Paint is the easiest and quickest way to refresh a space without breaking the bank and this fall, in particular, the trending colors are deep, rich and earthy tones that can work with just about any existing color palette. If you’re wondering how to get that of-the-moment look to warm up your space for fall, consider your existing décor to get a look that feels timeless and personal.
A Broader View of Earth Tones
“While we are seeing the use of bolder single-color schemes, we have also seen a big shift towards warm, comforting neutrals,” says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene Paint and Paper. The family owned British paint and wallpaper maker just released 27 new luxury paint colors across two reformatted color cards, Colours of England and Colour Scales to respond to the ways they see homeowners shifting toward more saturated and warmer colors for their homes. While most people think “earth tones” and think browns and beiges, Mottershead says today’s homeowners are thinking more broadly. This year’s colors are “characterful, balanced neutral shades that offer a sense of soothing calm such as rich browns, perfectly balanced greens and delicate muted pinks,” says Mottershead.
This year’s deeper trending tones evoke a sense of heritage, comfort and longevity, says Karen Wolf, principal designer of K+Co. Living, based in Short Hills, NJ.. “I think we're moving toward a more diverse mix of color rather than one dominant aesthetic,” says Wolf. Moody dark and earthy palettes of the last few years create a sense of “comfort and protection, a cocooning feeling that makes home feel like a retreat,” adds Wolf. But joining them are a selection of vibrant, more energetic tones like buttery yellows and purer, crisper shades. The diverse range is a testament to homeowners looking for long-term investments. They are looking for colors that meet them where they are rather than trending fads. “We’re are seeing fewer impulse purchases,” she says, “and more consideration around craftsmanship, and whether something will truly stand the test of time.”
Interior Design by Curated Nest, Photos by Jacob Snavely
Calm with Color
Homeowners still want calm but calm no longer has to mean colorless, says Lina Galvão, co-founder with Erin Coren of Curated Nest in Greenwich, CT. Each of this year’s trending shades evoke a different vibe—each one with more soul and energy than homeowners sought out before. “This fall, I’m loving smoky jade, espresso brown, warm greige and muted oxblood,” says Galvão. “They feel rich and cozy without turning the room into a pumpkin spice latte. Each has enough depth to make a statement, but they still pair beautifully with wood, stone, brass and natural materials.”
If your room is neutral…
For homeowners with very little color, now’s your chance to try something bold, she adds. “Try a powder room, a built-in, an interior door or even a color-drenched room with the walls and trim painted in the same shade, suggests Galvão. “One strong moment usually feels more intentional than several tiny pops of color scattered around.”
If your room is colorful…
If you already have a colorful home, choose more neutrals to give those colors room to breathe,” recommends Wolf. “White can make brighter colors pop, while deeper neutrals can help ground them. You don’t necessarily need to introduce another color. Sometimes the best update is creating more contrast.” She particularly loves Benjamin Moore’s Silhouette, the company’s color of the year, (a deep, rich color with a gray undertone), and Sherwin-William’s Bitter Chocolate (a warmer take on brown). For a blue hue, she adds, Salty Dog’s marine vibe feels classic and fresh.
Find Balance
For a soft, neutral palette, Mottershead loves to sit Little Greene’s Hammock and Hammock Dark, (both warm, creamy neutrals) alongside Flight Pink, a delicate blush. She said the latest color palettes from Little Greene have a “gentle and characterful” mood that doesn’t overpower. Brûleé, their caramelized yellow is warm but soothing and soft, while Floss, Parlour and Boxington are “joyful without shouting.”
“There’s a real desire for balance,” says Mottershead of homeowners today. “We’re seeing colors right in the middle, neither too warm nor too cool, which is why balanced neutrals like Portland Stone have become so popular,” she adds.
Get Personal
Color is a personal choice, agree designers. “Always opt for colors you are drawn to, rather than following current trends,” advises Mottershead.
Wolf advises clients that their home should reflect their personal style rather than simply follow what’s trending. “We are known for using neutrals as a foundation with purposeful color layered as accents,” she says. She recently helped a client who loved urban street art and bold primary colors to design her space with a grounding inky navy to allow the brighter artwork to shine.
Start with what you love, advise the pros from Curated Nest. They recently helped a client design her living room in a cool blue-gray, despite the trend away from grays. “We started with that palette and layered in grasscloth, warm caning, wood and black iron finishes and natural textures,” says Coren. “The colors still felt completely personal but the mix of materials gave the room a crisp and current point of view.”
Designers say this broader acceptance of color allows for more homeowners to express themselves in a way that is uniquely them. “A room feels fresh because of the way color, materials, scale and contrast come together, not because it uses the official color of the year,” says Coren.
By Kristan Zimmer
FIND A POP OF COLOR
Green Marbled Acrylic Frame
