Say farewell to boring grays and hello to ravishing reds!
Color has never been more personal than it is projected to be in 2025. Trend forecasters, from leading paint companies to color institutions, agree that consumers are forgoing stark whites, dated grays, and cool neutrals in favor of layered colors. Next year we can expect to see both unexpected and traditional shades, including electric brights, ravishing rubies, and new neutrals, that help tell a personal story through interior design or fashion.
Sherwin-Williams’s Director of Color Marketing Sue Wadden explains that consumers are leaning towards timeless colors, such as antiquarian browns and earthy yellows, that feel more personal and nurturing rather than predetermined color palettes. She says, “We’re all about creating spaces that are ours, and personalization may become the new ritual. The new self-care is that we really want to take care of our interiors like we’re taking care of ourselves and bring in meaningful things.”
The idea of turning our homes into personal sanctuaries in the past relied on using nature-inspired leafy greens and watery blues, but there is a subtle shift away from these to warmer hues, ranging from caramel browns to honeyed neutrals, that offer a different form of comfort. Ruth Mottershead, Little Greene’s creative director, says, “There is a greater need to surround ourselves with comforting, soothing colors that are not only easy to live with but provide warmth and serenity within our living environments. This trend for warmer tones can be incorporated into both contemporary and traditional homes, as well as bold or softer, pared-back design schemes.”
Choosing the colors that fill your home always comes down to personal taste and style—but there are still a few hues that pop out among the rest and give decorating inspiration for the forthcoming year. These are the eight color trends that will be everywhere in 2025, according to color experts.
Otherworldly Blues
Midtone blues had their moment in the spotlight in the past few years, but it’s time for deeper and enchanting shades to shine. VERANDA publication chose Cosmic Cobalt, a brilliant ultramarine shade, as their 2025 Color of the Year for its captivating yet calming presence that makes a statement. The celestial cobalt shade pulls inspiration from the night sky and deep sea, establishing an unexpected connection to nature in your home, whether it’s splashed on the walls or dressing a velvet settee.
Valspar agrees that atmospheric blues will transcend in 2025, with the brand announcing that Encore, a rich and versatile sapphire shade, is their Color of the Year for 2025.
Lighter shades of blue will still have a place in the upcoming year , particularly extremely cool-toned sages and heavy blue undertones springing up. HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams selected the blue-sage hue, Quietude, as their Color of the Year, noting the timeless shade “sets the stage for a serene environment.”
In a similar vein, Dutch Boy announced Mapped Blue, a timeless medium blue with yellow undertones, as their color of the year. The brand notes the shade answers the current demand for classic yet vibrant hues that consumers are craving.
Dessert Browns
Brown has taken a sweeter turn from its dated appearance in 1970s interiors, and Mottershead predicts dessert-inspired hues, from chocolate and coffee to caramel and toffee, to reign in 2025.
She says, “This embracing of brown is a continuation of the trend we have seen shifting away from cooler grey interiors to a warmer palette of natural hues that deliver comforting, soothing schemes. The earthy yet refined nature of brown shades makes them the perfect backdrop to natural materials currently being incorporated in contemporary interiors, including wicker, rattan, warm woods, and stone finishes.”
Little Greene officially selected Mochi as their “it” color for 2025, noting the warm brown shade, “can feel both traditional and pretty or contemporary and comforting depending on the aesthetic.”
The experts at C2 Paint have noted that earthy browns will be on the rise in the upcoming year, announcing Raku, a rich mahogany shade, as their color for 2025. This burnt, brownish red color is directly inspired by ancient Japanese tea ceremonies and the centuries-old pottery often used during them.
Meanwhile, U.K.-based interior brand Graham & Brown turned to the elder tree for inspiration for their color of the year. Elderton is a well-balanced neutral brown reminiscent of the deep brown leaves of the native shrub.
Leaning into the more earthy tones, Sherwin-Williams called out Grounded as one of their spotlight colors making up 2025 Color Capsule of the Year. The versatile brown carries a richness that when enveloping the room exudes a calming nature.
Bold Ebony
2025 is all about making a statement in your interiors—and what better way to do that than with deep and bold shades that pack a punch? Expect to see rich hues of ebony and black olive used as accents within a room to ground a brighter and lighter palette. These rich tones carry depth that elevates a space with a sense of elegance and polish.
Spray paint brand Krylon tapped into this trend, naming Hammered Black their color of the year. The brand notes that this rich ebony shade speaks to the resurgence of gothic and brutalist design style, embodying the blend of raw and tactile materiality.
Sherwin-Williams also noted this turn to deep hues, calling out Clove as one of the colors in their 2025 Color Capsule of the Year. While technically falling into the brown family, the color’s depth in tone mimics that of a black color, asserting that richness many will crave in 2025.
Ruby
The red thread theory is reaching new heights with both stunning rubies and nostalgic reds playing a significant role in 2025. Color forecasters have observed that consumers are gravitating towards historical colors that evoke nostalgia and familiarity for use in their homes.
Behr has announced Rumors as their color for 2025, a sultry ruby shade reminiscent of the fiery hues of the ’90s. This marks a departure from the soft greens and blues that have been dominant in previous years, while still exuding warmth and appeal.
Classic reds are also prominent in Sherwin Williams’s 2025 Colormix® Forecast: Capsules, with shades like the rich raspberry hue Borscht and the attention-grabbing Red Tomato standing out across the different palettes.
Striking Plum
In the coming year, color experts anticipate a surge in the popularity of earthy purples, such as aubergine, plum, and jam. These vibrant shades bring a sense of warmth and energy to interiors while still offering a connection to the natural world
Reflecting this trend, Benjamin Moore announced Cinnamon Slate 2113-40 as their 2025 color of the year. The hue mixes together heathered plum and velvet brown, resulting in a timeless color that feels nuanced yet youthful.
Furthering the rise in aubergine and plum hues, Glidden has named Purple Basil their color of the year for 2025. This bold and impactful hue not only pays homage to its namesake plant but also inspires consumers to make daring color choices as a means of self-expression. In addition, Minwax, the country’s leading wood stain and finish brand, also leaned into the jewel tone side of the color wheel, selecting Violet as their 2025 color of the year.
Honeyed Neutrals
As we shift further and further away from the cooler tones of the 2010s, toasty neutrals have started to play a necessary role in balancing bold accents and adding a layer of warmth to a room. Mottershead explains that we have seen that “reassuring and calming warm neutrals have replaced cool stark whites.”
Wadden also notes these “raw” and “elemental” tones speak to layers of nature beyond just the typical blues and greens. The grounding and serene qualities of these colors are what inspired Sherwin Williams’s Chrysalis palette for 2025.
Dunn-Edwards has declared Caramelized, a soft terracotta brown, as their 2025 Color of the Year. The hue highlights the rise of earthy and warm tones as its directly recalls sunbaked clay.
Artist’s Ochre
Illustrious ambers will continue to see popularity in 2025, but expect to see more mustard and earthy-rich yellows popping up in both interiors and fashion as people reach for tones that deliver comfort and relief. Mottershead explains, “Rich warm colors based on umber and ochre deliver cocooning, restful and charming spaces.”
These earthy yellows are perfect for adorning the walls of a study or wellness room, and they also add a touch of luxury to homes and fashion. For their Key Colors of 2026, Coloro x WGSN has highlighted the green-toned yellow, Amber Haze, for its energizing and rejuvenating properties.
Candied Tones
Forget Barbie hot pink! 2025 is all about embracing candy-colored accents. These bright tones feel electric in a room while also serving as a whimsical departure from the grays and midtones of years past. Wadden says, “We talked a lot about pops of colors over the last few seasons, unexpected red theory, Barbie pink, and think that playfulness is allowing people sort of the permission to take a little more risk with color.”
Sherwin Williams’s Paradox palette, a part of their 2025 Colormix® Forecast: Capsules, exudes this trend as it features delicious shades like Dragon Fruit, a juicy pink shade, and Euphoric Lilac, a mesmerizing purple.
Veranda by Sarah Dimarco (Oct. 18, 2024)
