adds.

When choosing the best bold paint shades for ceilings, it's all about the rest of the color scheme and the mood you want to create. 'Go for an off-kilter color,' Sarah advises. This teal paint is 'not a navy as one might use in a historic home,' according to Sarah, but 'it brings a certain energy to a kid’s bedroom.'

Shades such as Farrow & Ball's 'Vardo', a deep teal, would achieve a similar atmospheric look, but you could also explore warm paint shades such as Benjamin Moore's 'Garrison Red' to create a cozy and cocooning space. Once you've chosen your paint color, this Paint Roller Kit with Extension Pole can help you reach the ceiling.

The theme uniting the biggest paint trends for 2027 is a focus on creating interiors that feel dynamic, layered, and personal. Rather than using color sparingly or as an afterthought, it is being used boldly to set the whole mood of a room.

While new ways of color drenching set a truly atmospheric feel, creatively applying color to smaller architectural details or joinery can be just as impactful, especially if you're new to decorating with bold color.

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While it's hard to imagine moody tones not being associated with fall, a true autumnal palette includes not just the classic warm ambers and deep reds, but unexpected colors that balance those earthy tones with brighter, uplifting hues.

A time to get creative with color, fall is the season many await to cocoon their homes in rich, saturated shades that shift with the light. These comforting fall color schemes add real depth to our living spaces and provide solace from the cold outside. Yet balancing the palette with brighter hues can create just as much coziness, whilst keeping things timeless and always inspiring.

Farrow & Ball's new 'Colors of Autumn' palette proves how perfectly autumn shades can mix with less expected seasonal shades. Blues and greens sit alongside reds and yellows to create a scheme that's less cliché and far more timeless. 'I will always consider the obvious connotations of fall with amber and burnt reds, but it’s lovely to consider other elements like wet stone and glistening lichen on boulders and long, low light casting delicious shadows through trees and over fields,' Patrick O'Donnell, Brand Ambassador at Farrow & Ball. 'It’s my favorite time of year.'

Just like this year's fall color trends that flaunt a variety of autumnal tones and vibrant hues, Farrow & Ball's autumn colors prove your scheme doesn't need to be restricted to moody colors to feel seasonal.

Of course, a few familiar tones feature within the palette. Organic greens like Cardamom, a green-infused brown paint, Trechon, a cult classic known for its gray-green undertones, and the beloved mossy green Bancha, are all inherently fall-esque, but paired beside more unexpected tones, they feel entirely new and fresh. Stone Blue, a powdery, mid-tone, would shine beside these grounding greens, as would Selvedge, a denim-blue with a faded feel.

'I think my three favorites from this mini edit would be Tack Room Door, Cardamom, and the wonderfully complex Stone Blue,' says Patrick. 'All three would work harmoniously together – maybe in a kitchen where it’s easier to play with multiple colors due to the higher concentration of cabinetry in the space. Tack Room Door in Flat Eggshell would look wonderful in an attic bedroom on tongue-and-groove walls.'

While burgundies and oxbloods are typical of this time of year, it's not the expected red paints that make this Farrow & Ball palette feel fresh – it's the mix of an almost brown red (Etruscan Red) and a fiery red-meets-orange titled 'Harissa.'

'I deliberately didn’t go for wine colors or oranges this year (they may have cropped up in my 2025 edit) but wanted to look to more ‘grounded’ and moody colors,' explains Patrick. Straw, a warmer take on butter yellow, brings a gentle ambience to the palette, providing some lift and balance against the deeper browns and greens. With changing autumn sun, it's a clever choice for rooms blessed with natural light in abundance, creating a warming, golden ambience.

'Blue is still a big part of autumn and should be present in our considerations, and it’s a false path to decorate for a season; this is more about color shifts and mood than decoration,' Paddy adds. 'I think autumn is a particularly sensory time; clocks change, our food habits change, even the scent of candles shifts from lighter floral notes to tobacco and leather notes, the scent of an old dust jacket or well-worn library chair…'

Farrow & Ball's 'Colors of Autumn' combines traditional timelessness with a playful, fresh edge. It evokes a nostalgic, wintry feel with earthy greens, caramel brown, and a moody red, balanced by a handful of bold, sharper colors. A warm yellow, fiery red, and a pair of soothing blue hues create beautiful contrast against these organic tones. They also give new meaning to 'fall colors' and encourage us to introduce vibrancy into our homes, even if the weather is a little colder.

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Color reads differently in every kitchen. Light levels, the direction the room faces, and the other finishes in the space all impact how beautiful or underwhelming your chosen shade will be. It quickly becomes the most complicated, and most important, decision of the entire design process.

So how can you choose a kitchen color scheme that balances timeless style, personalized design, and actually looks good in your home? For interior designer Amber Lewis, the process is simpler than you might think.

Here's her tried-and-tested method for choosing the right kitchen colors every time, where to draw inspiration, and how to create a cohesive look, whatever your design style. Honestly, her advice has just made choosing the right kitchen color so much easier.

With so many paint colors on offer, even narrowing the options down to a shortlist can seem overwhelming. It gets even harder when you're choosing something that feels timeless yet still brings character and personality to your design. The list of requirements is getting longer, and knowing where to start feels infinitely harder.

But for Amber, finding the right kitchen color always begins with the inspiration. 'I always start outside; the landscape and architecture of the home inform the direction before I ever open a paint deck,' she explains. This is where timelessness comes in: nature never dates, nor does architecture, and choosing a color that fits your home's age and history will help to narrow the ideal palette.

'Moving inside, I think about how the different elements of the room – architectural details, materials, and layout – interact and influence each other. I want the space as a whole, and each individual element, to feel connected without feeling overly coordinated or themed,' she continues.

'I’m always trying to strike that balance, and the color palette plays a huge role in achieving it. When each surface is having a conversation with the next, instead of simply sharing the space, a color choice feels intentional rather than accidental.'

One of the most important elements of the kitchen color selection process is sampling paint colors in your space and moving them around the room to see how they look in different light levels – that's how you find the best colors to paint your kitchen depending on its orientation. But for Amber, a specific sample type is crucial for accuracy.

'Get real samples – not paint chips, but actual painted boards – and live with them in the space at different times of day,' she advises. 'Undertone is everything; a white can read yellow, blue, or green depending on the light, and you won't know until you actually watch it change from morning to evening.'

And while white kitchens are popular, especially for a scheme that ages well, it's not the only option for a timeless design. Stronger colors have a place in classic style – especially if you take Amber's advice on where to find inspiration. And there are a few colors she often returns to.

'I love French sage greens, inky blue-blacks, and creamy warm whites,' she notes. 'I’m also not mad at a bold pop of color when it makes sense; I’ve been known to go for soft blue-greens and rich browns, too. I will always vote for color palettes that have a bit of personality and character but won’t lose their depth as trends come and go.'

The process doesn't end here, however. Once you've created a shortlist of paints that read beautifully in your kitchen, make sure they sit cohesively alongside the other finishes and materials you want to bring into the room, like countertops, hardware, and tiles.

'Layer your samples the way you'll actually live with them – a cut of your countertop stone next to your cabinet color, and that pair alongside your kitchen flooring sample,' she suggests. 'Step back and get a good look. There is technically no wrong combination as long as it feels cohesive to you, but I will say: pick one hero material (usually your stone) and let everything else support it rather than compete with it.'

If you want more kitchen design advice from Amber, find out what she has to say about decorating your kitchen for fall and the future of kitchen design, or pick up a copy of her brand-new book, Interiors: Curated Spaces from Start to Finish (Clarkson Potter/Penguin Random House), available to purchase now on Amazon.

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Color of the Year season is in full swing, and next to announce its spotlight shade is Dunn-Edwards, revealing French Press Coffee as the chosen hue of 2027.

So far, there's been a real mix of Colors of the Year announcements, ranging from organic greens (like Behr's Grounded and Sherwin-Williams' Celery) to moody blues (like Valspar's Cottage Door), but a common thread runs through each of these shades: they're all earthy and evocative. French Press Coffee is no different. Reminiscent of dark roasted coffee, this grounding, organic hue rethinks neutrals for the better.

'French Press Coffee is the kind of color that reveals itself gradually,' explains Lauren Hoferkamp, Color Marketing Manager at Dunn-Edwards. 'As light shifts throughout the day, its subtle plum undertone emerges, adding complexity you don't always see in a neutral. It's grounding and restrained yet full of character. With its moody, rich hue, this color works beautifully across a wide range of spaces and applications.'

We have seen such a resurgence in decorating with brown recently. It still has all the versatility and gentleness of a neutral but gives more character than a creamy white or warm gray. Brown is a more confident choice; yes, it's less 'safe', but that doesn't mean it's not timeless. Dunn-Edwards French Press Coffee might be what we'd once consider dark and dramatic, but it's familiar and comforting too, which makes it just as usable as lighter neutral shades.

'Brown is everywhere in the things we find comforting: coffee, chocolate, wood, leather, soil,' Lauren tells Homes & Gardens. 'It's the color of the natural world, so it feels familiar and grounding without asking for attention. It also works across nearly every design style, from traditional to modern to rustic, which gives it a broad appeal few other colors can match.'

The beauty of French Press Coffee is that it's moody and dark without being overwhelming. It brings an effortlessly luxurious feel to interiors, but can feel restrained and grounding with a more pared-back decorating approach and organic materials.

What makes French Press Coffee unique is its color composition. 'It's the undertone. French Press Coffee has a subtle plum undertone that gives it depth and dimension, so it never looks flat or muddy,' explains Lauren. 'It changes with the light, becoming intimate and glowing in the evening and more grounded and neutral in daylight. It's rich enough to make a statement but still behaves like a neutral.'

Always consider the colors that go with brown when introducing French Press Coffee into your scheme. 'It pairs beautifully with creamy warm whites for crisp but soft contrast, and with deep greens for a moody, nature-inspired palette,' Lauren advises. 'It also works with muted sage and olive, dusty rose and terra-cotta, soft ochre and camel. On the materials side, try walnut and oak, aged brass, leather, and stone with warm veining.'

The Coffee Brown Edit

French Press Coffee balances luxury and liveability, confidence with comfort. 'It tells us people are continuing to move away from cool, minimal interiors toward spaces with warmth, depth, and personality,' Lauren says. 'Homeowners want rooms that feel enveloping and intentional, and they're more willing to use color with confidence. French Press Coffee captures that: it's bold, but in a comforting way.'

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As much as we love a warm, grounding, and organic-inspired palette, sometimes a delicate, light-infused pale blue is just what a room needs to feel fresh, airy, and forever calming.

From the lightest pale blue paint to deeper sky blues, lighter, powdery blue hues have seen a resurgence in the last year as a cooler, more interesting replacement for whites and pale creams. While the beauty of these 'new neutrals' is that they always feel gentle, Farrow & Ball's 'Borrowed Light' is the uplifting and delicate paint color designers are loving.

Inspired by the light that trickles through narrow windows, Borrowed Light is perfect for brightening bedrooms or accentuating light-filled sunrooms; it's a cool but soft paint that couldn't be more versatile – and these rooms prove it.

Pale blue paints like Borrowed Light can bring a joyous, fresh feel to interiors rather than the muted feel of an earthy color scheme. When applied in rooms flooded with daylight, the paint comes to life. In this scenic dining nook, the pale blue creates a soft backdrop, ideal for easing you into the day or providing comfort come evening.

'We loved this color because it is a pale blue but not a baby blue; it has a strength to it because it's saturated,' explains interior designer Meg Lonergan. 'I loved mixing this color with white and navy – the indigo of the stained oak barstools and the ebony cane breakfast chairs really popped against Borrowed Light, same with the chalky white of the ceramic pendants over the island and the milk glass of the table pendant.'

Meg recommends pairing this pale blue with 'colors like yellow, other blues, even orange (which we had in some artwork in that room) really sang against this happy shade of blue!'

The beauty of pale blue is that it really can behave like a neutral – a background color that adds a little something more but doesn't restrict the rest of the color palette. Borrowed Light is versatile, but in bedrooms, it's exactly the sort of color our walls crave. It complements rather than overwhelms, and allows pattern, decor, and furniture to shine.

'Borrowed Light has a gentle warmth that makes it incredibly easy to live with,' says designer Phoebe Hollond of Studio Hollond. 'It feels fresh and airy without being clinical, creating a calm and warm background. Its tone shifts beautifully throughout the day as the natural light changes.'

In this bedroom, Phoebe used it as the perfect backdrop for 'mixing textiles, lots of warm, soft, and bold prints all dancing together – with striking modern pieces such as lighting alongside antiques like bedside tables, armchairs, and artworks.'

'I chose this shade because it feels soft and luminous, and it works beautifully in a little boy’s bedroom,' says Parisian interior designer Hava Castro. 'This soft shade went over all the walls in this bedroom to create a more cocooning, enveloping feel, while allowing the poetic wallpaper on the ceiling to really stand out.'

Borrowed Light brings a tranquility to the space. It feels neutral, yet uplifting. Matched with the darker blue window frame, the sky-blue shines. 'I like pairing it with contrasting tones,' she explains, 'in particular, Stiffkey Blue on the window. I also love combining it with soft, natural materials, such as the cream linen curtains and the light oak desk.'

Light affects this paint color in a unique way. It accentuates architecture and brings an openness that works so well when creating a sense of calm, as designer Laura Stephens found when choosing the perfect color for this serene bedroom.

'Borrowed Light has such a lovely softness to it,' says Laura. 'I wanted the room to feel calm and light, but not cold or too obviously ‘blue’. It has a slightly chalky, almost silvery quality which works beautifully with the natural light in the room and creates a really gentle backdrop for the more colorful fabrics and antique pieces. I also love how it changes subtly throughout the day, which gives the room a bit more depth than a very flat, pale blue might.'

The pale blue contrasts beautifully with lived-in layers and pieces with patina. As Laura adds, 'I love pairing pale blue with warmer, natural tones so that it feels layered rather than too pretty or sugary. Here, we’ve used oak, warm linen, ticking stripes and lots of white, alongside touches of green and a little red in the textiles. I think blue works particularly well with earthy greens, soft reds, ochres and natural timber. I also like mixing in pattern and texture e.g., stripes, checks, embroidered fabrics and slightly faded vintage pieces, as it stops a pale blue room from feeling too uniform.'

'The aim was to create a bedroom that felt relaxed and collected rather than overly decorated. We kept the walls and bedding fairly quiet and let the fabrics, vintage pieces, and little details bring the personality. The pale blue walls tie everything together without feeling like they’re competing with the other colors in the room.'

The Light Blue Edit

Borrowed Light is gentle, grounding, and refreshing. It's subtle enough to let architecture shine, yet saturated enough to bring substance to a room. While cool tones can get lost among today's striking color trends, there will always be room for paints that exude freshness and light.

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Benjamin Moore has revealed its best-selling neutral paint colors, and no, they aren't just beiges and whites. In 2026, the definition of 'neutral' is changing, and these popular shades prove that colors we consider to be 'safe' background shades are getting bolder and richer.

We spoke with Helen Shaw, Director of Marketing at Benjamin Moore, to delve into how neutrals are working in a design world where the use of color has never been bolder, plus her tips on how to decorate with these iconic neutral paints. 'These four neutrals stand out because they each have their own character, offering something beyond a standard beige, gray or taupe,' Helen explains. 'Their subtle undertones give them depth and allow them to work across different interiors, styles and lighting conditions, while still providing an easy foundation for a scheme.'

1. Manchester Tan

The perfect mid-beige paint, Manchester Tan is ideal for rooms that need something a little warmer than white, but nothing too moody or dramatic. It's infused with a touch of yellow and earthy brown, so it feels deep and rich, yet well-balanced.

'Manchester Tan is a fresh, sophisticated beige inspired by stately sandstone façades,' explains Helen. 'Delicate green-brown undertones give this soft neutral added depth, while pairing it with a feathery light blue works beautifully in a bedroom or bathroom for a calm, airy feel.'

Paired with earthy colors like a terracotta sofa or a deep olive green headboard, Manchester Tan gets even more interesting. 'For a living room or dining room, introduce rich brick tones through upholstery, curtains or accent furniture to bring warmth and contrast to the scheme.'

2. Pashmina

Pashmina has slight gray undertones that make it feel a little moodier and richer than Manchester Tan. It's similar to a stone or slate gray, but without the really cool notes.

Benjamin Moore's Pashmina is easy to style, but it shines against warm tones, like plaster pinks, ochres, or burnt oranges. 'Perfectly balanced between warm and cool, light and dark, Pashmina is a timeless taupe with soft, moody undertones,' says Helen. 'Its stony character works beautifully with almost any color, while a delicate blush undertone adds warmth.'

Consider the colors that go with beige for a well-balanced scheme. 'Pair it with rich oranges for a welcoming, energized feel, or muted mid-tones for something softer and more understated,' advises Helen.

3. Antique Pewter

A green-gray paint that couldn't be more timeless, Antique Pewter is a cult favorite. It falls somewhere between the two hues, providing the freshness of green with the neutrality of gray.

'Reminiscent of a rich patina, Antique Pewter is a muted green grounded by a touch of gray,' Helen says. 'Part of the Classics collection, its subtle green undertone gives this pewter shade plenty of depth, while its versatility makes it equally suited to contemporary and more traditional interiors. Use it across walls, ceilings or trim, or pair it with period lighting and upholstery for a more classic feel.'

It's also a great choice for homes in need of some character, as it evokes a heritage feel while still pairing beautifully with more modern interior design styles.

4. Hale Navy

We often say it: blue is a neutral. The right blue can act like a neutral anyway, and Hale Navy is one such shade. It's such a versatile paint despite being a darker color, as its undertones are so balanced; it doesn't lean too warm or too cool, too green or too gray.

'Hale Navy is a ‘use-anywhere’ navy with a classic maritime feel, which helps explain its enduring popularity,' Helen says. 'Its rich depth works particularly well in busier spaces such as living rooms, while it can also bring character to kitchen cabinetry, whether paired with an industrial scheme or more traditional Shaker cabinetry. Against crisp white, the contrast feels striking while still creating a calm, timeless space.'

'In 2026, we're moving beyond the idea of neutral as simply being safe, pale, or pared-back,' finishes Helen. 'Today's neutrals tend to have more depth, with subtle undertones of green, pink, yellow, blue and brown bringing color and character into the scheme. We're also seeing them used more confidently, whether layered tonally, color-drenched, or paired with richer accents.'

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Right now, the interior design world loves color. It's been bye-bye neutrals and hello reds, blues, greens, and yellows, with vibrant shades topping the color trends of 2026 and beyond. So, unsurprisingly, many once-loved neutrals feel 'bland' and 'boring'.

However, whenever we speak with designers about the rise of color, everyone is so quick to say; but nothing will replace a timeless neutral. There's always space for those shades that feel warm, soft, and cocooning. And Farrow & Ball's Mouse's Back is one such shade – a whisper-soft, comforting mid-brown that dances in daylight and cocoons in the darker hours. A brown paint oh-so gentle, it's named after the fawn-toned fur of a British field mouse.

'Long-term Farrow & Ball fans will always have a place in their heart for Mouse’s Back,' explains Joa Studholme, Farrow & Ball's Color Curator. 'It feels like the backbone of our palette. Perfect for those who desire a restrained traditional look, Mouse’s Back feels like it has been plucked from the utility area of a historic house. This gray-brown classic is quiet in nature and totally timeless, and although understated, it is a really clever color, more saturated than a classic neutral but just as versatile.'

In this breakfast nook designed by Alexandra Azat, founder of Plaster and Patina, Mouse's Back brings a gentle warmth that cocoons the eating area. It accentuates the wall paneling and architectural features without creating too much depth or heaviness.

'Mouse's Back is one of my absolute favorite moody browns,' says Alexandra. 'It's the color of my old primary bedroom, my old sunroom, and my current design studio, so to say I love it is an understatement! I think it is such a great balance of warm but not too warm. I love pairing it with warm stained, neutral woods like walnut or white oak,' adds Alexandra. Organic materials and paler neutrals let the depth of Mouse's Back shine whilst finding common ground with its earthiness.

'As we turn towards comfortable colors in our homes, this quiet dark tone is the perfect choice, sitting effortlessly alongside natural materials such as weathered wood and flagstone floors,' explains Joa. 'Its muted quality is ideally suited to being used on both walls and woodwork (and particularly paneling) for a sophisticated muted atmosphere.'

'Its laid-back tone sits perfectly beside other subtle tones like Pigeon and Treron for a slightly mismatched and very relaxed scheme,' Joa adds. 'I favor using it in boot rooms, and particularly on floors where it has a certain muted feel that is favored in modern homes for a cozy soft look, reflecting our yearning for heritage tones which feel restorative and reflect the spirit of craftsmanship we all hanker for.'

In this small kitchen (pictured above), Mouse's Back feels just soft enough to warm the space and create a cozy feel without dominating its small parameters. Paired with the rustic wooden countertops and vintage ceramics, it's a lesson in balance.

'I think Mouse’s Back really comes alive alongside rich, earthy colors and materials with age and texture,' says Russell Loughlan, founder of The House on Dolphin Street. 'Here we’ve paired it with deep reds, dark-painted furniture, rush seating, worn timber, aged brass and simple ceramics. I love that mix of confident color with pieces that feel collected and a little imperfect, so it keeps the room from feeling too formal or overly designed.'

'The ground floor of the house is naturally quite dark, so rather than fighting that with pale colors, we decided to embrace it with a strong, Georgian-inspired palette,' Russell explains. 'Mouse’s Back has a wonderful earthy depth to it; it feels warm and enveloping without becoming heavy, and has much more character than a straightforward mid-brown. There’s a definite Georgian influence to the palette, and friends have actually nicknamed this front room ‘The Dolphin Street Tavern’ because it has such a Dickensian feel to it, which I rather love.'

'It also works beautifully as a bridge between the two reds in the adjoining spaces: Preference Red to the left and Picture Gallery Red to the right. They’re both strong colors, but Mouse’s Back has enough presence to hold its own between them while allowing the reds to really sing. So rather than trying to make a dark, intimate room feel larger with a pale color, we embraced that sense of enclosure. Mouse’s Back gives the room warmth and depth, and makes it feel incredibly inviting.'

'Interestingly, in the lower light it reads slightly greener on the walls, which is another reason it works so beautifully with natural greenery. Those fresh greens really bring out the complexity of the color and lift the whole palette.'

Mouse's Back is a soft, delicate, and versatile mid-brown paint that shines in historic settings as well as new. Yes, it's a 'safe' neutral, but it's a timeless one too.' There is something special about a room where nothing is shouting,' Joa says. 'Mouse’s Back works because it doesn’t beg for attention but rather works as a backdrop, letting the things you want to feature take center stage.'

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September is always an exciting month in the interior design world. Yes, it's a month of seasonal change when our homes become cozier, but it's also a time to get a clearer sense of what the year ahead will look like, especially in terms of color, as 'tis the season of Colors of the Year.

And so far, 2027 color trends couldn't be more inspiring. While not all of the shades have made their official debut (there's plenty still to come over the next few weeks), each shade announced so far feels part of a greater shift in how we are using color in our homes. There's not a neutral in sight – if we needed any more evidence that we are all tired of bland 'safe' colors, the Color of the Year announcements so far are it.

From Sherwin-Williams crisp 'Celery' green to Dutch Boy's 'Deep Rooted', a grounding terracotta, these paint colors speak to our emotions; they are uplifting, or cocooning, or energizing, certainly very far from boring.

Valspar: Cottage Door

Valspar's 2027 Color of the Year is Cottage Door 8004-38E, an on-trend powder blue paint that feels calming, soothing, and refreshingly cheerful.

Cottage Door is the perfectly usable blue paint, that falls right in the middle of the color spectrum, the perfect balance of light and dark, warm and cool. It's infused with gray undertones, too, so while it is still inherently a blue paint, it's still calm and usable.

'Cottage Door celebrates the unique beauty inside us all,' said Sue Kim, Director of Color Marketing at Valspar. 'This mid-tone neutral blue is reflective and warm, with timeless appeal that feels personal and grounding. Cottage Door captures blue’s natural sense of security and trust while serving as a colorful new neutral that layers effortlessly into the home. It creates spaces that feel balanced, comforting, and inviting.'

Graham & Brown: Rose Earth

Family-founded paint brand Graham & Brown's Color of the Year for 2027 is a grounding, restorative dusty pink titled 'Rose Earth.' With faded terracotta and plaster notes, it's a 'new neutral' paint color that feels as subtle as beige or taupe, yet far more interesting.

A calming color with a heritage feel, the chalky rose paint rethinks neutrals as we know them. It also gives us a clear idea of where color trends might be heading next year, as shades that provide calm and ease become just as important as eye-catching, buzzworthy hues that feel like an instant statement.

It's not the only earthy color in the round-up either; plenty of organic, nature-inspired hues that feel familiar and comforting have been crowned Colors of the Year.

Behr: Grounded

Behr's Color of the Year is the moodiest of the roundup so far. Saturated and rich, it's a deep, mossy green hue with a real luxurious edge.

Named 'Grounded' for its natural roots, the dark green paint is designed to bring a cocooning feel to any room. 'Grounded is a reminder that the most meaningful spaces are the ones that help us connect with the rhythms of everyday life,' explains Kayla Kratz, Head of Color at Behr Paint Company. Behr has curated a full 2027 Color Trends Palette, which features a collection of complementary hues inspired by nature, too.

It's also a reminder that color is more than just a way to decorate your home. It's an opportunity to create real emotion and feeling in your environment, and in the case of Grounded, that's a sense of calm, restoration, and instant comfort.

Dutch Boy: 'Deep Rooted'

Dutch Boy's color of choice is an on-trend terracotta hue titled 'Deep Rooted'.

'Our 2027 Color of the Year feels alive with possibility while being rooted in the familiar warmth of nature,' says Lisbeth Parada, Color Marketing Manager, Dutch Boy Paints. 'Deep Rooted offers a color that feels rich, grounding, and deeply human. Its earthy orange tone creates a versatile foundation for spaces that celebrate individuality through bold contrasts and layered textures.'

This orange-infused terracotta paint might be one of the bolder paints so far, but its warmth and depth make it perfect for rooms in need of a little comfort. Reminiscent of sun-baked pottery, it's an inviting, warm neutral filled with possibility.

Dulux: Soulful Sage

Another green in the mix, English paint brand Dulux announced that 'Soulful Sage', a pale green with a heritage charm, is the Dulux 2027 Color of the Year.

Sage has had a bit of a resurgence over the past few months, so it makes sense that the British paint brand chose to spotlight this shade du jour as one to watch in 2027. A brighter, fresher take on sage green paint as we know it, it's a liveble, timeless green with a distinctly calming feel.

'Glow', 'Light' and 'Lift' are the three new curated color stories by Dulux, each designed with a unique purpose for the home. 'Soulful Sage' sits at the center of these palettes, designed to beautifully pair with a range of warm neutrals, moody tones, or organic shades.

Sherwin-Williams: Celery

Green paints are a common theme in the 2027 colors of the year. While sage and dark olive feel familiar, Sherwin-Williams' crisp, apple-green called 'Celery' is a refreshingly unexpected choice.

'Celery shows that our connection to nature isn't going away, but the way we're interpreting nature-inspired color is evolving,' Ashley Banbury, Color Marketing Manager at Sherwin-Williams explains. 'We're moving toward hues that still provide a sense of comfort and restoration but also bring more freshness, lightness, and personality into the home. Rather than creating spaces that feel overly styled or perfect, there's an emphasis on interiors that feel welcoming, layered, and reflective of everyday life.'

Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year 2027 is an exciting, zingy green that feels striking as well as soothing. Infused with yellow, it's the perfect paint choice for those of us looking to bring a little freshness into our homes.

The line-up might be varied, but each color feels like part of a greater shift towards intentional decorating. Through color, we can make our homes feel personal, comforting, and authentic, whether that be a dark olive paint that cocoons or a mid- blue that soothes.

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Pumpkin-spice, moss-green, and earthier versions of every summer color trend crop up like clockwork as soon as September strikes, so it's refreshing when fall color schemes stray from tradition with something unexpected.

Meet: mustard and burgundy, the rich, characterful, and always comforting color combination that gently alludes to autumn while still looking elevated. While the red and yellow color combination has long been loved, designers are embracing the deeper, richer, more saturated version of the pairing this season.

'Mustard yellow and burgundy work harmoniously to bring warmth into a space, making them a particularly effective color combination as the seasons turn and cooler natural light sets in,' says Helen Shaw, Director of Marketing at Benjamin Moore. 'The rich, warm hues create a welcoming backdrop for autumn, balancing boldness with earthy undertones that bring a cozy, seasonal glow indoors.'

Burgundy and yellow work perfectly alongside the olive green cabinets in the charming farmhouse kitchen. The scheme was inspired by nature, uplifting those earthy olive tones with the vibrant yellow and rich red. 'The large window over the sink at the back of the kitchen overlooks a beautiful and lovingly tended garden, which was a great source of color inspiration,' explains Laura Parkinson, director of design studio Palmer and Stone. 'It had previously felt very cold, so part of our brief was to create a warm and inviting kitchen for our client who are keen cooks.'

'Following the surge of interest in burgundy in clothing fashion, we've definitely seen a rise in interest in using it within the home. Our studio color palettes tend to keep to a more natural or tonal base, and then we might add a brighter, or more 'acid', color into the mix to cut through,' Laura continues. 'In this case, we've used a warm red-burgundy that feels very natural alongside an orange-yellow that is much sharper. The addition of a few other colors in the mix (in this case khaki green and a deep sky blue) stops the yellow and red from overwhelming the space.'

'As this is a north-facing room, bringing in warmth was our priority,' explains Rachel Taylor, founder of interior design studio Bucknall James and designer of this living room. 'Despite the huge windows, the previous off-white walls left the space feeling rather flat, so we knew color would be key. Our client fell in love with the Ikat rug by Luke Irwin, and this became the starting point for the rest of the scheme.'

'We wanted to create that cozy, enveloping feeling that draws you in on a gloomy winter's day, the kind of room where you light the fire and settle down to watch a film,' Rachel explains. 'At the same time, it was equally important that it didn't feel dark or heavy, so Edward Bulmer's Trumpington on the walls felt like the perfect balance. Come summer, the light flooding through the windows transforms the room into a sunny, uplifting space.'

'The combination of mustard and earthy burgundy works particularly well paired with brown antiques to ground the scheme and add depth,' Rachel adds. 'Adding pattern to break up any block colors softens the impact as well as connecting the colors, like the rug, artwork and cushions in this project. Warm, autumnal tones especially are being embraced, and it's easy to see why, as they are so pleasing to live with. For us, this project was about creating a space warm and cocooning, yet still light, cheerful, and full of life.'

The ochre yellow paint and rich burgundy paint bring an effortless warmth to this cozy living room too, adding a sense of heritage and character. 'I’ve always been drawn to those slightly muddy, earthy colors that you find in old houses,' says Russell Loughlan, founder of The House on Dolphin Street. 'I didn’t want the room to feel as though it had been designed around a color scheme, though,' he adds. 'It’s much more about layering things that I love, so old furniture, ceramics, textiles, and letting the colors build up naturally. I think rooms are much more interesting when everything isn’t perfectly matched.'

'Burgundy and mustard have that wonderful, slightly old-fashioned quality to them, which I mean in the best possible way. They’re colors you see in old textiles, paintings and historic interiors, so even though they feel very relevant at the moment, there’s something quite timeless about them too,' he adds.

'I think the key is not to be too literal with them. I wouldn’t necessarily have a mustard wall and then feel I needed to find exactly the right burgundy to go with it,' Russell advises. 'It’s much nicer to work with variations like ochre, tobacco and warm yellow alongside rust, oxblood and deep red. That slight mismatch is what makes a room feel layered rather than decorated.'

'I also like one color to do more of the work. In this room, the ochre is the backdrop and the burgundy comes through much more strongly in the furniture, so they’re not fighting for attention. And then I’d bring in plenty of things that aren’t really ‘colors’ at all, so old/dark wood, aged brass, natural linen, dark brown, ceramics.'

While deep red and yellow aren't a typical kitchen color combination, they're a great way to introduce depth and character to the cooking space. Hence, interior designer Lucinda Kellaway applied a pink-tinted burgundy paint to this kitchen island and used a pale mustard shade on the kitchen cabinetry.

'I wanted the kitchen to feel warm and welcoming, but with a bit of drama. The rich burgundy island brings depth and character, while the yellow is softer and sunnier for balance,' Lucinda explains. 'Yellow and burgundy certainly seem to be a combination to watch right now, but they’re also colors with heritage roots and real longevity. I think we’re all becoming braver with color again, which is lovely!'

When pairing the two together, refrain from being too literal. 'I wouldn’t try to match the accessories too closely,' adds Lucinda. 'I’d bring in natural materials like wood, warm whites, and a little pattern to create contrast. The aim is for everything to feel layered and considered, rather than overly coordinated.'

When bringing two rich shades like mustard and deep red into the home, paint expert Helen says it's crucial to let one color lead. 'To create balance between these saturated shades, use the 60:30:10 rule – allowing one color to take the lead, the other to work as an accent, and a warm neutral to anchor the scheme.'

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Color of the Year season is officially underway, and the next paint brand to unveil its hue of choice is Sherwin-Williams, revealing Celery SW 6421, a crisp pale green, as its 2027 Color of the Year.

Light, bright, and refreshingly zingy, Celery is a soothing, cool-toned green with soft yellow notes. It's not the first green to be announced as a Color of the Year so far; in fact, 2027 color trends are filled with earthy, organic hues rooted in nature. Iconic British paint brand Dulux announced Soulful Sage as their Color of the Year, and Behr has chosen a moody olive shade, Grounded.

But Celery isn't a sage, nor is it an olive. This is a pale, almost yellow green that's fresh rather than the muted hues we have been seeing so much of. 'Celery has a lightness and freshness that gives green a new energy for 2027,' explains Ashley Banbury, Color Marketing Manager at Sherwin-Williams. 'It's a soft, fresh yellow-green with subtle warmth, so it feels uplifting without becoming overly bright or saturated. That balance makes it especially livable. Celery can bring a gentle wash of color to a room while maintaining the airy, comfortable quality homeowners often look for in everyday spaces.'

While sage green paints are excellent at grounding a scheme, brighter, paler shades like Celery can be just as soothing. 'Green is one of those colors that feels instantly familiar because we're surrounded by it in nature,' Ashley explains. 'That connection can make green especially comfortable to live with in the home; it brings color into a room while still feeling grounded and approachable.'

'There's also incredible range within the green paint family,' Ashley adds, 'from deep, enveloping forest tones to softer, more uplifting shades. That versatility gives homeowners an opportunity to embrace green in a way that feels authentic to their personal style while creating spaces that feel connected to the outdoors.'

What makes Celery feel like more of a fresh take on green is its soft but bright yellow undertones. It has a vibrancy that popular olive and sage shades do not, making it perfect for spaces in need of a little brightness.

That's not to say you can't give this paint some grounding and earthiness; it's a versatile shade that can change depending on what you layer it with. 'Celery is incredibly versatile when it comes to building a palette around it,' explains Ashley. 'For a light and relaxed look, I love pairing it with breathable neutrals like White Flour SW 7102 or Woven Wicker SW 9104. If you want to create more depth, earthy shades like Artichoke SW 6179 and Cocoon SW 6173 reinforce Celery's connection to nature, while Georgian Bay SW 6509 (pictured above) introduces a richer contrast.'

By considering the colors that go with green, you can choose to go bold or subtle with Celery. 'You can also take the palette in a more expressive direction with Kirsch Red SW 6313 or Plum Brown SW 6272 for warmth and sophistication,' Ashley suggests, 'or Potentially Purple SW 6821 and Cosmos SW 6528 for softer, unexpected accents. Celery gives you a fresh foundation that can be styled in many different ways.'

'Celery shows that our connection to nature isn't going away, but the way we're interpreting nature-inspired color is evolving,' Ashley continues. 'We're moving toward hues that still provide a sense of comfort and restoration but also bring more freshness, lightness, and personality into the home. Rather than creating spaces that feel overly styled or perfect, there's an emphasis on interiors that feel welcoming, layered and reflective of everyday life.'

Calming colors like pale greens are a wise choice if you're looking to create a sense of tranquility in your space. 'Celery captures that mood because it feels calming and familiar while still offering enough energy to make a space feel renewed,' she adds.

'It also has an organic character that allows it to work beautifully across styles, whether paired with clean contemporary finishes, vintage-inspired pieces or natural materials and textures.'

The Celery Shopping Edit

Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year is refreshing yet equally livable. It's pale enough to feel subtle, yet bright enough to catch the eye and inspire, uplift, and soothe as soon as you enter a space.

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Pioneering paint brand Lick has launched an eight-shade palette, inspired by the shift towards more personal, collected interiors. Featuring three new paint colours alongside a handful of familiar favourites, the 'A Soulful Home' palette provides comfort through colour.

Whilst the palette aligns with 2027 colour trends, its liveability is what makes it unique. 'When we started thinking about the 2027 Colour Edit, I kept coming back to the idea that the most successful homes are the ones that feel completely connected to the people living in them,' Tash Bradley, Director of Interior Design at Lick, tells Homes & Gardens. 'You can walk into a room and almost immediately sense when it has been designed around someone's real life rather than around an image of what a beautiful home is supposed to be.'

'That became the starting point for A Soulful Home. We wanted to explore how colour can help create that emotional layer within an interior – the warmth, familiarity and personality that makes somewhere feel like your home.'

The eight-shade paint edit balances vibrancy with calming hues, perfect for creating a lasting scheme that inspires and endures. The palette features Blue 05, soothing Green 09, classic White 03, grounding Brown 02, and moody Teal 03. Three new shades are joining the palette, too: rich Red 07, bold Green 23, and calming Pink 14.

'We're surrounded by so much visual inspiration now that it's incredibly easy to know what everybody else's homes look like,' explains Tash. 'But I think the interesting shift for 2027 is that we're beginning to turn that attention back onto ourselves: What colours am I naturally drawn to? What memories do they bring back? What environments make me feel at my best? How do I actually want to live in this room?'

The Soulful Home edit is filled with room colour ideas based on feel as well as look. 'The palette has been built around those different emotional needs,' Tash adds. 'You have the cocooning depth of Red 07, the grounding quality of Brown 02, the nurturing softness of Pink 14, the restorative feeling of Green 09, alongside the joy of Green 23, the uplifting quality of Blue 05 and the stimulating richness of Teal 03, all given breathing space by warm White 03.'

'And there's a reason we've created an edit of eight colours rather than declaring one single colour of the year. We very rarely experience colour in isolation. The feeling of a colour changes according to what you put beside it, the materials around it, the light, and even the proportion in which you use it. We wanted to give people a palette they could interpret rather than a trend they had to follow.'

The most timeless paint colours are those you're drawn to. These eight shades reflect colour trends, yet provide comfort and familiarity that will last beyond a year. Saturated, rich, and ultimately grounding, they're shades that work side by side or solo.

'You might be drawn to three of these colours; someone else might choose a completely different four. That's the point. Soul isn't an aesthetic. It's personal,' Tash explains. 'So although these colours reflect where we believe design and culture are heading in 2027, they're really an invitation to look inward rather than outward. Instead of asking, ‘What should my home look like?’, it's about asking, ‘What do I want my home to give back to me?'

'What I love about these eight colours is that there's this wonderful overarching warmth to them – and I don't simply mean that they're all ‘warm colours’. There's a warmth in the feeling of the palette. Before you even look at the palette, my advice would be to work out the purpose of the space you're decorating – and I don't just mean whether it's a kitchen, bedroom, or living room. Think about the life that actually happens there.'

When bringing the palette into your home, Tash advises to start by considering how you use each room. 'I'd start building a palette of perhaps three or four colours, rather than thinking that every shade needs to appear as paint,' she says. 'That's another reason we create an eight-colour edit: colour is relational. Change the proportion or placement of a colour, and you can completely change how it feels.'

'For example, you might fall in love with Pink 14 and use that as the dominant colour across the walls of a living room. Then look to Brown 02 as inspiration for the sofa or a beautiful piece of furniture, and bring in Teal 03 as a smaller accent through a rug, cushion, artwork or lamp. Suddenly you've taken three colours from the same edit but interpreted them entirely through your own furniture and possessions.'

'That's what I want people to have fun with. Don't think of the Colour Edit as eight paint colours that need to go onto eight walls,' she says. 'Think of it as the starting point for the entire room. Pull those shades through upholstery, rugs, curtains, ceramics, artwork, natural materials and pieces you already own.'

You could even take the full palette and allow it to travel through the house, changing the hierarchy from room to room. One shade becomes dominant here, another appears as an accent there, and suddenly there's a subtle thread connecting the whole home without every room looking the same.'

Built upon emotion rather than fleeting trends, A Soulful Home is filled with emotive, comforting, and restorative hues that serve a purpose greater than just aesthetics. 'Ultimately, a soulful home isn't something you can copy,' Tash says. 'It's built from the colours, objects, routines and little everyday moments that mean something to you. Work out how you want to live first, and then use colour to support that feeling.'

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Heritage paint brand Little Greene has added 27 new comforting colors to its books. Refreshingly current yet rooted in the past, each new paint feels distinct but quietly connected – responding to the color trends of the moment while drawing on palettes that have endured for centuries.

The new paints are scattered among Little Greene's Colors of England and Color Scales collections. From orange-infused ochres to light-changing teal-meets-green, these timeless paints bring warmth, comfort, and gentle saturation into the home.

'Color trends are always an evolution rather than a revolution,' Creative Director of Little Greene, Ruth Mottershead, tells Homes & Gardens. 'Over the past decade we've watched the mood move through rich blues into teals, then softer neutral greens, then bold yellows that deepened into ochres and caramels, before settling into stone-based neutrals and indulgent browns.'

'For the latest colors, we had really noticed consumers looking for balance,' she explains. 'If you imagine today's most-loved neutrals sitting on a pH scale, they'd sit right in the middle at a five or six, neither too warm nor too cool.'

Six new colors feature in the Colors of England collection, a line inspired by English history and heritage. Ashes of Marigold, a retro orange, represents the defining colors of the 1970s. 'Over the past decade, color trends have slowly drifted away from pure bright orange ‘Marigold’, whilst warm terracotta tones and burnt orange shades have become more popular,' says Ruth. 'Our new Ashes of Marigold carries the vibrancy of orange, yet is tempered with a subtle touch of black. It reads more as a gentle, earthy terracotta rather than a vibrant statement color.'

Shades like Perpetual Blue feel just as rooted in the past. 'I'm particularly drawn to Perpetual Blue at the moment,' says Ruth. 'It's taken from a surviving paint palette belonging to Winston Churchill, from his studio at Chartwell. It's a mid to deep blue with a touch of green running through it, so it responds beautifully to changing light throughout the day. It would work wonderfully color-drenched in a study, or used more sparingly as a grounding note against softer neutrals.'

For those who enjoy decorating with neutrals, Parlour, a plaster hue with pink notes, is light, fresh, and enduring. Inspired by the parlour room at Dyrham Park near Bath, the pale pink paint is perfect for schemes that need an uplift. 'There's an appetite for fresh, gelato-toned pastels, gentle, characterful colors like Floss and Parlour that feel joyful without ever being overpowering,' adds Ruth.

Next comes the twenty-one new hues featured in the Color Scales collection. The warm neutral Barge Stone – a complex, green-infused beige is available from light to dark. Barge Stone grew directly out of the popularity of our Portland Stone, says Ruth. The citron green Boxington has also been expanded into a graduated Color Scales family, a reduced lime with a touch of red oxide of iron, elegant in dining rooms and hallways.

'These 27 new colors sit at the next point along that story,' says Ruth. 'We've taken the red oxide and intense heat out of our caramels and burnt oranges to create gentler shades with less intensity, and we've moved away from the colder greens and blues that were so popular a few years ago, in favor of warmer versions like Celestial Blue, Boxington and Hammock. So yes, they very much respond to where color is heading, but they're also simply an honest reflection of what we're already seeing and feeling ourselves.'

'Trends never really jump; we notice shifts, and if you look back, you can trace those changes in the use of color,' Ruth explains. 'In 2016 we saw a lot of blue, which had grown out of a love of gray in the early 2010s. That moved through rich blues into teals, then softer neutral greens, then into bold yellows that deepened into ochres and caramels, and more recently into stone-based neutrals and indulgent browns. This transitioned into burgundy, deep reds, pinks and aubergine, colors that bring such a lovely sense of intimacy and quiet grandeur to a room.'

'At the same time, we noticed people pulling away from the caramels and chocolate browns that had been so loved a few years ago, wanting something with a little less heat and intensity. Marle is another favorite of mine,' she adds. 'It's a luxurious mid-tone brown, heavy on yellow ochre but softened right down with plenty of black. Used all over, it creates the most cocooning, intimate feeling in a room. I love it in a bathroom paired with Mochi on the opposite wall.'

Little Greene's twenty-seven new paint colors balance both emerging trends and what homeowners want right now, along with timeless classics that will never date. Each has its own place in the collection, inspired by either the heritage hues that defined the past or the shades that are most popular today.

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Heritage and modern design may seem like two entirely different worlds, but the right color palette can effortlessly bridge the gap between the two.

Designed to bring old and new together, paint brand Sherwin-Williams has created its Modern Heritage palette, offering an easy way to give traditional architecture a contemporary edge – or add a timeless feel to more modern spaces. Blending a handful of classic shades with some of today’s most appealing color trends, it strikes the perfect balance for anyone who loves both looks.

'The Modern Heritage palette celebrates the enduring appeal of classic design through a fresh contemporary lens,' says Emily Kantz, Color Marketing Manager at Sherwin-Williams. 'Rooted in timeless architectural details, artisanal craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for history, this aesthetic reinterprets tradition with richer, more saturated hues that bring renewed energy to a space. Rather than recreating the past, Modern Heritage evolves it.'

'It was inspired by a growing desire to reconnect with the enduring qualities of home: craftsmanship, permanence, and a sense of place,' says Emily. 'As homeowners move beyond the pursuit of perfectly minimalist interiors, there is a renewed appreciation for spaces that feel layered, personal, and rich with meaning. The palette draws influence from heritage pigments found in historic homes, classic textiles, and timeworn materials, then reimagines them with greater saturation and sophistication. Rich blue, earthy green, and warm neutrals evoke a sense of familiarity while introducing a fresh level of depth and character. These colors feel rooted in history, yet contemporary in their application.'

That balance between old and new is at the heart of the Modern Heritage palette. Earthy greens, timeless navy, and warm neutrals create a comforting foundation, while richer, more expressive shades add depth and personality. The result feels collected and characterful rather than overly traditional.

Among the softer shades is Mortar, a warm off-white that brings an inviting sense of calm, alongside Rose Tan, a muted pink warmed with orange undertones. For those craving a little more color, Bunglehouse Blue offers a mid-blue softened by gray undertones, while Pennywise delivers a sophisticated burnt orange. Completing the collection is Nocturne, a complex charcoal gray that adds a dramatic, grounding note.

Together, the shades make a compelling case for bringing a little more history, warmth, and character into our homes – without sacrificing a contemporary feel.

When bringing the palette into your home, consider using bolder shades like Pennywise, Nocturne, or Bunglehouse Blue selectively, allowing the warmer, more grounding tones to form the foundation of your scheme.

'Use these shades to highlight architectural details like millwork, paneling, built-ins, and cabinetry, bringing character and depth to a space,' suggests Emily. 'Pair them with warm neutrals, natural woods, and layered textures for a look that feels collected and timeless. For added personality, mix in unexpected accent colors and furnishings that blend classic and contemporary influences.'

It's an approach that celebrates character rather than chasing perfection. 'Ornamental moldings, paneled millwork, vintage-inspired furnishings, and handcrafted materials are paired with confident color choices that feel expressive, collected, and highly individual,' adds Emily.

To balance the palette's richer, more vibrant shades, bring in organic materials that enhance their warmth and create a sense of depth. Think upholstered linen furniture, natural wood, and warm-toned kitchen cabinetry.

'The Modern Heritage palette pairs beautifully with authentic, timeless materials that emphasize craftsmanship and character,' Emily says. 'Woods with visible grain, such as walnut, oak, and chestnut, complement the palette’s richness, while aged brass, antique bronze, and natural stone add depth and permanence. Textural elements like wool, leather, and handcrafted ceramics bring warmth and a lived-in quality that feels both refined and approachable.'

The good news is that you don't need to rethink your entire approach to color to embrace the Modern Heritage look. Many shades you may already be considering can work beautifully alongside the palette; the key is to look within similar color families to create a cohesive, balanced scheme.

'For supporting hues, warm neutrals, earthy browns, muted greens, and deep blues create a balanced foundation, allowing the palette’s more saturated colors to shine. Together, these materials and tones create spaces that feel layered, collected, and enduringly relevant,' adds Emily.

Blending timeless paint colors with a few unexpected shades, Sherwin-Williams' Modern Heritage palette feels perfectly suited to the way we want our homes to look and feel today. It brings together the best of current color trends with familiar, enduring hues that offer warmth, comfort, and plenty of character – proving that traditional and contemporary style can work beautifully in the same space.

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Choosing the right neutral for your kitchen can be a challenge, especially with so many options. From whites and creams to beiges and even light browns, the variety can be overwhelming. But right now, one palette reigns supreme: mushroom hues.

It's a kitchen color that ticks all the boxes – warm, creamy, and decidedly elegant, mushroom hues are key to creating an inviting kitchen that's actually timeless. And designers say it's a trend worth paying attention to.

Here's why mushroom kitchen colors are having a moment, why they work so well in this hardworking room, and the best ways to bring them into your design. And don't worry – these spaces prove just how enduring the look really is.

What are Mushroom Kitchen Colors?

Fungi might not seem like the most elegant point of inspiration, but mushroom colors are more appealing than you might think. Sitting in the mid-neutral palette, these shades are the neutral answer to the dirty kitchen color trend we've all been obsessed with recently.

'Mushroom paint colors are warmer neutrals that blend taupe, gray, and brown. They are muddy colors with an earthy warmth – they don’t fall as warm as a beige but aren’t quite brown either. Colors like Kingsport Gray HC-86, Thunder AF-685, and Inner Balance 1522 are a few colors I consider mushroom hues,' says Arianna Barone, Color Marketing Manager at Benjamin Moore.

'Mushroom colors are definitely having a moment right now, but I actually think they’ve been around for a while,' adds interior designer Alexa Kingery. 'The beautiful part of using an earthy-mushroom tone is that it’s rooted in nature, and nature never goes out of style. Mushroom colors can vary from a soft, creamy, light beige to a muddy taupe or brown.'

Why They're Trending

Mushroom-inspired colors feel aligned with how kitchen design is being approached right now. They create a warm, inviting atmosphere that takes a kitchen beyond a purely functional zone and creates a timeless base you won't tire of.

'I think people are still recovering from the modern farmhouse epidemic where everything is harsh black hardware on stark white cabinets. Don’t get me wrong, at Alexa Kingery Interiors we still love a beautiful farmhouse aesthetic – we’re just doing it in much softer tones,' says Alexa.

'Overall, we are seeing people lean towards bringing warmer hues into their homes. Mushroom paint colors can be a great color palette staple,' Arianna agrees. 'For kitchens, in particular, people are no longer defaulting to white. Off-whites will always be a timeless choice for a kitchen, but this space also offers a great opportunity to bring in other hues, whether that is on the cabinets or walls.'

It's also a great palette if you want to bring warmth to your cooking space without leaning fully into the deeper browns that are proving popular. It's a neutral option that bridges the gap between pure whites and moodier tones, so it doesn't feel too different from the pared-back colors people are comfortable decorating with.

'People are definitely gravitating toward warmer, earthier palettes right now; going fully brown can feel a bit heavy or inadvertently lean into a retro 1970s look. Mushroom offers the perfect middle ground. It feels more intentional and characterful than falling back on a standard white or stark greige, providing a sophisticated warmth without overwhelming the space,' interior designer Pernille Lind explains.

In many ways, the appeal of mushroom kitchen colors reverts to nature as inspiration for our interiors, with shades that balance depth and interest with soft, timeless design. They feel layered yet still neutral, warmer yet not overwhelming. And their impact on a room, especially a kitchen where different finishes and materials come together, can't be ignored.

'When you use softer colors rooted in nature, it tends to make a room feel cozier, more inviting, and honestly… timeless. I truly think ever since the pandemic, people are simply craving comfort,' Alexa notes. 'In today’s economic and political climate, life can be hard enough. So instead of the cold and lifeless black and white, people are reintroducing beauty, color, and life back into their homes!'

How To Bring Mushroom Hues Into Your Kitchen

These warm neutrals are surprisingly easy to decorate with, especially in a kitchen. For a truly classic design, you can't go wrong with cabinets painted in mushroom hues with classic marble countertops – it's an elevated duo that never dates.

'One of our favourite colors for a kitchen, it seems to work wherever it goes, soft and warm yet light enough for even the darkest of corners,' says Helen Parker, Creative Director of deVOL Kitchens. 'The classic combination of Carrara marble and mushroom paint is always perfect. It's almost a deVOL look in itself and has graced hundreds of our most coveted rooms.'

If you've gone for a deeper kitchen cabinet color, this warm neutral on the walls creates a subtle background. 'Consider lighter mushroom paint colors for the walls to pair with darker kitchen cabinets. They can help soften and brighten the kitchen if you choose a bolder cabinet color,' Arianna suggests.

It's a color palette that works beautifully alongside wooden kitchens, too, bringing out the warmth while providing a soft contrast. 'My tried-and-true way to incorporate mushroom colors into a kitchen is by using Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams alongside a rich medium-brown stained wood species,' says Alexa. 'If you’re feeling brave, you could go even richer with a color like Virtual Taupe by Sherwin-Williams.'

It's not just the main kitchen this color thrives in, either. 'It works exceptionally well on kitchen joinery, and applying it to secondary spaces, like pantries or breakfast nooks, instantly makes those areas feel cozier and more intimate,' adds Pernille, who also recommends warm mushroom tones for kitchen woodwork as 'an elegant way to anchor the room.'

Shop the Look

As far as neutral kitchens go, mushroom hues are a warm, elegant choice. It's a color that translates beautifully in kitchens of every style and size, and pairs seamlessly with the finishes and materials used throughout cooking spaces.

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Heritage interiors brand Graham & Brown has announced 'Rose Earth' as its 2027 Color of the Year. Grounding, restorative, and effortlessly comforting, this muted dusty pink offers an early glimpse at the paint and color trends set to shape interiors in the year ahead.

'Our in-house design team works a year ahead, closely monitoring lifestyle and interiors trends to anticipate the colors and styles that will resonate with our community,' says Iona Graham, Brand & Marketing Controller and fourth generation of the Graham family. 'We began seeing a strong shift towards warmer and earthier tones, which helped select Rose Earth as our Color of the Year for 2027.'

While plaster-pink shades enjoyed a major moment in interiors a few years ago, Graham & Brown's latest pick proves that our love for muted, earthy hues is far from over. Rose Earth feels warmer and more grounded, bringing a subtle depth to the soft pink trend and making it easy to imagine in both contemporary and more traditional spaces.

Alongside its Color of the Year, Graham & Brown has also unveiled its Design of the Year, 'Roselle Grove' – a rich floral pattern inspired by Chintz – and its Mural of the Year, 'Red Rose County', which takes its cues from the rolling Lancashire landscape.

'The studio expects this versatile shade to make a real impact throughout 2027 and beyond,' Paula Taylor, Stylist at Graham & Brown, tells Homes & Gardens. 'Reflecting the growing desire for interiors and colors that feel warm, inviting, and grounded. As consumers move away from cooler, minimalist schemes, we're seeing an increasing appetite for colors that bring comfort, authenticity and a sense of connection to the home.'

It's easy to see why. With its warm, plaster-like quality, Rose Earth brings a gentle sense of comfort to almost any scheme. A neutral with character, muted pinks are a smart choice for spaces that need a little more depth and warmth without tipping into anything too dark or moody.

'Rose Earth captures this shift perfectly, combining the natural warmth of clay-inspired tones with a timeless elegance that works across a variety of styles and spaces,' says Paula.

And much like the recent resurgence of the sun-faded pastel trend, this softer take on pink looks set to have staying power. 'Warm, chalky plaster tones are emerging as the new neutrals for 2027,' adds Paula. 'Their understated warmth and versatility make them an ideal foundation for a wide range of color palettes, creating a sense of softness and quiet sophistication within the home.'

'These muted, earthy shades also reflect the growing desire for interiors that promote wellbeing and connection to nature,' adds Paula. 'Rooted in biophilic design principles, colors inspired by clay, stone and natural minerals help bring a feeling of balance and tranquillity indoors.'

Consider textures and colors that go with pink when introducing Rose Earth into your scheme. 'Ultra-matte finishes and raw, tactile textures will be key for the season ahead, making Rose Earth particularly effective on textured surfaces where natural light can enhance its depth and warmth,' Paula advises. 'Pair it with organic materials such as wood, stone and linen, alongside soft sage or olive greens, to create a beautifully calm and restorative atmosphere.'

'For a more immersive look, consider color capping to create a cocooning effect. Using tonal shades from the same color family across walls, ceilings and woodwork adds depth and sophistication,' she adds. 'For example, a rich warm brown such as Elderton can be used as a grounding shade, gradually transitioning into Rose Earth to create a seamless and enveloping scheme.'

'You could also pair it with wallpaper to bring character to the room, with our Design of the Year, Roselle Grove, or Mural of the Year, Red Rose County.'

Rose Earth Shopping Edit

Inspired by Rose Earth's warm, earthy take on pink? Explore our edit of the best pink paints for more ways to bring this versatile shade into your home.

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Dulux has announced its 2027 Colour of the Year as ‘Soulful Sage’. Calming, restorative, and oh-so-versatile, this light and uplifting green offers an exciting glimpse at the colour trends set to dominate in 2027.

Soulful Sage sits at the heart of three new curated colour stories by Dulux: 'Glow', 'Light' and 'Lift'. Anchoring all three colour collections, Soulful Sage is described as 'an ethereal, soft and silvery green designed to help us ‘Live Lightly’'.

Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director and Colour Expert at Dulux, says, 'Our overarching theme, ‘Live Lightly’, reflects what we feel people need from their homes right now. With increasingly busy lives, information overload, and a world that can often feel quite heavy, our homes should provide a counterbalance – somewhere we can switch off, reconnect, and make room for moments of joy. Soulful Sage captures that feeling beautifully; its soft, silvery quality brings a sense of lightness while retaining that reassuring connection to the natural world.'

Proving the enduring influence of the natural world on interior design trends, Soulful Sage celebrates nature's restorative, calming power and highlights how our homes can be designed as places of sanctuary and calm. Embodying a sense of ‘innocence, freshness, and rejuvenation,' the beauty of decorating with a green tone such as Soulful Sage is that it can effortlessly integrate into homes of all ages, styles, and sizes.

Marianne continues, 'Soulful Sage can feel warm and nurturing alongside earthy tones, peaceful and restorative with quieter shades, or fresh and energising with more joyful colours. That adaptability made it the perfect shade to sit at the heart of our three colour stories, Glow, Light and Lift – giving people different ways to create a lighter home for a lighter life.'

A colour that represents healing, freshness, balance and nature, Dulux's Soulful Sage signifies the importance of creating a restorative and relaxing home in 2027.

As part of the Soulful Sage Colour of the Year announcement, Dulux has launched three accompanying colour stories: Glow, Light and Lift. These easy-to-use palettes offer different inspiration for how to decorate with Soulful Sage in your home. From being paired with contrasting, warming earth tones to similar light and understated shades, the colour collections have been created to bring 'a versatile foundation for creating interiors that feel warm and nurturing, quiet and restorative, or joyful and inspiring.'

We explore the three different looks below.

The Glow Colour Palette

The Glow palette has been designed to enrich Soulful Sage with cosy and warm contrast. 'Clay, terracotta, stone – these have been the building blocks of home for generations, and their colours feel authentic, familiar and comforting. Our Glow colour story combines these warm earth tones with uplifting lilac and the ethereal Soulful Sage to encapsulate cosiness.'

Shades in the Glow palette include: Belgian Chocolate, Clay Walls, Pebble Sea, Cinnamon Sprinkle, Violet Storm, Waxed Wood, Sunbaked Cherry, Spiced Honey, Slumber Seed.

The Light Colour Palette

The Light palette has been designed to create a grounding and healing space, matching the light and breezy feel of Soulful Sage. 'Airy and understated, these neutral browns, greys and blues make the perfect backdrop for a simple, visually uncluttered scheme in any home. Our Light colour story combines these quiet, pale tones with darker shades and Soulful Sage for a pared-back, healing feel.'

Shades include: Double Espresso, Nordic Waters, Earl Blue, Volcanic Sand, Arctic Pebble, Faded Indigo, Whispered Blue, Ashen White, Slow Living.

The Lift Colour Palette

Rich with vivid and bright tones, the Lift palette has been designed to work with Soulful Sage to create a joyful and bold scheme. 'A mix of yellowy ochres and soft pinks, with the ethereal Soulful Sage, our Lift colour story is optimistic and uplifting. These positive tones can help you create an inspiring, light-hearted feel and fill your home with a little bit of wonder.'

Shades include: Taupe Pink, Hemp Cloth, Faded Damson, Moss Agate, Fern Forest, Hushed Grey, Potter's Clay, Honey Bear, Smokewood Taupe.

What Does Soulful Sage Mean for 2027 Colour Trends?

Dulux's 2026 Colour of the Year, a palette of three paints named 'Rhythm of Blues', also took inspiration from the beauty of the natural world. However, Soulful Sage offers a lighter, more subtle expression of nature for 2027.

Elegant and calming, and far from intense or domineering, Soulful Sage brings a sense of lightness and tranquillity to the home, reflecting a growing desire to create spaces that feel calm, simple, and connected to the outdoors.

As we continue to adapt and rethink our interior spaces in response to the world around us, the launch of Soulful Sage suggests that creating a sense of calm at home will remain a key design priority for next year's trends. It speaks to our desire for spaces that feel restful yet uplifting – interiors that offer a welcome sense of escape while still feeling fresh and contemporary.

Colours with connections to nature have long endured in the world of design, but as we look towards 2027, it will be interesting to see how decorating with green evolves, with the launch of Soulful Sage marking a shift towards a quieter, more understated approach to green room ideas.

Soulful Sage Shopping Edit

For more decorating inspiration, explore our edit of the best sage green paints .

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2027 is shaping up to be an exciting year for interiors, with playful yet assured color trends that feel as timeless as they are characterful. Purple is making a welcome return, spanning everything from soft, muted mauve to deep aubergine, while earthy hues that bring a sense of calm and grounding are coming back into focus, too.

If last year's color trends were defined by confidence, 2027's room color ideas feel equally bold, but with an enduring quality that makes them easy to live with. Rich plums, sun-faded pastels, warm mustards, and organic greens are already emerging as standout shades, bringing just the right amount of saturation and personality to a scheme without overwhelming it.

The Color Trends to Watch Out for in 2027

From quietly uplifting pastels to deeper, moodier tones, these are the seven colors interior designers are most excited about for 2027. Expect to see them shaping interiors throughout the year ahead – and well beyond it.

1. Muted Mauves

The mauve color trend is only getting more popular in 2027. Think lavender, with a little pink thrown in. Sophisticated and grounding, it's a shade that's made a welcome return in recent months.

'I think we'll see a real shift toward colors with depth and complexity rather than a single “it” hue,' explains designer Michelle Murphy, founder of Demi Ryan Interiors. 'Think muted mauves and dusty pinks moving out of just bedrooms and into living spaces, greens, and warm, near-black bronze tones for cabinetry and trim. People want color that feels emotionally grounded. Earthy, mineral, and lived-in, rather than color chosen purely to be on trend.'

'My rule is to bring trending colors through things that are easy to change like pillows, art, a powder room, or an accent wall,' adds Michelle. 'Keeping the big, expensive items to change surfaces in colors with real staying power. If a client falls in love with a trend color for something permanent, I'll push it toward a deeper, more muted version rather than the brightest version. In my opinion, that’s what keeps a room feeling current five years later instead of dated in two years.'

2. Mustard Yellow

Decorating with yellow might sound a little bold, but rich, warm, and comforting mustard couldn't be further from overbearing. Whether you're committing to a cocooning paint idea or experimenting with a few mustard accents, it's a hue worth considering.

'I think mustard yellow is going to have a big moment,' says designer Elizabeth Burch. 'We’ve been moving toward warmer, muddier colors for a while, and mustard feels like a natural next step. It has enough brown in it that it can almost act as a neutral, but it still brings so much personality to a room. I especially love it with chocolate brown, burgundy, olive green and even a really good blue. It feels nostalgic without feeling dated.'

'I don’t think you should ever use a color just because you think it will be "timeless" in the long run,' adds Elizabeth. 'If you would have loved mustard yellow five years ago and think you’ll still love it five years from now, use it. The most timeless rooms are usually the ones that feel collected rather than designed around one particular moment. Bring trendier colors in alongside antiques, original art and pieces you’ve owned for years, and they become part of the room'

3. Deep Plum

Whether you're decorating with Farrow & Ball's Brinjal or embracing even darker purple paints, deep aubergine tones bring moody sophistication to every scheme. John Maloney McNamara of Coosa says purple will be big next year. 'Purple, but deep. Not lilac, not lavender, not anything anywhere near Barney or Grimace. I mean purple in its darkest mood: black plum, nightshade, an inky purple that's practically not purple at all.'

'After several years of gravitating toward earthy, grounded colors, dark purple feels like the richer end of that palette,' he adds, 'it has the same weight and warmth, but is decidedly less expected.'

'Lacquer it in a powder room and your reflection in the mirror gets the most flattering filter you could imagine, thanks to purple's warm undertones in combination with all that sheen. Use it in Farrow & Ball's new Dead Flat finish in your bedroom and it softly absorbs the light, wrapping the whole room – walls, woodwork and doors – in one deep, velvety wash of color. For the purple end of the spectrum, I'd look at Tonester "High at the Gala," Backdrop "McQueen," Benjamin Moore "Plum Martini" and Farrow & Ball "Paean Black": all sitting in that rich, moody territory where purple starts flirting with black.'

4. Earthy Pinks

'Earthy pinks are especially interesting because they offer a more sophisticated, grounded take on the pinks we remember from the 1980s,' says Emily Winters of Peabody’s Interiors. 'They bring warmth and character without feeling overly sweet or trendy.'

Dusky pinks are perfect when neutrals don't provide enough punch. 'Antique peony is the color I will be coming back to again and again in 2027,' says Hallie Malitsk, founder of Hallie Rose Design. 'A dusty pink with peach tones, it's not too sugary or sweet, so it works in children' s and adult spaces just as well. I recently drenched my own daughters’ bedroom in Benjamin Moore’s Odessa Pink, wrapping the walls completely. The peach undertone looks stunning next to all different wood tones. Plus, a color like this doesn’t age out of a room the way a pastel pink does.'

And with Graham & Brown's color of the year named Rose Earth, it's fair to assume that delicate pink tones will be popping up in interiors throughout 2027.

5. Pomegranate

Raspberry pink was the color of the summer, but Pomegranate, the richer, red-infused alternative, is a color trend set to crown interiors beyond the warmer months.

'Pomegranate is an unsung color that will finally get its moment in 2027,' says Courtney Klinger, founder of Studio Whitford. 'Unlike its popularized cousins, cherry red and hot pink, it has much more depth. Pomegranate leans less Barbie Pink and more Ralph Lauren. The 2026 viral social media unexpected red theory is overly formulaic; pomegranate is actually a way better option for the "unexpected" look. I love a color that can take an otherwise very serious room and add a hint of intrigue and personality by injecting this punchy tone.'

'For peek-a-boo moments like a curio cabinet or other small features, pomegranate is the ultimate color,' adds Courtney. 'You can pair it with light or dark tones. It plays well in a variety of spaces, as long as it's used strategically.'

6. Faded Pastels

Sun-faded pastels bring a quiet, gentle saturation to interiors without dominating. 'The supporting cast: natural colors that appear softened by the sun,' says John. A camel that is buttery like suede, a toasted terracotta, plus tobacco and military olive, with warm creams like Benjamin Moore's "Peau de Soie," which has the faintest blush underneath. The word I keep coming back to is dusty: colors that look as though they've mellowed for years rather than been mixed at your hardware store last Tuesday.'

'What I like about this palette is that none of it feels too precious or too perfect,' John adds. 'It has an easy, lived-in quality that works beautifully with a waxed or cerused walnut, undyed linen and honed travertine.'

'Think grounded backgrounds with crisp details,' agrees Sarah Fontanez of Pomme House. 'Earthy Terracotta with a slice of citron. Deep ochre with a sliver of powder sky blue. Bring in complex, saturated hues that aren’t straightforward – memorable colors that surround and uplift the spirit.'

7. Organic Greens

From the gray-green color trend to earthier, dark sages, nature-inspired greens have been cropping up in many homes, but it is further cemented as a key trend since Behr's 2027 Color of the Year was revealed. A deep olive green called Grounded suggests that we're all craving comforting, organic tones that soothe.

'I think we’re going to be shifting towards deeper and richer greens with brown undertones,' says designer Kelly Bartley. 'I’ve been referring to this color as safari green. We’ve seen so much olive and sage green in the past years, which have almost become defaults – and I think we’re craving something with more depth.'

'This color can give you the serenity we all need while also bringing in a pop that isn't a scream of color. It's a neutral; it's a color, all at once. This isn't a wall color; it'd make a room too dark. But for textiles – upholstered seating and pillows it is incredible. Specifically with velvet and mohair, which have a subtle sheen, safari green becomes incredibly vibrant in a subtle way.'

Colorful Shopping Picks

Taking inspiration from color trends is a great way to influence your home's design, but choose shades that speak to you. 'Trends can be a great source of inspiration, but creating a timeless home comes down to choosing colors that feel authentic to the people living in the space,' says Emily Kantz, Color Marketing Manager at Sherwin-Williams.

'Rather than redesigning an entire room around a trend, consider introducing emerging colors in ways that complement the home's existing architecture, materials and furnishings. Tonal layering can also be an approachable way to experiment with color, using varying depths and complementary hues to add dimension while maintaining a cohesive feel. Ultimately, the most enduring palettes are those that balance what's current with colors you genuinely enjoy living with.'

An autumnal bedroom should be one thing above all: deeply comforting. While low lighting, soft layers, and tactile fabrics can instantly make a sleep space feel cozier for fall, rich, grounding colors are what truly transform a room into a warm, cocooning retreat.

And a cozy bedroom doesn't have to follow a predictable fall color scheme. You can create an inviting, enveloping space without a hint of pumpkin orange or traditional burgundy. In 2026, designers are embracing some of the season's familiar moody hues, but they're also introducing unexpected shades that feel fresh, sophisticated, and just as suited to the season – offering a refreshing take on fall color trends.

Fall Bedroom Color Schemes

From all-gray, cabin-inspired retreats to bedrooms wrapped in warm neutrals, these are the three color palettes designers are choosing this year – and the combinations that could make your bedroom feel instantly more inviting.

1. Gray Green

Gray-green might not typically be included amongst fall trends, but they work just as well as the usual color culprits. Moody, heritage-inspired gray paint is perfect for creating an enveloping feel. Think Jojo's Green by Coat Paints or Millstone Gray by Benjamin Moore.

'This is the guest bedroom (pictured above), up in the attic of a house in Portland', explains Interior Designer Jessica Helgerson. 'The clients are British, and it feels at the same time very right for them, but also right for the Pacific Northwest. It looks out onto tall cedar trees, and we wanted to echo the gray-green of the trees while also creating a welcoming, cozy cocoon of a room. It’s really more of a green than a gray, and it feels calming, cozy, and welcoming.'

To keep the scheme balanced, Jessica scattered earthy tones. 'The decor (pillows, bedding, rug, curtains, wallpaper) all have warm golden and blush tones that help to balance the cool background color of the room,' she says.

2. Warm Neutrals

Decorating with neutrals doesn't need to be reserved for summer. Interior Designer Niamh O'Sullivan, Founder of Studio Kiri, proves this with a recent bedroom project. 'As a north-facing space, it was important that the palette worked with the natural light rather than making the room feel darker,' she says. 'The brief was to create something light, refined and luxurious, so I drew on earthy tones but pitched them at the softer end of the spectrum. Pale olive, warm brown and muted orange sit alongside a predominantly cream, beige and white base, creating a space that feels calm and light while still having warmth and character.'

'A fall palette doesn’t have to be dark or moody. It’s really about the undertones and the colors you layer alongside your neutrals,' Niamh says. 'Olive, ochre, rust and warm brown can all bring that autumnal quality to a room, while a lighter neutral base keeps it feeling soft and airy. You can scale the richness and depth of those colors up or down depending on the overall atmosphere you want to create.'

'The neutral paint (Dimity by Farrow & Ball) became an anchor for the rest of the design. We layered different textures and carefully placed color against the pale backdrop, keeping the palette restrained. When you're working with fewer colors and patterns, every element has to work that little bit harder, so each choice was very considered.'

3. Ochre Orange

A cozy bedroom wouldn't be complete without a little orange. This luxurious sleep space comes to life with the ochre-infused orange linen wallpaper. Its designers, Ika Ramel and Sanna Nathanson, Founders of Studio Ramson, explain the power of deep orange.

'The façades visible through the windows became a natural starting point for the palette. We wanted the interior to have a dialogue with its surroundings, almost bringing the colors of the exterior into the room. We loved the idea of letting that warm, burnt orange tone take over the space. It’s quite a bold choice, but at the same time it creates a very calm and harmonious feeling.'

'The walls are actually not painted, but covered in Dedar’s Natural Chintz linen wallpaper,' Ika and Sanna explain. 'We chose it not only for its color, but also for the beautiful depth and texture of the linen. It gives the walls a softer, more nuanced quality and changes subtly with the light throughout the day.' While the fabric wallpaper brings a beautiful snugness to the bedroom, paints like the Long Room by Paint & Paper Library or Benjamin Moore's Masada.

'Warmth was one of the key words for the entire apartment and an important part of the client’s brief,' add Ika and Sanna. 'The burnt orange became an anchor for that feeling. We used it as a starting point for building a palette, introducing different tones, textures and materials that complement one another.'

These bedrooms prove that the best fall color combinations are balanced. Whether you're committing to a gray-green paint that drenches every wall or keeping it classic with a neutral base, going beyond the tried-and-tested autumnal palettes will make your sleep space feel comforting and endlessly inspiring.

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Beige has had a good run. And while neutral enthusiasts might argue it goes with everything, in 2026, colors that lack the warmth and complexity our homes crave are being replaced by more comforting (yet just as versatile) hues.

So, what is replacing beige in 2026? A gentle but far more interesting color trend: rich caramel honey tones. While they may be akin to beige, these quiet colors provide the warmth and joy that one-dimensional neutrals lack.

Yellow-tinted, always warm, and able to dance beautifully in the light, caramel honey tones bring a quiet familiarity to all homes. Here's how designers are embracing 2026's take on beige.

Decorating with neutrals like honey or caramel is a little different from your standard beige or off-white. 'These tones bring a certain richness to a room in a way that white or cream don’t,' explains interior designer Joan Enger of J. Patryce & Co, 'but they're still very versatile and easy to live with. Using one color throughout the walls, trim and ceiling created a sense of warmth and coziness.'

Referring to the intimate entryway pictured above, Joan explains, 'We wanted the space to feel warm and welcoming, but still on the lighter side and somewhat neutral. The caramel tone adds depth and visual interest without feeling heavy. It also worked well with the warm wood tones, kitchen slab, and materials throughout the home.'

'I tend to gravitate toward colors that are a little muddy and nuanced. Some of my favorites in this family are Farrow & Ball's Cord, Pigeon, and the color from this lovely mudroom, Biscuit No. 38. I always recommend testing in the space since colors can react differently depending on the light, architecture, and surrounding materials. Creamy whites, warm browns, ochre, rust, and deeper chocolate tones are natural companions, but I also love these shades with unexpected colors like dusty blue, olive, or moss green. Those cooler, earthier tones provide contrast and keep the palette from becoming too tonal or sweet.'

Sun-baked honey tones bring depth and warmth in equal measure. Able to shift as the light changes, they can feel sunny and calming during the day and cocooning and comforting come evening.

Caramel and honey colors are the best warm neutral paints for spaces that need something more than simple neutrality. Take this Mediterranean bedroom (pictured above) as an example. Using a lime wash technique, the warm brown paint comes to life, mirroring the sun-drenched terracotta walls of the Mediterranean.

Shape-shifting yet entirely liveable, these delicious, syrupy colors are perfect in spaces designed for relaxing. They allow the decor to do the talking, whilst still being subtle enough to remain unnoticed.

Mellow caramel is a clever choice for lovers of simplicity. 'These types of colors instantly bring a sense of warmth and softness to an interior,' explains Sophie Rowell, founder of Côte de Folk. 'Whether it’s on the walls, upholstery or joinery like this. It creates a golden warmth which feels so inviting.'

Here, Sophie applied Paint & Paper Library's Caddie to the cabinetry of a farmhouse kitchen. She says, 'It's my favourite ever color; I’ve used it in my own home but never in a client project, until now.' Paired with rustic wooden flooring, a bright blue kitchen table, and a timeless farmhouse sink, the ochre-tinted brown is just warm and cheery enough, balanced by the bright, rustic accents.

'It reminds me of the Caramac chocolate bar I used to eat as a kid,' adds Sophie.

Honey Shopping Picks

If repainting your walls isn't on your decorating agenda right now, bring the beauty of this cozy color trend into your home with these chic shopping buys.

Rich yet quiet and grounding, caramel honey tones are replacing beige this fall. Light-shifting and always warm, they're the perfect choice for lovers of neutrals or color enthusiasts looking for more liveable paint shades.

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September has arrived, which means yes, cozy fall days are upon us, but more importantly, the color of the year season has returned. A time when leading paint brands share the shades set to define the year ahead, insight into next year's color trends begins now.

A few names have taken the lead, and next to launch their color choice is established American paint brand Behr, announcing 'Grounded', an earthy, mossy green hue, as its color of the year.

'Grounded is a reminder that the most meaningful spaces are the ones that help us connect with the rhythms of everyday life,' said Kayla Kratz, Head of Color at Behr Paint Company. 'The shade's organic warmth creates a sense of calm and renewal, making every room feel inviting and effortlessly livable.'

The best olive green paints set the tone of a scheme without dominating it. 'Grounded works as a living neutral, anchoring a room without disappearing into the background,' explains Kayla in an interview with Homes & Gardens. 'The balance of moss, olive and subtle brown gives the color the flexibility we associate with a neutral, but with far more character.'

'Our definition of calm in the home is changing. For years, serenity was often expressed through crisp whites, cool grays and restrained neutrals,' Kayla continues. 'Today, people still want that sense of ease, but they’re looking for more warmth, character and life in the spaces around them.'

'Calm no longer has to mean colorless. Organic colors bring a restorative connection to nature while still allowing a home to feel expressive and deeply personal. Colors with nuance and variation also have an inherently lived-in quality. They feel less pristine and more human, which is increasingly what people are looking for from their homes.'

Consider the colors that go with olive green when introducing shades like Grounded into your home. 'I’d pair Grounded with materials that have natural variation,' Kayla advises, 'including warm wood, stone, linen, leather, brass and aged metals. Grounded brings particular richness to cabinetry and millwork, while an entire room allows the moss, olive and brown undertones to create a more immersive, enveloping effect.'

'Light also becomes part of the color’s character,' she adds, 'Brighter daylight brings the moss and olive forward, while softer evening light reveals more of the brown undertones and creates greater warmth and depth.'

To help you choose a palette that feels cohesive, Behr has curated a full 2027 Color Trends Palette, which features a collection of complementary hues inspired by nature. A mixture of warm neutrals, earthy tones, and a few light and breezy blues, the palette couldn't be more balanced. The colors include: Coastal Beige, Wheat Grass, Environmental, Denim Light, Smokey Claret, Sarsaparilla and Mozart – designed to work beautifully with Grounded.

'Earthy color is evolving beyond the pale sages and quiet beiges that have defined the last several years,' Kayla says. 'We’re seeing a shift toward colors with more depth and personality – deep olives, clay and terracotta tones, warm browns, muted reds and atmospheric blues.'

'What makes this next generation of earthy hues so appealing is their ability to be expressive without becoming overwhelming. Grounded is a great example: it has the presence of a true color, while the brown undertones give much of the versatility and ease of a neutral.'

'Earthy doesn’t have to mean muted or safe,' she adds. 'The next evolution is about bringing richer, more dimensional color into the home while maintaining that underlying sense of comfort and ease.'

Grounded-Inspired Shopping

If repainting your walls isn't on your decorating agenda right now, bring the beauty of this relaxed color trend into your home with these chic shopping buys.

Behr's Color of the Year balances liveable and luxurious. Rich and cocooning yet quietly grounding and gentle, expect to see plenty more complex olive greens like Grounded in 2027 interior design trends.

For more inspiration, we have gathered designers' favorite colors of the year from the past ten years in our dedicated piece.

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A quick look at any color trend report for 2026 and you'll find that pure white kitchens are nowhere to be seen. This once go-to color is being snubbed as cold and often reads as slightly flat, leaving your cooking space feeling less than inviting. So, what's the alternative if you still want a calming white kitchen but don't want it to look stark?

You don't need to go colorful – or even leave the neutral color family. For a white kitchen that ticks all the right boxes, interior designers say Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams is the tried and tested shade they always return to.

Described as soft and creamy, this off-white kitchen color is the answer to a light, pared-back scheme with just the right amount of warmth to feel approachable. And according to designers who use it regularly, it's also one of the most versatile. Here's why.

There's no other color that boasts as many shade variations as white, which makes choosing the right one for your kitchen an almost impossible task. Unless, of course, you turn to designers to help narrow down the selection. And if you're looking for a warm, off-white for your design, Alabaster is a Sherwin-Williams paint color worth considering.

'Alabaster is one of those whites that doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard to be white. It’s soft, warm, and creamy without leaning yellow, which makes it incredibly livable. It also has a little more depth than a true, crisp white, which is part of what makes it so versatile. It feels classic, but not overly traditional,' says Melissa Oholendt of Oho Interiors.

There are many reasons why this paint color works so well in kitchens. For Erin Conway of Kismet House, it's the lack of harshness that truly appeals. 'Kitchens need ample lighting for function, and Alabaster is the perfect white to ensure the bright space does not feel stark or blinding. The color offers a perfect backdrop to wood tones and painted cabinetry. It doesn’t chameleon into a different shade of white when being paired with other tones. It is what it is – warm white, always.'

It's that ability to pair tastefully with many of the materials and finishes typically found in a kitchen that makes it so favorable in this room. Some shades of white read differently depending on light or the colors it's paired with, but Alabaster remains true and cohesive in every space.

'Its versatility allows it to work across a variety of design styles, from traditional and farmhouse to modern and transitional, making it a timeless choice for the heart of the home,' explains Emily Kantz, color marketing manager at Sherwin-Williams.

'Kitchens are gathering spaces, and Alabaster helps create a bright yet welcoming atmosphere without feeling stark or overly crisp. Its warmth complements both natural and artificial light, making it a dependable choice that feels fresh while remaining approachable and lived-in,' adds Emily.

Because of its ability to adapt to different spaces and styles, there are plenty of ways to introduce this warm neutral into your design. For many designers, cabinetry is the best place to start.

'I love Alabaster on kitchen cabinetry. Its gentle warmth softens a full wall of built-ins without ever veering yellow,' says interior designer Kathy Kuo, who also notes its appeal on kitchen walls. 'Or, opt for natural wood cabinets and take Alabaster across the walls and ceiling for a seamless, enveloping look that feels like a warm hug.'

'I particularly love Alabaster on ceilings, walls, and trim,' Melissa agrees. 'It can be beautiful when used throughout the kitchen to create a really cohesive, enveloping feel and create a perfect backdrop to most cabinetry color choices. It can act almost like a supporting character – it’s there, it makes everything else look better, but it doesn't need to steal the show.'

It's a popular paint color in color-drenched kitchens, as it's soft, warm, and quietly creates a palatable base for the other materials, whether it's a bold countertop, vibrant decor, or a more layered decorating approach. This decorating technique is also ideal in small kitchens, where surfaces covered in Alabaster help to create the illusion of a larger footprint.

'We typically color-drench our kitchens with Alabaster (using it on the ceilings, walls, and trim) and complement it with a slightly warmer, taupe cabinet,' explains interior designer Claire Zinnecker, who complements the shade's ability to sit alongside a variety of other hues. 'It works with almost every color. Greens, browns, pinks, and blacks, although I don't think it is the best for cooler tones and grays.'

Alabaster isn't favored because it's bold or revolutionary. It's loved because it's reliable and versatile in kitchens of every size, aesthetic, and function. Whether it's a busy family kitchen that has to shift from a cooking space to a homework zone, a modern scheme used for regular hosting, or a traditional kitchen that needs to honor historic architecture, Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams always feels warm, welcoming, and right at home. It proves the right shade of white is key to a successful and timeless kitchen.

Kitchen Colors to Pair With Alabaster

Shop Alabaster-Inspired Kitchen Finds

Whether you're redesigning your space or planning to update a white kitchen, Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams is the warmer shade you've been searching for. It's the perfect shade to create an inviting atmosphere in your cooking space – and even better for small white kitchen ideas.

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Paint brands' annual Color of the Year announcements are always eagerly anticipated, giving a glimpse into the shades likely to lead the way in home decor and set the color trends over the year to come. And while some of these shades are forgotten about by the time the next announcement comes around, some have a much more lasting impact.

But what past Colors of the Year have proven to be more timeless than trendy? We asked interior designers for their favorites from the past ten years, and they range from pared-back neutrals to much richer, bolder hues. All of them, however, have an earthy quality that makes them livable and able to pair with many other colors. And so, before the influx of 2027 Color of the Year announcements is upon us, take a look at these timeless shades that designers come back to time after time.

1. Simply White by Benjamin Moore, 2016

Benjamin Moore's Simply White, the brand's Color of the Year in 2016, has become one of its best-selling colors. It's a white paint with subtle warm undertones, which makes it a go-to shade for lots of designers, including Katie Bromley of Spaces by Katie.

'Simply White has earned a permanent spot in our color palette – we specify it almost universally for trim and ceilings,' Katie says. 'We’re drawn to how it behaves in real spaces: it's a bright white but a faint warm undertone keeps it from ever feeling clinical or cold. A decade later, it still feels current because it was never trend-driven to begin with – Simply White works as a quiet backdrop for practically any design direction.'

Katie used Simply White in this kitchen. 'It's soft enough not to compete with the warm greige cabinetry and marble counters, yet bright enough to keep the room feeling fresh and sunlit,' she explains. 'Paired with warm wood floors and brass hardware, the white trim frames the architecture without ever drawing attention to itself – making the whole space feel finished.'

2. Mocha Mousse by Pantone, 2025

When Pantone revealed its 2025 Color of the Year as Mocha Mousse, it cemented decorating with brown as a major interior design trend. 'Brown has often been treated as a practical backdrop, but Mocha Mousse gives it a wonderful sensuality – it recalls suede, walnut, cacao, and aged plaster,' says interior designer Anu Jain of Atelier Oleana. 'It creates warmth without sweetness and depth without unnecessary drama.'

Today, shades like Mocha Mousse still feel relevant, says Anu. 'We are moving away from flat, cool neutrals and toward colors that feel earthy, tactile, and emotionally grounding,' she adds. 'Mocha Mousse functions as a neutral, but it is not an anonymous one; it brings atmosphere and richness while remaining incredibly livable.'

In this living room, a similar shade, Benjamin Moore's Whipped Mocha, was used on the ceiling, along with Farrow & Ball's London Clay on the built-ins. 'My biggest tip is not to match the browns too perfectly,' says Anu. 'I prefer several related tones in different finishes – a deeper brown on the millwork, a softer shade overhead, and something more textural on the walls. That slight tension is what makes a tonal room feel layered rather than flat.'

3. Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams, 2016

Sherwin-Williams' Alabaster is another endlessly popular warm white paint, which was named Color of the Year in 2016. Since then, designers have repeatedly chosen this hue to create light but quietly warming backdrops.

'It's a warm, slightly creamy white that doesn't read as stark or clinical, which makes it one of the most genuinely versatile colors I've ever used,' says designer Cathleen Gruver of Gruver Cooley, who used it in this entryway. 'A decade later, it still works in everything from new construction to historic renovations, and it's one of the only Colors of the Year I can honestly say I've never stopped specifying.'

'In rooms with warm natural light, it glows,' says Cathleen. 'In north-facing rooms with cooler light, it stays grounded rather than tipping gray, which is where a lot of whites fail. Under incandescent or warm LED bulbs, it reads almost like a very pale linen, which is exactly what you want in a bedroom or living space in the evening.'

'The one context I'd avoid is a very dark or low-light room where you're hoping a white will brighten the space,' she adds. 'Alabaster's warmth means it absorbs some of the light rather than bouncing it, so in a truly dim room a crisper white will do more work.'

4. Rumors by Behr, 2025

A couple of years ago, burgundy made a major comeback in interiors, offering richness and moodiness. Behr's 2025 Color of the Year, Rumors, is among the popular burgundy paints and a favorite of designer Luba Libarikian of Libarikian Interiors. 'It’s a very versatile burgundy that plays well in both modern and traditional interiors,' she says.

'It's a great color for people who hesitate to use bold colors in their home, but still want something that makes a statement,' Luba adds. 'When a space is color-washed in this color, it feels warm and inviting.'

Designer Diane Luna also highlights Rumors as a favorite Color of the Year. 'The dark ruby tones in Behr’s Rumors are most effective when used in a cozy-sized space such as a bedroom or small powder room,' she says. 'Powder room walls painted in Behr’s Rumors look incredible when paired with a statement sink. I love to install a pure white porcelain sink that has shapely legs – the contrast between white and burgundy is so beautiful. Brass faucets read like heirloom jewelry with a ruby-toned wall as the backdrop.'

5. Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams, 2022

Sherwin-Williams' Evergreen Fog is a muddy shade of green, its 2022 Color of the Year. 'I love Evergreen Fog because it’s a soft, muted sage green paint that can almost act as a neutral while still bringing color and personality to a space,' says designer Lacey Michalek. 'In this kitchen, we used this paint on the island to create a subtle focal point and bring a pop of color to the room. It’s a color that layers beautifully with natural wood, stone, and warm metals, which is why I think it continues to feel just as current today as it did in 2022.'

Evergreen Fog is also a favorite shade for designer Carrera Shea of Ali & Shea Design, who describes it as 'one that has really stood the test of time. It helped usher in a broader appreciation for nature-inspired greens, and I still think we're seeing the influence of that shift today, particularly in kitchens.'

6. First Light by Benjamin Moore, 2020

Benjamin Moore's First Light is a delicate shade of blush pink that's not too sweet, but balanced and sophisticated. 'In my opinion, it’s the perfect pink because it is not too soft – there is still some oomph to it,' says designer Sarah Moore of Sarah Catherine Design. 'I think many overlook the power of using soft pink, either as a primary color or as an accent in a space. The right pink, such as First Light, can often act as a neutral in a room. Your eye doesn't even register it as overwhelmingly pink.'

'Soft pinks pair beautifully with so many other colors, which makes it an excellent sidekick color,' Sarah adds. 'This hue could easily complement brown, cream, green, blue, yellow, and lavender.'

Dora Dmitriev of Dora Dmitriev Design also often turns to First Light when a warm atmosphere is desired. 'On projects where the boldness comes through the furnishings, this color creates the perfect backdrop and is a refined alternative to the typical white or neutral palette,' she says. 'The subtle pink undertones transform beautifully throughout the day, creating a sense of warmth and ease in the space.'

7. Cinnamon Slate by Benjamin Moore, 2025

Benjamin Moore unveiled Cinnamon Slate as its 2025 Color of the Year, right at the time when purple was making its comeback in interiors. Rather than saturated purple tones that feel closely linked to the '90s, Cinnamon Slate put a modern spin on this nostalgic shade, with its muted feel and hushed brown undertones.

'Cinnamon Slate is difficult to define in the best possible way,' says Stephanie Wiott of Stephanie Wiott Designs. 'It is a nuanced combination of plum and warm brown that changes with the light. It has color and depth, yet it can still function as a neutral. It feels moody without becoming heavy and sophisticated without feeling overly formal.'

'Cinnamon Slate still feels current because homeowners are moving away from cooler grays, stark whites, and spaces that feel overly new,' Stephanie adds. 'They are embracing warmer, earthier colors that give a room personality and a sense of history while remaining livable. Cinnamon Slate strikes that balance beautifully. It can make a strong statement, but it is quiet and complex enough to endure long after its year in the spotlight. It pairs beautifully with natural wood, aged and unlacquered metals, richly veined stone, and other collected finishes.'

8. Redend Point by Sherwin-Williams, 2023

Redend Point by Sherwin-Williams, its 2023 Color of the Year, is an earthy shade of plaster that brings warmth and more depth than traditional neutrals.

'Redend Point takes the quiet, neutral base of a classic beige and gives it the faintest flush of color,' says designer Alissa Johnson of Alissa Johnson Interiors. 'That pink-meets-gray-meets-beige quality gives it a softness that reads as sophisticated, and the tone represented a real pivot toward warmth – a shift that has only accelerated since 2023.'

'Redend Point is also an incredibly flexible neutral that brings natural earthiness to any space,' Alissa adds. 'That flexibility is exactly why it still feels current today: design has continued moving away from the cool, stark minimalism of the past decade toward warmer, more tactile, nature-inspired palettes, and Redend Point was ahead of that curve.'

9. Aegean Teal by Benjamin Moore, 2021

Benjamin Moore’s Aegean Teal feels just as relevant now as it did in 2021. A green-blue blend with a soft, muted quality, it feels tranquil and is a fun alternative to blue paints.

'We’ve used it across several projects because its depth changes completely depending on the light,' says designer Christina Higham of Sun Soul Style Interiors. 'In bright daylight, it reads as a vibrant, tropical aqua; under softer evening light, it turns wonderfully moody and intimate.'

'Blue is such an approachable bridge for clients who want color without feeling like they’re taking a massive risk,' Christina adds. 'Aegean Teal gives you that rich, confident pigment while pairing seamlessly with warm woods, earthy rust tones, and bold accents.'

Anelle Gandelman of A-List Interiors is also drawn to Aegean Teal. 'It isn't just a color of the year; it’s timeless,' she says. 'While many colors of the year feel trendy and of-the-moment, this one has real staying power.'

10. Upward by Sherwin-Williams, 2024

Sherwin-Williams' Upward is a pale blue paint that feels light and airy. It was its 2024 Color of the Year, and it is a favorite pick for designer Sydney Katz of SDK Architecture.

'Upward is a soft and quiet tone that works equally well as a primary color for a space or as an accent for a bolder color palette,' says Sydney. 'Recently, I've been using it to create timeless spaces for clients who crave calm color stories.'

Sydney used Upward in this kitchen, working as a fresh alternative to traditional neutral shades. 'We didn't want a white, beige, or greige kitchen, and Upward is the perfect blue neutral,' she says. 'I also love to use it as an accent with bolder palettes,' says Sydney. 'I've also used it as a bathroom tile to add soothing color to a bathroom retreat. Use it everywhere and anywhere!'

The Colors of the Year that are seemingly the most enduring aren't the brightest of the boldest – they're those that work effortlessly to bring a certain mood to a room, without demanding too much attention. Even the richer, more colorful shades in this roundup have a slightly hushed feel that gives them versatility and longevity.

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Gray may have fallen out of favor over the last few years, but its versatility is hard to deny. On the downside, though, gray isn't exactly the most inviting hue out there. Hence why there are many shades designers say are replacing gray in 2026, and one they use the most is a whisper-soft, calming pale blue. Far more lived-in and just as 'neutral', if you like gray interiors but want something a little more characterful, pale blue paints are the perfect choice.

'Pale, cool blues can offer many of the qualities homeowners have long appreciated about gray,' explains Emily Kantz, Color Marketing Manager at Sherwin-Williams. 'They're calming, versatile and easy to live with, while bringing a subtle sense of color and personality into a space. These softer blues can create a light, airy atmosphere that feels serene and restorative without reading as stark or overly cool. They also provide a gentle connection to nature, which can help a room feel fresh and inviting.'

'As homeowners continue to move away from one-size-fits-all gray interiors, we're seeing greater interest in nuanced colors that still function with the ease of a neutral,' continues Emily. 'A pale blue can serve as a beautiful backdrop across a variety of design styles, pairing naturally with warm whites, wood tones, natural stone and other organic materials. The result is a space that maintains the flexibility of a neutral palette while feeling more layered, personal and expressive.'

In this romantic breakfast nook (pictured above), the pale blue walls create a sense of freshness, but paired with the charming gingham print and warm tones, it avoids looking cold. 'These spaces utilize a soft pale blue to create an airy and open feel. Pale blue tends to lean a bit more feminine than the alternative (gray), which made it perfect for these spaces layered in florals,' explains Bridget Tiek, co-founder of TIEK BYDAY. 'We used Farrow & Ball Skylight and Sherwin-Williams Niebla Azul.'

'Cool blues are better than gray because they inject some color into a space while still feeling like a neutral,' agrees interior designer Jessica Hobson. 'That color instantly gives life to a room, which a cool gray just can’t do!'

'I love a pale blue ceiling; it can act as a neutral in a room but adds so much more than white, beige or gray,' Jessica adds. 'It instantly lifts the ceiling, creating an airy feeling in a room. In this dining room (pictured above) we chose a soft blue paint to work with the Lewis & Wood wallpaper. The paper featured a gorgeous print but was all neutral with creams, beige and grays, so I knew I wanted to bring in some color in the space. The ceiling was the perfect spot!'

'We used Benjamin Moore's Quiet Moments. This is a beautiful calming go-to blue for me, and it is particularly great on a ceiling. It is a very soft cool blue-green shade with some gray in it and just has a way of creating a calm over a space.'

'This is a snug in an 18th-century house on Lake Geneva in Switzerland,' says interior designer Sofia Clara. 'We wanted the room to feel calm and inviting while still respecting the character and original architecture. Pale blue felt like a lovely alternative to the more expected neutrals or gray and pulls from the color in the original hand-painted wallpaper that I believe might be a Zuber wallpaper.'

'We chose a very soft, powdery blue that contrasts nicely with the original floorboards, jute rug and the warmer tones of the antique furniture,' Sofia adds. 'Rather than feeling cold, the blue creates a gentle backdrop, allowing the more patinated and earthy elements of the room to stand out.'

'Pale blues give you many of the qualities people traditionally look for in gray; they are quiet, calm and easy to live with, but they have much more softness and character,' Sofia explains. 'Gray can feel flat or austere, particularly in rooms with cooler natural light or small windows. A very pale blue brings a subtle sense of color and lightness. Here, the blue also works particularly well with the warmer materials in the room, creating a balance that I don’t think a gray would achieve.'

The Best Pale Blue Paints

If you're a lover of gray but want something more characterful, pale blue is the color for you. When bringing cool blue paint into the home, 'pair these shades with warm whites, natural woods and organic textures to help balance their cooler qualities and create an inviting, layered space,' suggests Emily.

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While trending paint colors and of-the-moment design styles often get a lot of buzz, when it comes to designing a timeless home, sticking with the classics is often the best route. Whether you're keeping things cozy with the country cottage style or creating an ultra-cool, curated vibe with a midcentury aesthetic, each iconic look has a palette that defines it.

We asked designers which shades come to mind when they think of the most iconic, long-loved interior design styles, so if you are looking for color scheme inspiration that will never date, here is a good place to start.

Country Cottage: Sage Green and Dusty Pink

When you think of cottage style, it's hard not to envision a soothing backdrop of warm white walls, soft barely-there pink accents, plenty of sage green, and lots of rustic, time-worn accents.

'Many of our clients lean into the warm, muted, earthy, and dusty colors to add to the vintage feel of the iconic cottage-style design,' explains Brittany Bowen, co-founder of Girls At Flourish Studio. 'While plenty of colors lend themselves to the cottage look, we feel like we see earthy greens and pinks repeatedly in some of our favorite cottage-core designs. This scullery (designed by Smith Street Interiors), couldn’t be a more perfect example.'

'For a hazy pink, we used Mulberry Silk by Sherwin-Williams, and their earthy green is Bunglehouse Gray, also by Sherwin-Williams,' says Brittany. These muted colors add the coziest vibes, and contrasted with the rich walnut cabinet tones and historic trim work, this palette is timeless without being bland. For us, nothing screams country cottage more than pink and green.'

New England Coastal: Crisp White and Sea Blue

Inspired by the seashore and the traditional beach huts dotted along the coastline, coastal design is defined by its white and blue color palette. Think white shiplap walls, and plenty of blue accents, from painted window frames to full-on feature walls.

'Muted, historic blues paired with warm cream tones feel traditionally American and bring a timeless combination to any room,' says Daniele Doerge, marketing manager and color expert at California Paints. 'The colors have enough contrast to highlight strong traditional and colonial-style architectural details, but this particular color combination keeps the style elegant rather than overly formal. I love this combination, and especially in the New England area, we see a lot of this timeless design style.'

For a more muted take on the classic pairing, try heritage pale blue paints like Farrow & Ball's Light Blue or Windy Blue by Sherwin-Williams (best beside a warm cream like Dover White).

Midcentury: Muted Mustard and Olive Green

Warm, autumnal tones are synonymous with mid-century interior design. From complex ochres to burnt oranges and forest greens, midcentury modern embraces deep saturation and comforting richness.

'Mustard and olive green worked perfectly together in a lot of midcentury design, capturing that unique and nature-inspired interior design style,' says Daniele. 'Now, especially with the steady resurgence of love for midcentury modern homes, I love recommending slightly more muted versions of these hues, where the nostalgia is still there, but the softer tone makes the combination feel current.'

Timeless mustard paints like Little Greene's Light Gold or the brown-tinted India Yellow by Farrow & Ball are perfect for schemes looking to bring a little dose of the past into the present day.

Classic Heritage: Charcoal

Smoky, navy blues, and deep grays define classic heritage style. 'Whether used inside or outside of the home, these colors enhance architectural details and bring character without feeling dated,' says Hannah Yeo, senior manager, color marketing at Benjamin Moore. 'Especially for exteriors, homeowners often gravitate toward colors they can live with for many years rather than colors tied to a particular moment. These heritage-inspired hues create a warm, welcoming feeling that feels timeless, which is why they continue to be favorites generation after generation.'

In this moody living room, interior designer Caroline Levenson selected a warm gray as the palette's central color. 'We’re especially drawn to the rich earth tones, muted blues, and deep greens associated with the Colonial era. In this client’s Knoxville home, we enveloped the living room in Benjamin Moore’s Flint, a cool charcoal that acts as a neutral but takes on subtle blue undertones as the light changes throughout the day. Paired with warm wood tones, softer blues, and touches of yellow, the room feels cozy and cocooning without feeling heavy.'

Farmhouse Style: Warm White

A farmhouse kitchen isn't complete without some warm white painted walls. While the classic ceramic sink and shiplap walls undeniably make the farmhouse style what it is, a light-changing white paint adds an elevated layer to the rustic look we all know and love.

Characterized by warm neutrals, rustic accents, and plenty of raw materials, off-whites couldn't be more intrinsic to farmhouse style; they balance out its warmth and earthiness and bring a light, bright, and refreshing feel to a look that's been embraced by Americans for centuries.

Shades like Benjamin Moore's White Dove, a clean, timeless off-white with subtle notes of warmth or Farrow & Ball's heritage shade, School House White, to balance the warm wood tones of the farmhouse look.

Classic colors, synonymous with classic styles, are a good place to start when planning a color scheme. Even if you plan to mix and match eras (the best homes always do), ensuring that your color scheme speaks to the style of your home or interiors will ensure a timeless cohesion.

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Bold buzzworthy hues might be having a moment in the interior design world lately, but (as is the case with most things) the truly time-tested colors are the ones that have been sitting under our noses for centuries.

As appreciation for all things characterful continues to reign supreme in the interior design world, vintage paint colors that evoke nostalgia and charm are being embraced once again. From soothing muted greens and duck egg blues to dusty roses and the palest tangerines, heritage hues that transport you to the tranquil setting of an English cottage are cropping up in projects everywhere, from new builds to old homes and everything in between. These are the old English cottage-inspired shades designers want to see more of, and how to use them in a way that works in 2026.

1. Dusty Rose

'Clients and designers are drawn to more muted and earthy colors, much as you would find in an English rose garden,' says Jessica Luna, Founder of JLL Interiors. 'We are moving from the gray, white, and bright interiors into a more moody and earthy palette.'

'For this bedroom (pictured above), I used Benjamin Moore Biscotti, a soft dusty rose, on the walls. The room needed to coordinate with the selected rug that carries navy, rose, and other earthy tones. Our inspiration fabric was Jasper's Bentley Rose, which you can see on the floral throw pillow on the chaise. Biscotti pulled that rose straight off the fabric and let it live quietly on the walls instead of shouting from it. The key is to pull colors that already exist and repeat, repeat, repeat.'

'The dusty rose backdrop also plays beautifully against the duck egg blue drapery in the room and the terracotta hue in the upholstered bed. That combination, a warm muted pink against a cool soft blue, is such a classic English cottage pairing. It feels collected and layered rather than decorated, which is always the goal in my work.'

2. Softest Yellow

Soft, buttery yellow tones that hark back to the quiet serenity of countryside retreats have been popping up in interiors slowly but surely over the last few years. Think Hay by Farrow & Ball or Sherwin-Williams' Butter Up which gained a lot of love when the butter yellow trend was at its height.

'I think these traditional English cottage colors are having a resurgence because they give a space a link to the past,' explains interior designer Aoife Maria. 'Even if everything else in a renovation is new, using color, pattern or more traditional architectural details can give a home that feeling of something familiar, which makes it feel much more comfortable and like a lived-in home straight away.'

'In this project, we’ve used quite a lot of color throughout as this was a personal request from our client, and as it’s an old Irish farmhouse, we also wanted everything to feel in keeping with the house. For this playroom, we chose a soft yellow for the windows (Little Greene – Carys) as it gives a lovely hint of color without taking over, and it still allows us to add lots more color and pattern into the room over time. Paired with the lime plaster texture and the warm off-white walls, it gives the room so much depth and character, and there’s something really lovely and sunny about it.'

3. Pale Tangerine

Tangerine is the softer, more livable version of some of the really deep terracottas that are trending right now. It's warmer than a butter yellow, but has a similarly brightening and cocooning effect.

Pick the right orange paint, and it's a color that would feel just right in an English country cottage. You want to choose something that leans a little pink and earthy, like Farrow & Ball's Fake Tan, which has drenched this characterful kitchen. Pair with warm metallics and rich colors like reds and purples for a vintage-inspired color scheme that is interesting yet timeless.

4. Duck Egg Blue

Duck egg blue has long been associated with the English country look. Whether it's a painted window frame or a kitchen cabinet, it's a timeless choice for homes in need of a heritage feel. 'In this entryway (pictured above), I wanted to create a space that felt welcoming, timeless, and quietly cheerful from the moment you walk through the front door,' explains Kelsey Peterson, principal designer of Style and Space. 'We painted the front door and the custom settee in a soft duck egg blue, a classic English cottage color that immediately brings warmth and personality without overwhelming the space.'

'The blue is layered with natural white oak wall paneling, reclaimed brick flooring, crisp white millwork, and black iron lighting, creating a palette that feels both relaxed and refined. I love using colors like this because they have a nostalgic quality while still feeling fresh. Rather than making a bold statement, they become part of the architecture and help tell the story of the home.'

'I think homeowners are moving away from interiors that feel overly neutral or stark and are looking for spaces with more warmth, character, and a sense of history. Soft cottage colors like duck egg blue, sage green, dusty rose, and buttermilk yellow bring personality in a way that still feels sophisticated and livable.'

5. Sage Green

Nothing says English cottage like sage green. Grounding, muted, and timelessly sophisticated, it's one of the most classic heritage paint colors you can choose for your home.

'Our inspiration for the color palette in this space came from the existing architecture,' begins Brittney Blanton, founder of B. Blanton Interiors. 'The kitchen is open to the living room and breakfast nook, so we wanted a soft color to help anchor it and give it a sense of identity. This sage green was the perfect choice because it responds so well to the light. It can look warm green, cool green, or gray green depending on the natural light and time of day. '

'An English cottage color like a sage green is such a happy choice for a kitchen space. It creates a sense of coziness and a lived-in feel even in a new kitchen.' Try Farrow & Ball's iconic Ball Green or Benjamin Moore's long-loved Saybrook Sage for timeless choices.

English cottage colors have never really fallen out of fashion, but how they are used has shifted over the years. 'What's different today is how designers are using them,' says Kelsey. 'Instead of creating a room that feels overtly traditional or themed, we're pairing these nostalgic colors with cleaner silhouettes, tailored upholstery, natural materials, and contemporary lighting. That balance gives the spaces a collected, timeless quality that feels equally at home in a historic house or a newly built one.'

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