Popular Paint Colors with Designers and Builders Right Now

 With the pandemic and home quarantining, I have specified more paint colors this last year (by far) for my clients than ever before. It seems like everyone has been updating their home this last year with so much extra time at home.  I thought today I would share some of the most popular paint colors that I’m seeing trend with designers and builders in new construction projects across the country and with my own clients.

For almost 12 years, I have been blogging about paint color trends and I really think this is the most interesting and beautiful time when it comes to home paint color selections. Consumers are using color (although subtle and strategic) and lightening up their whole homes to bring in more natural light. I’m seeing a lot of lighter wall colors contrasting with rich dark complex colors and textures that are meaningful and intentional. I am just SO inspired right now by all these amazing colors that I have been seeing!

Benjamin Moore Solitude

 

Benjamin Moore White Dove

I’m breaking down these popular paint colors into general color groups to help you better see what’s trending right now. Keep in mind, I only share color trends to help you discover dependable colors. If a color is popular and a best seller, it’s more than likely because it’s a very versatile and dependable great color.

Shades of Steel Blues

I wanted to start with shades of steel blue because these shades are the “It Girl” of colors right now. I am seeing these shades of steel blue everywhere right now! Steel blues are the last shade of blue on a fan deck before the colors shift to gray. These shades of blues are muted and have a lot of gray in the undertone. Below, I pulled together a mood board to really show you all the variation of steel blues.

Below are some shades of steel blues that I just saw last week during the Utah Valley Parade of Homes (I’ll be posting a recap next week) and I’m also sharing these shades of blues that I have recently done in my own client projects.

In the Chatwin Home during the UV Parade, they used several different shades of steel blue throughout the home including these beautiful mudroom/lockers painted with Benjamin Moore Providence Blue. Providence is a popular and stunning darker blue.

Benjamin Moore Providence Blue

Also in the Chatwin home, they used another very light steely blue on the kitchen buffet below painted with Benjamin Moore Smoke. Smoke has been popular for years because it’s such a versatile and dreamy blue/gray.

Benjamin Moore Smoke

In a recent client whole home project I used a beautiful muted blue/gray on the kitchen island that I custom mixed for my client.  The color is very close to Sherwin Williams Slate Tile. Notice how well this shade of blue/gray compliments wood tones in the floor. It’s because of the gray in the undertone that helps balance/transition.

Below is a shiplap wall painted with full strength Sherwin Williams Slate Tile, which is another popular blue/gray from Sherwin Williams. This color is so dependable and I have never seen it look questionable anywhere.

Sherwin Williams Slate Tile Blue

Benjamin Moore Philipsburg Blue has been a Ben Moore best selling blue for as long as I can remember and I really loved it on these cabinets in the Regent home that I saw last week during the parade. Philipsburg Blue is a blue/gray that leans a little more saturated. It’s a really beautiful color.

Benjamin Moore Philipsburg Blue

If you look below at the list of the current best selling Benjamin Moore paint colors right now, you will notice that the majority of these popular colors are like the shades of steel blue-muted with gray in the undertone. While people are wanting more color in their home right now, most want these more saturated colors to easily compliment and blend with all the other tones in the home. It’s the safest way to introduce color into a space.

Trends in Whole Home Colors

Over the last 9-12 months, I have started seeing this big shift in whole home wall colors in new construction, from mid-toned warm grays or true white walls into very light “almost there” color. I’m also seeing this with my own clients as well who want a whole home wall color in between white and a light warm gray and for some, they are requesting off-whites (almost creams).

Wall Color is Farrow and Ball Shadow White (at 50%)

During the Parade of Homes last week, I saw these whole home colors range from the popular Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray to Benjamin Moore White Dove.

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray in spaces with a lot of natural light is a gorgeous whole home color and is one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular grays right now. This home below that I toured last week from Alair Homes has an abundance of natural light throughout the home and Stonington Gray looked so beautiful on the walls.

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

In spaces without a lot of natural light, Stonington Gray will go darker and cooler. Still a beautiful light wall color but for sure not quite a “barely there” color in this lighting situation below.

 

In the Raykon Construction parade home, they used Sherwin Williams Useful Gray below on the walls in the family room area. Again, this barely there color was indicative of what I have been seeing for whole home wall colors in new construction in the last year. In spaces without a lot of natural light, I would sample Useful Gray at 50% if you want this subtle look below.

Sherwin Williams Useful Gray

In the RC Dent parade home last week, they used a stunning barely there wall color from Farrow and Ball called Shadow White at 50%, which was absolutely breathtaking on the walls! They used full strength F&B Shadow White on the trim.

Wall color Farrow and Ball Shadow White at 50%

In my own projects, my clients have also been asking for the same range of very light whole home wall colors. I’m no longer hearing requests for true white walls or mid-toned grays for whole homes. Below, I used a custom mix that’s close to Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist (but lighter) for my client who requested a very soft wall color that was just enough to contrast the trim.

 

Muted Greens

I have also been seeing a lot of beautiful rich muted greens being used a lot in the last year in new projects that I have toured. In fact, during the UV Parade last week, I couldn’t get over how much green I saw on walls and cabinetry throughout the tour!

In the Alair home below, this breathtaking wall of shelving painted with Benjamin Moore Enchanted Forest was absolutely amazing to see in person. That color is so dreamy!

 

Benjamin Moore Enchanted Forest

This particular shade of muted green is really versatile because of the gray in the undertone.

Benjamin Moore Enchanted Forest

In the Raykon parade home, I fell in mad love with this muted beautiful green on the gym wall called Laurel Wood from Sherwin Williams. Notice that they painted the trim in the same color.

Sherwin Williams Laurel Wood

According to Benjamin Moore, these colors below are their best selling greens right now and as you can see, they are all muted and subtle green hues. I love these stunning shades and it’s the safest way to introduce subtle color by staying in the muted zone.

Moody Darks

The moody dark color trend is clearly still extremely popular and it seems to me that the colors are getting even darker. During the parade last week, I saw a lot of charcoals and almost blacks. Not just on cabinetry or accent walls but moody dark walls in whole rooms like this bedroom below painted with Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black, which is Sherwin Williams’ best selling black.

Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black

 

Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black

I can’t tell you how much I just love seeing all of these rich dark moody colors balanced with light off-whites in spaces. To me it’s really one of the best ways to make a statement and create ambience. These colors really tell a story in a space.

I am so curious to hear from you guys! What colors are you loving right now? Do you have any new favorites?  Share your favorites below in the comment section. My favorite color right now is Sherwin Williams Samovar Silver! I recently painted my double French doors in my bathroom this color and I really love it! Below is a sneak peek at the color and my sweet girl Coco.

Thanks for stopping by today friends! If you want to see more best selling paint colors, you can see the 50 most popular Sherwin Williams colors here.

Cheers!

Cyndy