Paint colors can have a huge impact on your home and mood, from bright, vibrant colors that energize a room to softer, muted colors that exude a zen atmosphere. But what ultimately makes a Happy Home? It comes down to personal preference and your association with certain colors. But whatever you prefer, according to our pros, color is back. “When you’re about to bite the dust, you don’t want to look back on your life and see an endless beige haze,” jokes the potter and designer Jonathan Adlerthe new colorful collection of no-nails wall art with TilePix. Here are all the colors inspiring designers and color experts this fall and beyond — plus expert predictions on what colors to use for 2025 and 2026!
Theresa Butler, interior designer from Atlanta
Sherwin Williams Malted Milk
“Right now, I love pinks, yellows and greens for a cheerful, vibrant home,” says Theresa Butler, director and founder of Theresa Butler Interiors in Atlanta. “I especially love the colors from Sherwin Williams. malted milk, SunflowerAnd Hunting club.” Butler describes Malted Milk (SW 6057) as a warm, reddish neutral that will brighten any room without being too intense, perfect for bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms.
@the75design
Sunflower (SW 6678) is a rich, golden yellow that Butler says can “liven up a boring room.” It also makes a great front door color.
Sherwin-Williams
The rich, deepHunt Club (SW 6468) has a hint of blue and a woodsy vibe. “Hunt Club can enhance your space, especially when paired with wallpaper,” adds Butler.
Benjamin Moore
“Blue is a wonderful color – every shade of blue goes with every other shade of blue,” says Adler.
Farrow & Ball
“If you really want to make an impression, add color to the ceiling. You can continue from the accent wall or just add color to the ceiling,” she adds. Severdia also recommends House of Hackney for matching wall colors and wallpaper.
Sue Wadden, Head of Color Marketing at Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin Williams Grounded (SW 6089)
Color trend forecast 2025-2026
“There are no rules,” says Sue Wadden, color marketing manager at Sherwin-Williams. “Maybe you paint your floors in a checkerboard pattern or your trim yellow. That’s really taking a risk and giving permission, which is fun and a great thing to do.”
The Sherwin Williams color forecasting team (yes, there is such a job) has identified 48 colors that they believe will be on trend in 2025 and 2026. The Sherwin-Williams CapsulesCollection offers a mix of new neutrals and bright colors that feel fresh for the home. “I love Grounded (SW 6089),” says Wadden, a color from the Quiet Luxury-inspired Crysalis palette. “It’s this beautiful, almost café au lait-like color. I’m thinking about painting a room brown, which is very 1999, but I kind of love how much it just makes me happy.”
Sherwin-Williams
Coral Kicks from the Kindred collection is another favorite. “I like coral a little bit more than pink. Personally, I just like orange tones and I think Koral Kicks is a really balanced, pretty soft coral,” says Wadden.
The coral color is great for offices and bathrooms. “I love it for bathrooms because the skin really glows in peachy colors. Coral colors are great for office spaces because they are fresh and exciting, but at the same time soft and not overpowering,” adds Wadden.
Shutterstock
“Yellow will be on the rise in 2025 and 2026,” says Wadden. “We see it on kitchen cabinets and door panels.” Wadden recommends Sherwin Williams Quilt Gold (SW-6696) for a fresh, bright yellow. “This version of gold is not quite school bus yellow, it’s a little more muted, so it’s really usable,” she adds.
Sherwin-Williams
Wadden also notes two trends that will determine future home trends. “Our source The collection is really inspired by classicism and a return to heritage. We’re really predicting these deeper, richer, almost antique colors, and they’re resonating well in the home,” she says.
Sherwin-Williams
Color drenching is also a trend that will embrace bolder, brighter tones, notes Wadden. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a full color drenching. It could be pops of color, but it’s about taking risks and getting out there,” she says. The above room features Dark Night SW 6237 And Tidewater SW 6477and gives the room a calming and luxurious atmosphere.
Suzanne Ashimine, Compass Real Estate Agent
Shutterstock
Best exterior paints
For homeowners, color choices are moving away from pure white and black toward softer, warmer tones. “I love the warm color trend, with a solid-color exterior accented by a bright door for a pop of color,” says real estate agent Suzanne Ashimine of Sonoma, California. “Make sure the roof complements the color of the house for a unified aesthetic,” she adds. Your favorite neutral, yet warm, colors? “Fawn brindle (SW 7640) by Sherwin-Williams offers a versatile warm taupe-greige that suits a variety of architectural styles,” says Ashimine.
Shutterstock
She also recommends Aegean Olive (1491) by Benjamin Moore, a deep, earthy green with brown undertones, “perfect for adding an earthy touch to a home,” she says. Pale Oak (OC-20) by Benjamin Moore “is a taupe-greige that appears almost white in bright light but has a subtle purple undertone in shadow areas,” she adds. If you own a home, try these colors to increase your home’s curb appeal and create a cozy, inviting atmosphere.
Are you passionate about home decorating? Find more home decorating inspiration on our homepage and Pinterest page!
Cover image by Farrow & Ball
