New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep. Do you really want to commit to a gym membership in January when the sun sets at 4pm and the temperature routinely dips below zero? Interior design resolution making, however, is much easier to get behind. With the exception of kitchen remodeling, design resolutions are typically a one-off job — like buying a new couch or crafting the perfect #shelfie.
A project that’s sure to pay off in the long run is paint, which has the power to transform the entire look of your home. Not sure which hue to opt for? We turned to five of North America’s largest paint manufacturers for the year’s top color trends.
1. Glidden Paint: Cappuccino White
Cappuccino White, a delicious sounding shade, was awarded for its versatility. The creamy off-white color “pairs well with delicate pastels and light naturals,” which are also big players in 2016.
2. Olympic: Blue Cloud
Blue Cloud, which was labeled “daring and adventurous,” was selected by Olympic as its top color for 2016. The blue-grey paint can create a bold, dramatic background or a modern pop of color that can be integrated into various decorating styles.
3. Benjamin Moore: Simply White
Five of last year’s top 10 best-selling Benjamin Moore paint colors were variants of white, so it’s no surprise that Simply White took the top honor. The company called the hue a “design essential” that pairs beautifully with natural light and has the capacity to be “transcendent, powerful and polarizing.”
4. Sherwin-Williams: Pura Vida, Mas Amor Por Favor, Nouveau Narrative, Trajectory
Why choose just one color when you can have 32? This year, Sherwin-Williams came up with four different color palettes to reflect the many shades of modern life.
Pura Vida boasts natural, earthy-tones like marble whites, soft grays and rosy pinks.
Mas Amor Por Favor opted for vintage-inspired paints that “appeal to all generations.” This playful palette incorporates greens, pinks and sunny yellows.
Nouveau Narrative drew from the Industrial Revolution and the modern-day Maker Movement to create a look that’s edgy and raw. Think olive green, denim blue, wooly grey and brassy brown.
Trajectory was influenced by art, science, commerce and technology. It features icy blues, stately plums and a blackberry hue that resembles a full-bodied red wine.
5. Behr: High Contrast, Blurred Boundaries, Lyrical Living and Luxe Dimensions
We blame Pantone (with its first-ever “blending of two shades”) for causing everyone to go above and beyond this year. Behr came up with four palettes, encompassing 20 brand new colors.
Like the name suggests, High Contrast, is a “playful interaction of color, texture and patterns” that pairs dark hues with bright, tropical tones.
Blurred Boundaries is a little bit neutral, a little bit fun. The palette features “subtle color combinations” like blues and greys with accents of orange and turquoise.
Lyrical Living is feminine and sumptuous with “punches of color in unexpected places.” These warm hues include dark gold, ivory and taupe brown.
Luxe Dimensions can best be described as traditional-meets-modern, and makes any space feel brighter and more spacious. It features colors like sapphire blue, lively coral, muted olive and a Citronné yellow.
