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Paint Color Trends for 2020

Organic colors from nature are the paint color trend for 2020 with whites and dark blues as background. The colors tie in with neutrals already in place.

Maison d’Objet Colors Predict Paint Color Trends

The colors we saw repeatedly at Maison d’ Object (Paris, September 2019) were a colorful organic palette from nature, and we love it!  Think about orange sunsets, blue water, green plants, purple flowers.

Everyone is painting their home interiors and exteriors white after a decade of grays.  When Maddie and I went to Maison d’Objet in Paris this fall, we didn’t see very much white.  Instead, we saw these beautiful soft colors over and over again.

Baskets in different colors predict paint color trends
Photo by M. Marceny, Maison d’Objet September 2019
Beige couch with colorful pillows and dark blue walls predict paint color trends
Photo by M. Marceny, Maison d’Objet September 2019
Bed with colorful linens and hanging colorful towels from Maison d'Objet predict paint color trends
Photo by M. Camilli, Maison d’Objet September 2019

2020 Paint Company Colors of The Year

The paint company colors fall into the trend we saw with fresh, hopeful organic colors.

Usually paint company colors of the year seem random, just an excuse to sell paint colors.  This year, the paint companies nailed it.  This new color palette is full of beautiful organic colors found in nature, just as we saw at Maison d’Objet. The recurring themes are calm and tranquility with colorful natural elements as a retreat from technology.

Make a statement with you clor palette.

Color of the Year: Benjamin Moore First Light (2102-70)

Call me a color geek, but when I saw the announcement for Benjamin Moore’s First Light (2102-70), I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep. I stayed up all night thinking about where I could paint it, and I decided on my powder room.  See our paint color review for First Light here.  That kind of excitement is the first sign of a true paint color trend.  Then, I painted the lower panel under the wainscoting in my powder room. The top part is SW Agreeable Gray SW 7029.

Powder room painted with BM First Light (2104-10) bottom and SW Agreeable Gray on top.
Photo by M. Marceny, Germany residence. BM First Light (2104-10) bottom and SW Agreeable Gray on top.

Andrea Magno, Benjamin Moore’s Color & Design Expert said: “We’ve been in the neutral zone for a long time, and we love neutrals, but we feel people are ready to bring color into the home.”

Benjamin Moore 2020 Color of the Year is First LIght 2102-70
via Benjamin Moore

Color of the Year: Sherwin-Williams Naval (SW 6244)

Sherwin-Williams continued the Paint Color Trend with Naval (SW 6244), the color of the night sky. We saw this often in Maison d’Objet as a backdrop to brighter colors. Maddie Camilli used this color on an island for a kitchen update this year, and it looked stunning! At the Colormix® Forecast presentation in Denver, Sue Waddell said Navy will be on cabinets, walls, hardware and furniture.  It is beautifully paired with jewel tones and metals for an elegant and beautiful look.  We were told at Colormix® that GE is about to launch a line of appliances in Navy!

Sherwin Williams 2020 color of the year Naval SW6244 shown in kitchen island
Photo by M. Camilli, The Color Concierge

Color of the Year: Behr Back to Nature (S340-4)

Behr announced the color on August 15, 2019, right in line with the paint color trends: “Back To Nature is an organic shade of green meant to purify and promote balance at home.”  The theme of peace and tranquility for 2020 continues with this color.  Looks like sage green from the 1990s, but we love it.

Behr 2020 Color of the Year is Back to Nature S340-4
via Behr

Color of The Year: PPG Chinese Porcelain (PPG1160-6)

PPG also follows the paint color trend for calm and peace with Chinese Porcelain for their Color of the Year.   Dee Schlotter, senior color manager, PPG paint brand, said “The need for simplicity and escapism from technology is, in part, the reason that consumers are craving blues like Chinese Porcelain that bring us closer to natural elements such as the sea and sky – creating serenity in any space.”

PPG 2020 color of the year is chinese porcelain PPG1160-6
via PPG Paints

Color Palette of the Year: Valspar Palette

Instead of one color, Valspar gave us 12 Colors of The Year, almost identical to the Maison d’Objet paint color trends.  We picked two of our favorites from the palette to show you from their collection.

Valspar Canyon Earth (1007-9C) is a very soft livable Terra Cotta, the color of earth and clay.  It’s great for doors and accents, and we saw it all over Maison d’Objet.

door painted with Valspar 2020 Palette of the Year color Canyon Earth
via Valspar

Valspar Tempered Sage (6006-5A) is more yellow than sage green, but it looks amazing with warm woods.  Its a great color for a nook or powder room.

Kitchen Nook painted with Valspar 2020 Palette of the Year color Tempered Sage
via Valspar

How do I use these colors in my house?

All these colors look gorgeous with whites and grays that you probably have in place.  Start by adding these colors as accents, with throw pillows, art or rugs.  If you feel bold and want to experiment, paint a secondary room such as a guest room, powder room, laundry room or den.

The Verdict

For paint color trends in 2020, expect to see beautiful vibrant colors from nature in 2020, mixed in with dominant whites and grays.  It has been a long time since color was so prevalent in design palettes. Experiment with throw pillows and other accent pieces, accent walls and with secondary rooms such as powder rooms.

As always, don’t forget to test your paint colors. Check out our paint testing blog here.

Online Color Consulting

If you still need help with paint colors, check out our Online Color Consulting packages or an  in the Denver Metro area.

Online color consulting with email and photos.

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Meet Michelle

Driven to help clients fall back in love with their homes with intentional paint color schemes. She started the company based on her passion for color and its ability to make a house a home.

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