Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Jul 20, 2025

Our 2021 Paint Color Forecast Is Packed with Calming, Nature-Inspired Shades

Our 2021 Paint Color Forecast Is Packed with Calming, Nature-Inspired Shades

Expect tranquil muted blues, happy shades of yellow, and even bold doses of black in the coming year.

It's that time again when paint manufacturers release their predictions for the colors that will be most popular in the year ahead. After a tumultuous year, hues that soothe and lift our spirits are expected to be the biggest paint color trends as we say hello to 2021. Whether you prefer muted blues and greens, happy shades of yellow, or rich, moody neutrals, there's a paint color for every style.

                            

1. Calming Colors


Following a year filled with so much uncertainty and unknown, it's no coincidence that muted, soothing colors are expected to be on the rise in 2021. As we spend more time working, teaching, and cooking at home, homeowners are seeking out shades that are peaceful and calming for both the mind and the eyes. Look for soft blue and muted green paint colors to trend in the new year.

Not only will these restorative tints resonate strongly with homeowners in 2021, but they're also a smart way to incorporate small pops of color into neutral spaces. These subtle shades are a great compromise for those who want some color but are not ready to go big and bold. In this office-meets-laundry room designed by Utah-based Simons Design Studio, cabinetry painted in a powdery blue offers a soft dose of color that stands in as a neutral.

                            

2. Light and Bright Hues


The pandemic forced many of us to rethink the living and work spaces in our homes. As a result of spending more time indoors, many homeowners are looking for ways to add bright, natural light. White paint colors continue to surge in popularity, but paint manufacturers expect whites to trend from cool undertones to warmer, softer hues like off-whites, creams, and whites with warm gray undertones.

The easiest way to instantly increase the feeling of natural light in a room is to paint walls near windows white. This allows light to bounce off the walls and reflect throughout the space. An added benefit of white walls: they create a clean palette, a neutral foundation for layering color via art, fabrics, and small accessories, like in this neutral living room designed by Colorado-based J&O Studio.



3. Colors Inspired by Nature


Nature has long influenced homeowners' paint color selections thanks to its nurturing qualities and association with wellness, both of which are needed now more than ever. According to paint manufacturers, incorporating outdoor elements inside our homes will continue to impact color choices in 2021. When painted on walls and cabinetry, soothing nature-inspired earth tones provide a relaxing organic atmosphere.

Colors like muted moss green, diffused clay, and spice tones are expected to increase in popularity in the year ahead. When carried through from the walls to the ceiling, these earthy hues can make a space feel extra cozy and inviting. In this bathroom designed by Claire Brody, paneled walls in a soft shade of green complement back-to-nature colors seen throughout the space, including bamboo blinds, a copper soaking tub, and sandy-hued surfaces.

                        

4. Almost-Black Shades


When determining yearly color forecasts, paint manufacturers take a close look at design trends as well as global issues and influences. One of the biggest trends last year was the resurgence of black on walls, home accessories, and cabinetry. (Although some of us say black never really disappeared!) In the new year, more diffused black colors will be used over traditional true black.

Diffused blacks are "almost-black" colors. These dark shades have a strong gray, brown, or green undertone that takes some of the edge off of black and softens its boldness. Paint manufacturers see this trend continuing to unfold throughout 2021 and include several diffused black selections in their forecasts, including Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams, Cyberspace by Sherwin-Williams, and Broadway by Behr. In this living room by Studio McGee, rich black walls create a cozy, grounded space for studying, relaxing, or entertaining.

                            

5. Moody Jewel Tones


Additional dark, moody paint colors will be popular in 2021-a trend that actually started to unfold last year. However, manufacturers expect to see consumers choose rich, evocative neutrals like deep chestnut, charcoal (an almost-black), and dark jewel tones. These deep colors have complex layered undertones, giving a velvety appearance to surfaces.

Pair these deep colors with white, which creates beautiful contrast and coziness. In this home office by Timber Trails, home builders based in Illinois, white accessories and furnishings pop against subdued blue built-ins.

                            

6. Happy Hues


As we move into 2021, the world is hopeful for the year ahead. There's no better way to celebrate this optimism than with cheerful colors in our homes. Color plays an important role in our homes and our moods, so seeking out opportunities to incorporate hues that resonate with us can make an impact on our daily lives. Whether it's laundry room cabinetry updated with a happy shade of green-blue, like these built-ins designed by The Creativity Exchange, or a bright and happy shade of yellow on an accent wall, cheerful colors have the ability to lift our spirits when we need it most.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
×