Color experts reveal what's in store for the year ahead – from retro reds to icy blues.
These Colors Are Going to Be Everywhere in 2024
Color experts reveal what's in store for the year ahead – from retro reds to icy blues.
Color lies at the root of all interior design decisions. It affects our emotions, sets the tone of a space, and, more obviously, contributes to the aesthetic appeal. Put simply, it's extremely important.
Each year, color experts reveal their forecasts for the year ahead, sharing the tones that will paint our lives. And in 2024, it's looking like retro tones and earthy hues are set to steal the scene.
"This year's color trends reflect an inner desire for positivity and spaces that nurture within our homes," explains leading paint company Dulux.
Whether you want to give one of your rooms a color refresh, or you simply want to add some accents throughout your home, these are 2024’s “it” shades to have on your radar.
Hot orange and red hues
If there’s one aesthetic we’ve been unable to avoid the last few years, it’s the ‘70s, and 2024 will continue to lean into the nostalgic, retro vibe with orange and red tones coming in hot.
Leading Paint brand Dulux’s 2024 ‘Muse palette’ features a line-up of deep midtone colors “heavily influenced by the nostalgia of the postmodern era, with a particular emphasis on the '70s.” One such colour is ‘Fluorescent Fire’; an orange-based red paint set to add a dynamic and uplifting touch to any space, infusing it with energy and warmth.
In both Pantone’s London and New York Fashion Week Spring 2024 top 10 colors, red and orange tones prevailed. From ‘Fiesta’, a fiery paprika tone to ‘Roobios Tea’, a full-bodied red with brown undertones, these warm hues stole the show.
In paint brand Haymes’ 2024 ‘Retro Mashup’ palette, the vibrant orange color ‘Silken’ is set to feed energy and warmth into a space.
These shades are bold and vibrant so you can either go big with a feature wall or bedding, or opt for accent pieces like cushions or '70s mushroom lamps for a pop of color.
Nature-inspired tones
Refreshing, muted green hues and pastel blues will add a breath of fresh air to 2024’s colour palettes.
Paint company Dutch Boy has named their ‘Ironside’ shade as their 2024 colour of the year. They describe this olive tone as a deep and comforting green that soothes and reassures.
Different shades of green also appear in Pantone’s London and New York Fashion Week Spring 2024 top 10 colours, including ‘Watercress’, a refreshing peppery green, and ‘Bistro Green’ a deep shade of forest.
Cool tones have taken a back seat the past couple of years, but 2024 will see a resurgence in cool tones. Pantone has featured two blues in their Spring 2024 colour trends forecast. Chmbray blue and Capri blue are two cool tones that perfectly suit both Euro summer vibes and icy winters. Paint company Sherwin-Williams have named their Upward tone, a light denim blue with grey undertones, as their official colour of the year.
If you’re looking to add colour to your home, but want to keep the aesthetic calm and sophisticated, green and blue tones can bring a sense of tranquillity and relaxation to a space, especially when using soft, muted shades that are trending for 2024. Turn to our colourways Coast and Pistachio to embrace this vibe.
Alluring purples
Purple might be intimidating to use in interior design, but it’s also a versatile color that can add a magical and elegant touch to your home. Several purple tones have appeared in the color expert’s 2024 forecasts, particularly the soft lilac tones we've seen dominating the visual identity of Gen-Z (think Millie Bobby Brown’s skincare line and Olivia Rodrigo’s album covers).
Soft lilac shades like Pantone’s ‘Burnished Lilac’ and ‘Pastel Lilac’ and Dulux’s ‘Canyon Cloud’ have all been selected as colors to keep on our radar in 2024, and work beautifully in bedrooms as they promote relaxation and a sense of tranquillity.
Alongside lilac tones, Haymes has featured their rich ‘Promise’ tone in their 2024 forecast. Deeper, rich shades of purple, such as eggplant or royal purple, can evoke a sense of opulence and luxury, with a retro twist.
Warming neutrals
Neutrals aren’t ever going to go out of style, but the tone of neutral does. For years grey tones dominated the 'neutral' spaces in our homes (hello 'Millennial Grey'), but those with yellow and pink undertones are continuing to rise in popularity. Whether your home is traditional or modern, warm neutrals can serve as a base for richly layered rooms and provide a lovely opportunity to play with textures and tones. Trends like 'Quiet Luxury' rely heavily on these sophisticated hues.
Paint company Glidden has declared their sandy tone 'Limitless' as their 2024 colour of the year while Dulux's Scandi-inspired 'Solstice' palette features an array of warm and comforting neutrals "designed to transform your home into a soothing retreat".