2 of the New 2024 Paint Colors of the Year

It’s that time of year again - falling acorns, changing leaves and paint companies releasing their Color of the Year and paint palettes for the upcoming year.  Let’s take a look at two of the many Colors of the Year, Sherwin Williams and Home Depot’s Behr.

Sherwin Williams’ cool coastal color Upward SW-6239

Sherwin Williams Upward is a breezy, peaceful, calm blue hue. According to Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin Williams  "Upward SW 6239 represents the gentle forward momentum in all of our lives. It brings to life that carefree, sunny day energy that elicits a notion of contentment and peace. With this color, we invite our consumers to take a pause and infuse a new sense of ease and possibility into their spaces – one that doesn't overwhelm, but rather establishes meditation and tranquility."

Sherwin Williams Color of the Year 2023 Upwards

This nice, mid to lighter denimy blue has just a smidge of gray and the same smidge of violet in it, reminiscing for me  my periwinkle toned pale blue wedding dress I sported for my nuptials many moons ago. For the rest of you, you’ll think of your most washed, comfy jeans, a clouded blue sky, or channeling the Coastal or Nordic style vibe. 

How can you incorporate this color into your home?

Color psychology says that blue  is a color often found in nature, such as the pale blue of a daytime sky or the rich dark blue of a deep pool of water. It is for this reason, perhaps, that people often describe the color blue as calm and serene making it a perfect color for places you want to feel calm and serene in - Bedrooms, living rooms, offices.

Too, this color with its touch of violet will pair nicely with natural and oak woodtones, which is a bonus for older homes.  

A survey spanning 10 countries found that blue is the most popular "favorite color" for people globally, with men preferring the color blue more often than women (40% versus 24%, respectively, among subjects from the United States) making it a good choice color when staging a home.  A pale blue bathroom will add 1.3% to the value of your home according to the Zillow  Paint Colors Analysis. 

Sherwin Williams recommends pairing the hue with blues and greens, deeps and darks and delicate tints like Sherwin Williams Snowbound SW 7004, Drift of Mist SW 9166, Gale Force SW 7605, Tricorn Black SW 6528, Honeydew SW 6428, Palm Leaf SW 7735 and Antiquarian Brown SW 0045.

Sherwin Williams Upwards Collage

Behr’s moody, sophisticated Cracked Pepper PPU 18-1

The Behr 2024 Color of the Year is Cracked Pepper, a soft black that exudes confidence and instantly elevates any indoor and outdoor space. It is a versatile and sophisticated color that can be paired with various styles, finishes, and accents. 

"As we look into 2024, creating a sense of comfort and belonging will continue to drive design decisions—but now, as life returns to its more familiar rhythms, it's time to allow our senses to come alive," says Erika Woelfel, Vice President of Color and Creative Services at Behr Paint Company. "We recognize the growing desire for using darker colors throughout spaces," says Jodi Allen, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Behr Paint Company. "Adding a soft black like Cracked Pepper evokes a sense of confidence and individuality that we want all of our customers to feel after completing a project."

This edgy, deep gray black with blue undertones reminds channels for me the whole Dark Academia vibe we have seen the past few years. I’m itching to paint my living room TV/media wall back wall this color.  For the rest of you, you’ll think pencil graphite, the perfect color winter cashmere sweater, or channeling anything Ralph Lauren home to minimalistic Contemporary style vibe. 

How can you incorporate this color into your home?

According to Behr, more than half of Americans (54%) say black tones in a home create a new energy and vibe, so anywhere.

When selling Buyers are saying goodbye to bland and bidding more on homes with dusky, dramatic walls. A new Zillow® 2023 study finds recent and prospective home buyers would offer more money for a home with interiors painted dark gray. Charcoal walls are associated with higher offer prices than white in every room studied: kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom.

Quiet Luxury, a term borrowed from the fashion world, refers to the understated elegance of classic cuts and quality fabrics over the brashness of logo-mania. Thanks to its dramatic and moody feel, Cracked Pepper is the perfect way to bring this aesthetic to your home. For polished results, Behr recommends pairing it with warm neutrals, such as  Chic Taupe N230-4 , a hue that’s the perfect balance of brown and gray.

Thanks to its earthy, organic undertones, Cracked Pepper is also a great exterior paint. It’s a decidedly modern hue when splashed across the whole house, but paired with red brick, it leans more traditional. For a small project with a big payoff, try painting your front door and shutters.

Behr’s 2024 Cracked Pepper Collage

Want to find out more about who and how these paint colors are picked each year, more details on how to use new color trends whether selling or dwelling?

Tune in tomorrow (Wednesday 10/11/23) for the launch of my new Home Staging Podcast ONLY STAGERS IN THE BUILDING. I’ll be joined with Mary Hoffman paint and color expert from Benjamin Moore.

Home Office Paint Colors for Home Schooling

I was lunching (al fresco of course) with my friend and Benjamin Moore paint associate Mary Hoffman the other day. As we were catching up and discussing 2020, one of our talking points was how many of my clients have inquired about creating a great home office and e-learning environment. Delightfully in the e-mail yesterday came this wonderful, expert advice from Benjamin Moore’s corporate Color Director.

For any age, a home-schooling environment should be conducive to focus and concentration, while infusing color moments that can spark creativity.  Creating this balance with wall color s is important to avoid boredom or creating a space that may be too aggressive for school-related activities.  It is also important to take the other elements into consideration – beyond furniture and flooring, to include school-related supplies, accessories and other moments that may be good ways to introduce bold or saturated color, while maintaining a backdrop that is not distracting. 

Pre-school: There are two directions one can take with this age group.  I think a very pale blue like Polar Ice 1660 or a soft yellow like Fresh Air 211 would be a nice backdrop.  Another option is a warm white like Mountain Peak White OC-121 as a wall color with accents in primary hues coming from furnishings and small accents, and even toys/teaching tools.  That way there is a balance between lively colors that are eye catching and a wall color that is subdued and will not distract kids, especially when young attention spans are limited.  

Elementary: There is a pretty wide range for elementary students as they could be just a step up from pre-school, or on their way to Jr. High.  A soft green could be nice, like Spring Valley 438 or maybe Cedar Grove 444 for something slightly darker.  I also like Mt. Rainier Gray 2129-60 and Breath of Fresh Air 806.  Again, the wall color can be the back drop for other things happening in the space from furniture, to school supplies, to even white boards or bulletin boards with school-related items on it.  I’d also suggest using chalkboard paint in spots where it makes sense, using a darker color so the chalk stands out well, for instance Downpour Blue 2063-20 or maybe Jack Pine 692. 

Jr High: Now that the student is getting a bit older, the wall colors that will be appealing and will create an atmosphere conducive for studying may be a bit more nuanced.  A few colors that may appeal to this age group include Wales Gray 1585, Airway 828, Stonington Gray HC-170, or Vintage Taupe 2110-70.  There may also be opportunities for a “whiteboard” with notable, so a lighter color will work best to show off dry erase markers.

High School:  With tastes becoming more sophisticated and different school demands, the palette may expand to include some darker hues, and even variations on white for a modern look that also lends itself to schooling.  On the darker end of the spectrum, Van Deusen Blue HC-156 or Chelsea Gray HC-168 are nice choices, while Simply White OC-117 and Cloud Cover OC-25 could also work well.  Other options that appeal to this age group include Smoke Embers 1466, Gentle Gray 1626, or Ocean Air 2123-50.

Benjamin Moore Dry Erase Board Paint: Transform Any Wall Color Into a Dry Erase Board with Notable Dry Erase Paint. Find Your Perfect Color.

BEN® CHALKBOARD PAINT - Chalkboard Paint, available in any color, lets you turn virtually any interior surface into an erasable chalkboard.

Excitedly, I met with a new design client last week and picked Benjamin Moore’s Pale Smoke 1584 for her home office. I’ll be following up this post with my picks and home styling suggestions for her home office re-boot in another blog post. Stay tuned! - Julea

Have a decorating dilemma? You may be looking for some decorating or remodeling guidance, validation, or you are struggle with just pulling it all together. My 2 hour design consultation is a great option to meet your goals. Call or text Julea @ 708.543.8597.