The hottest home paint colors

Want to know the quickest way to add instant zest and vibrancy to your living spaces? Consider a fresh coat of paint on those walls, ceilings, doors and trim. Indeed, picking popular trending paint colors for the upcoming year can infuse new life and visual appeal into your home, helping it look fresh and contemporary.

“Paint colors, like fashion trends, evolve over time. Staying up to date with the latest color trends ensures your home will look modern and stylish, which could be especially important if you plan to sell your home in the near future,” explains Sheila Gholami Leatham, owner of Premier Painting Palm Coast.

“Colors can also have a profound impact on our mood and atmosphere of a room, creating a sense of warmth, tranquility, or energy,” she said. “And paint color choices are a reflection of our personality and style. Exploring new and popular hues allows you to express your individuality and experiment with different aesthetics.”

Homeowners often look to “color of the year” choices announced by different paint manufacturers and brands, typically toward the end of the previous year, for inspiration and ideas.

Here are a few of the 2024 Color of the Year (COY) picks:

• Persimmon (SW 6339) by Sherwin Williams, an earthy terra-cotta tone, named by HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams.

• Upward (SW 6239) is the actual Sherwin-Williams' Color of the Year for 2024.

• Cracked Pepper (PPU18-1) by Behr, a softer black hue.

• Renew Blue (8003-37D) by Valspar, a tranquil take on softer sky blue.

• Ironside (422-7DB) by Dutch Boy Paints, a deeper shade of olive with black undertones.

• Thermal (#752) by C2 Paint, a lighter blue shade.

• Limitless (PPG1091-3) by Glidden, a flexible buttercream color.

“Limitless is a warm hue that holds both the power of a primary color and the essence of a neutral. This anything-but-yellow honey beige tone offers limitless applications. We recommend using it anywhere and everywhere to give your space the glow-up it deserves,” says Ashley McCollum, a color expert with Glidden in Pittsburgh. “As an interior color, it works well on all four walls, accent walls, trim and cabinets.”

Renew Blue, meanwhile, “is perfect for bathrooms or bedrooms, bringing a touch of serenity to these spaces,” notes Carol Wilson, editor-in-chief of YouComfort. “And Cracked Pepper is a versatile shade used in living rooms or bedrooms to create a cozy atmosphere.”

Elizabeth Vergara is particularly enamored by the latter COY.

“Cracked Pepper is a moody color that not only introduces an element of sophistication but also establishes a chic and welcoming ambiance to your home,” she says.

Roman Smolevskiy, owner of A + Construction & Remodeling, is a fan of deep, calming blues, warm, muted golds and rich greens with an undertone of teal in 2024.

“I also recommend Valspar’s Lilac Whisper (4003-9A), a muted purple that exudes creativity and calm, and Sherwin Williams’ Canyon Clay (SW 6054), an earthy terra-cotta that grounds a space, bringing warmth to kitchens or entryways,” he says.

Indeed, expect earthy colors like warm terra-cottas, deep olive greens and rich browns to gain traction next year, as well, Leatham adds.

“Soft neutrals like muted grays, bluish pinks and creamy off-whites continue to be in vogue, creating a timeless and versatile backdrop for various rooms – from kitchens to home offices,” says Leatham. “Also, jewel tones like emerald green, sapphire blue, and amethyst purple can add a touch of luxury and drama in 2024. Consider using these colors as accent walls or in smaller spaces like powder rooms or foyers.”

Interior designer Nicholas Kaiko nominates Sherwin Williams’ Umber (SW6146) and Dunn-Edwards’ Limelight (DE5516) as worthy candidates for your walls and surfaces in the coming months.

“Umber draws from the reddy-browns trend, bringing richness and depth, and is suitable for dining rooms. Limelight, meanwhile, is a spirited, energetic yellow that can reinvent smaller spaces like a mud room or laundry room,” Kaiko notes.

Aim to repaint key areas of your home regularly. Leatham recommends a fresh coat every three to five years in high-traffic areas like the living room, kitchen and hallways, every five to seven years in bedrooms and lesser-used spaces, every three to four years in bathrooms, and every five to 10 years on exterior surfaces.

“Don’t be afraid to experiment with different paint colors. Paint samples on small sections of your walls before committing to the color to see how it looks in your specific lighting conditions. And when in doubt, consult with a professional interior designer or color expert for personalized recommendations,” Leatham recommends.

• Daily Herald staff contributed to this report.