Each year, color experts from top paint companies and design organizations unveil their Color of the Year—a hue that reflects the cultural mood, emerging trends, and evolving aesthetic preferences for the year ahead. Last year, we saw a shift in tone as we moved into saturated colors. Collectively, we're moving towards bolder hues that add more personality throughout the home. These stronger colors reflect a desire for individuality and personal expression, allowing clients to express their particular ideals.
Purple Basil by PPG Paints
This year, we're taking a perceptible leap forward as we embrace the fearless side of our design choices. The 2025 colors are a celebration of both boldness and coziness, evoking feelings of warmth, connection, and creativity.
Let's take a look at the Color of the Year selections from our favorite brands!
Benjamin Moore: Cinnamon Slate
Benjamin Moore’s pick, Cinnamon Slate, is a warm purple-brown tone selected for its subtle boldness. Cinnamon Slate can warm up a room while keeping the design sophisticated and elegant. Benjamin Moore took on the phrase ‘quietly colorful’ as their inspiration for their selection, and Cinnamon Slate captures it beautifully. It is a tone that effortlessly transitions from cozy living rooms to chic office spaces, infusing any environment with a warm, welcoming energy. Whether used as a bold accent or a soft, enveloping backdrop, Cinnamon Slate encourages a return to earthy, grounded palettes—bringing depth and complexity to modern design while maintaining a timeless appeal.
Cinnamon Slate by Benjamin Moore
Behr: Rumors
Behr’s color of the year was inspired by the takeover of warmer neutrals in modern design. This earthy red tone evokes a sense of timeless elegance, reminiscent of regal hues of gemstones and fine wine. Behr stated that “People are really starting to look for ways to bring those bolder colors, those edgier colors, into their home”. Rumors is a color that sparks a sense of creativity while continuing this year’s theme of being sophisticated and stylish. Create an accent wall in a living room or add a touch of glamour to a dining area with this warm ruby red, a statement for where interior design is heading.
Rumors by Behr
Dutch Boy Paints: Mapped Blue
As design trends come and go, one color that sticks around is blue. Dutch Boy Paint’s color of the year remains classic with Mapped Blue, a tranquil and sophisticated shade that evokes a sense of calm and exploration. With its soft blend of muted blue and yellow undertones, the shade complements a wide variety of palettes and styles. Dutch Boy Paint’s forecast is inspired by the generations. Lisbeth Parada, color marketing manager for Dutch Boy Paints said, “We are seeing a significant shift, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z's, toward products that offer durability, functionality, and timeless aesthetics.” Mapped Blue speaks to this audience as its serene hue fosters a sense of balance and mindfulness in any design.
Mapped Blue by Dutch Boy Paints
PPG Paints: Purple Basil
PPG says homeowners are looking for bolder colors and fewer neutrals, and their color of the year showcases this trend. Purple Basil is a rich jewel tone that blends a deep purple hue with warm, herbaceous undertones. PPG is calling this color “equally cozy and warm as it is opulent and rich, making it a perfect paint for those who want to dive into color but still want a sense of security”. This unique and versatile hue encourages people to embrace bold color choices and celebrate the natural world in their interiors, making it an ideal statement color for the year ahead.
Read our thoughts on how to use this is color in Pittsburgh Magazine's "PPG Paints Unveils Its 2025 Color of the Year."
Purple Basil by PPG
Graham & Brown: Elderton
Graham & Brown’s color of the year is inspired by the Elder Tree. Elderton is a warm, neutral-toned brown that brings a sense of grounded comfort and understated elegance to any space. With its earthy, rich undertones, this color calls back to the Elder Tree’s deep brown leaves and evokes the timeless beauty of nature. Head stylist of Graham & Brown says, “Elderton is a chameleon color that is sophisticated yet cozy depending on the mood of the space it is in”. Whether used to create a serene backdrop in living rooms, bedrooms, or kitchens, Elderton pairs effortlessly with both muted tones and bolder accents, adding depth and a touch of organic luxury to interiors.
Elderton by Graham & Brown
Sherwin Williams: Color Capsule
Sherwin Williams took a different approach this year in celebrating their 15 years of announcing a color of the year. For 2025, the brand put together a nine-color collection to forecast the trends: The 2025 Color Capsule of the Year. The capsule features hues of brown, white, gold, green, blue, and mauve. Director of Color Marketing, Sue Wadden said, “We wanted a modern, fresh take on color, with a balanced and usable assortment of shades”. These colors show Sherwin Williams’ favorites of the past and future. These hues encourage a step into the bold use of vibrant and saturated color while still offering a harmonious balance with soothing, neutral tones.
Sherwin Williams 2025 Color Capsule of the Year
What do you think of this year's hues? Drop a comment below and let us know which one is your favorite!
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