2021 Paint Trends and How to Create Them

Picking out paint colors is probably one of the most fun yet crucial parts of decorating your space.  The colors you choose will set the tone for the entire look and feel you’re going for.  While it’s certainly exciting to look at paint swatches online or on a piece of paper, you’re often left stumped on how you can incorporate those colors into your own home.

I wanted to share some of the hottest new paint trends for 2021, along with real-life, visual examples of exactly how you can enjoy these new colors in the interior and exterior of your home.

This calming “Blissful Blue” will help cheer you up as you continue to make your home the center of your world.  If you have patio furniture, take this blue and cover your favorite chair in it.  Pair it with a yellow pillow, and now your favorite chair doubles as clouds and sunshine for you to daydream on.  Enjoy it inside by painting it on an accent wall. 

Bonus!  It makes for a great zoom background.  Not only is this a totally new take on blue, but it also goes perfectly with natural lighting...So pop open a window and enjoy this new color offered by Valspar. 

This shade from Farrow & Ball was created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum.  It's a “true earthy green,” which can be used to create the feel of a lived-in space or revitalize cabinets or walls in a guest bathroom.

If exterior projects are on your docket, Sap Green can give your front door a pop of color, perfectly complementing your surrounding landscape.

“Aegean Teal” by Benjamin Moore is a magnificent blend of blue-green and gray, perfect for incorporating a touch of color that is not too bold but makes a statement.  Don’t let the name “teal” fool you:  the added touch of gray gives this new shade a calming quality that will bring peace into your home.  Aegean Teal can bring elegance to any room when used as an accent on trim or cabinetry; it also pairs well with whites and creams.  If you have built-in cabinets that need refreshing, this shade will make them pop! 

Consider also using it as an accent outside if you have shutters.  This color will contrast beautifully against a white or stone exterior.

In a low-lit room, Farrow & Ball's "Tanner's Brown can look like a soft black, but outside and in homes with bright lighting, it appears browner, making this shade a versatile choice to transform any area of your home.

Tanner’s Brown can beautifully accent a wall in an office or living area to deepen your space, giving it a more modern feel. 

You could also consider refreshing your patio furniture by adding this rich brown shade to your outdoor chairs.

If you’re looking for a color rooted in nature that captures simple sophistication from every angle, then the Sherwin-Williams' 2021 Color of the Year, “Urbane Bronze,” is for you!  This new neutral is bold yet understated and pairs nicely with wood finishes, stone accents, and mixed metals. The best part is that Urbane Bronze is so multifaceted that it can be used as either a primary or an accent color.

This warm hue can be applied indoors to accentuate window trims or even spruce up the appearance of your fireplace mantel.  

But Urbane Bronze isn’t just for interior use.  In fact, it looks incredibly sharp on front doors and exterior trim when paired with whites.

Warm desert tones are brought to life with Behr’s 2021 Color of the Year, "Canyon Dusk."  This tan-pink hue Inspires feelings of togetherness, comfort, and grounding.  It’s been used to create a space for relaxation in the bathroom, encourage connectivity in the dining room, or even as a way to accent a blank wall in your home. Pair Canyon Dusk with other natural colors such as browns, greens, blues, or other neutrals like beiges and whites. This color will also work well with wood tones and white counters.

"Passionate" is a rich, saturated red that blends modern style and traditional charm.  The daring tone joins nine nature-inspired shades in HGTV Home’s Delightful Daring Color Collection, which is available solely at Lowe’s.  Passionate’s profound red creates a lively backdrop for neutral furniture and nature-inspired tones. 

Use this color in social spaces like your living and dining rooms to create an invigorating feeling.  You can also go bold with this deep red on the exterior of your home by using this color to paint your house numbers so they appear warm and legible to visitors looking to pull into your driveway!

This year PANTONE described its color selections as “a marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting.”
PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating
These two very different colors symbolize the harmony of partnership:  “Illuminating” with its hopeful, optimistic hue and “Ultimate Gray” with the reassuring resilience of natural elements.