Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Sep 06, 2025

These Four Colors Will Dominate Our Homes in 2021

These Four Colors Will Dominate Our Homes in 2021

Industry experts predict the paint shades that will soothe and invigorate us after a volatile year.

Having spent the vast majority of the year indoors, most people are probably ready for a change of scenery. Though shelter-in-place mandates may not lift anytime soon, transforming your walls with color can have a huge affect on your mood.

"The colors you choose should be inspiring and rejuvenating," says interior designer Arianne Bellizaire. "Drab and dull colors can really wear you down emotionally, whereas bright and airy colors are much better for your psyche."

            

Saffron Strands by Behr Paint is a festive, optimistic shade.

With a new year comes the promise of a fresh start-and maybe a fresh coat of paint. Five industry experts-Bellizaire; Patrick O’Donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball; Arianna Cesa, color marketing and development specialist at Benjamin Moore; Erika Woelfel, vice president of color at Behr Paint, and Sue Kim, color marketing manager at Krylon-reveal the color trends that will emerge in 2021. These are the hues that will usher in a new beginning, provide healing and comfort, and instill confidence.

"I would encourage anyone to consider whether spaces are working optimally for you, especially after this challenging year," says Woelfel. "Painting can be a low-cost, high-impact project that can improve more than the value of your home, and might be a much-needed refresh in 2021."

Warm Neutrals




Craving more than a basic white? The experts think that warm neutrals will be used throughout the house to add warmth but still maintain flexibility.

For those who have had enough of white walls, Bellizaire anticipates taupe shades to be popular in 2021, which remain neutral while adding depth to a space. "The rise of warm taupes can really be found in the contemporary-leaning, European designs we’re seeing today," she says. "This organic trend is slowly creeping its way to the top of popular kitchen styles."

Taupe’s pink undertones flatter all skin tones, making it a natural choice for a bathroom refresh, too-but this shade can work throughout a home. "It pairs really well with black and even some warm blue, green, and gray shades," Bellizaire says. "I would recommend using matte-black metal finishes with this color."

        

Jitney by Farrow & Ball, though muted, is an uplifting tone that’s meant to evoke sandy beaches.

O’Donnell recommends Jitney, a brown-based neutral by Farrow & Ball, for a bedroom, and the sandy Stony Ground as a trim to offset a bold, red hue in the dining room. "Dining rooms are often more formal spaces, so it’s a good idea to go rich here," he says. "Something like Preference Red in Estate Emulsion would look beautifully dramatic, especially under candlelight. Keep the trim in a good mid-neutral, and repeat this color on your ceiling. Using a deeper tone for your ceiling will create less of a harsh contrast than the ubiquitous white."

Woelfel adds that warm neutrals can energize a space without being overwhelming. She sees them being used in common spaces that need a little pick-me-up. "I anticipate homeowners and designers will seek out [Behr’s] Almond Wisp and Cellini Gold because these colors complement changing styles and room usage needs," she says. "While Almond Wisp is a softer and more traditional neutral, Cellini Gold is a confident and inviting antique gold that’s fun and unique. I love matte-black finishes with Almond Wisp and pewter or dark bronze with Cellini Gold." And as for more private spaces, she sees Canyon Dusk and Modern Mocha being popular options.



Kingsport Gray is part of Benjamin Moore’s Historic Color collection.

Warm neutrals will be used as "building blocks" between rooms to connect a palette, especially in gathering spaces, says Cesa. "With a perfect balance between warm and cool, try pairing [Benjamin Moore’s] Kingsport Gray in an eggshell or flat finish with a deeper hue like Silhouette," she says. "Or play to its cooler side by pairing it with a Gray Cashmere trim." Foggy Morning, she says, would work in bedrooms and bathrooms.

Dramatic Black




Kim notes that black walls will trend as homeowners seek out a clutter-free home.

"We are seeing blacks take a more prominent position in rooms like kitchens and bathrooms that have a slightly more contemporary lean to them," Bellizaire says. "And like whites, blacks work with just about any other color in the spectrum." What was once too stark to play anything but a supporting role is now embraced as a way to bring sleek sophistication.

"The desire to declutter and simplify the mind is making a renewed focus on iconic colors like [Krylon’s] Matte Black," adds Kim. Bellizaire recommends using the shade alongside whites and wood tones for a rustic finish that still has depth, or accenting with metals like polished nickel and unlacquered brass for a more contemporary look. Kim would also pair black with a chalky, but equally classic, white. "Low-sheen and soft-touch finishes elevate the look," she says.

                        

With a hint of black, Amazon Soil by Benjamin Moore is a velvety mauve that inspires calm.

If black is too much of a statement, Cesa recommends using it as an undertone in a shade that’s a bit brighter, like the luscious purple of Benjamin Moore’s Amazon Soil. "Darker colors can create restful, comforting spaces to relax and unwind," she says. "Amazon Soil is an intriguing, smokey take on purple. For a more rich, luxurious feel, I love it in a matte finish paired with Muslin. For a higher contrast and complementary color combination, you could try it with Chestertown Buff."

Natural Greens




O’Donnell anticipates green being a popular shade for kitchen cabinetry and living spaces in 2021.

O’Donnell predicts that green, a popular color that promotes coziness and relaxation, will look especially inviting in living rooms. "Greens always exude calm, an essential state of mind for our busy lives," he says. "Consider Sap Green [by Farrow & Ball], which is strong but has an underlying brightness running through it."



Farrow & Ball’s Sap Green is a soft, earthy hue.

He also encourages people to be "adventurous" with the details by painting surrounding woodwork in an unexpected shade like Broccoli Brown. This will strengthen the feeling of nature even more-a positive, after so much time spent cooped up-while creating a captivating statement overall. O’Donnell thinks more kitchens will feature the color, too. "Green Smoke in Modern Eggshell is a timeless shade, and it works best below eye level on lower cabinets," he adds. "It can be combined with Shaded White on your upper cupboards."



Jojoba by Behr is a dusty, pale green that promotes tranquility.

Kim foresees green being used as a peaceful backdrop in multifunctional rooms. "Symbolic of peace, [Krylon’s] Satin Jade is a perfect blue-green that reflects the renewing power of nature," she says. "It can be paired with nurturing Satin Pistachio to emphasize a healthy lifestyle at home." Woelfel advises that a softer shade of green, like Behr’s Jojoba, would look great in a bedroom. "I love pairing Jojoba with Royal Orchard, and they would look beautiful with dark gray or black wood accents," she says.

Serene Blues




Woelfel sees coastal blues becoming prevalent in bedrooms, either on walls or as part of the furnishings.

It should come as no surprise that blue, a shade most often described as calming, makes the cut. "There are so many beautiful shades of blue to choose from," Bellizaire says. "Blues pair well with whites and greens for relaxing space, and I consider blues to be more timeless than trendy."

        

Farrow & Ball bills its Ultra Marine Blue as a "romantic, mid-toned" hue that’s been popular since the 18th century.

One room that always looks good in blue, according to O’Donnell, is the bathroom. "It contrasts perfectly with the classic white details most of us have in this room," he says. "For next year’s shades, think [Farrow & Ball’s] Ultra Marine Blue in Modern Emulsion (to tolerate moisture) for walls, paired with All White in Estate Eggshell on woodwork. You could even carry the Ultra Marine Blue over the ceiling for a lovely design statement."

Woelfel sees homeowners and designers responding to Behr’s Dayflower in bedrooms, which she’d pair with Modern Mocha. For those looking for a "wow" factor, Kim has it. "If you’re feeling inspired to stain an old wooden dresser to complete the look of your bedroom, try Minwax stain in its Color of the Year, Vintage Blue," she says. Matte Ink Blue is also a perfect addition to today’s home."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
US Justice Department Launches Criminal Mortgage-Fraud Probe into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Escalating Drug Trafficking and Violence in Latin America: A Growing Crisis
US and Taiwanese Defence Officials Held Secret Talks in Alaska
Report: Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission in North Korea Ordered by Trump in 2019 Ended in Failure
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Florida Murder Case: The Adelson Family, the Killing of Dan Markel, and the Trial of Donna Adelson
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Brand-New $1 Million Yacht Sinks Just Fifteen Minutes After Maiden Launch in Turkey
Here’s What the FBI Seized in John Bolton Raid — and the Legal Risks He Faces
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
×