Paint companies’ Color of the Year selections signal warm shades of plum, brown and red will dominate home interiors.
2024 was mostly about shades of blue, and while 2025 includes a few similar hues, the pendulum has pretty much swung to the warmer side of the color spectrum. Shades of purple, red and brown are now top colors. Whether the paint brands are checking in with one another regarding their selections or they’ve simply fine-tuned their trend-casting radar, it’s clear: Warm colors are in. Here are 10 paint colors expected to thrive in 2025.
1. Cinnamon Slate by Benjamin Moore
This soft plum-brown hybrid is Benjamin Moore’s offering for its 2025 Color of the Year. Tapping into a perceived shift of interest from saturated hues to more nuanced neutral shades, Cinnamon Slate is touted by Benjamin Moore as “an inviting hue that offers enduring style and modern sensibility. Its depth and richness bring an air of approachability and sense of comfort throughout the home, making it a new favorite for years to come.”
2. Purple Basil by Glidden
This hue works well in any space where a relaxed vibe is desired, such as a living room, as shown here, or a bedroom. And because it’s fairly neutral, you can pair it with many other neutrals or more saturated colors, from warm burgundies and rusts to cooler hues such as navy blues.
Similar to the previous pick, Glidden’s selection, Purple Basil, is also a plum-brown hue, albeit edging closer to purple than brown. It’s a dark, rich hue that works well as a statement-making focal wall color in a room.
3. Rumors by Behr
Still on the warm end of the color spectrum, Behr’s Rumors jumps toward red. But this is no vibrant stop sign red. Instead, and similar to the previous two colors, it has a good bit of brown in it, which helps soften and neutralize it.
This color is right at home in a dining room or kitchen, as rich reds are thought to stimulate the appetite, as well as conversation. This hue would also work well as a front door color, heralding visitors to your home with a welcoming splash of color.
4. Raku by C2
A deeper, darker variation on the previous pick, Raku from paint brand C2 is inspired by thecenturies-old Japanese pottery technique associated with serviceware used in traditional tea ceremonies.
It’s a deep, earthy hue that shifts between red, burgundy and brown. A bit more neutral than the previous hue due to the heavy presence of brown and burgundy, it’s a classic color for a dining room, formal living room, or home bar or lounge space.
5. Violet by Minwax
The pretty purple on the vanity shown here is actually a stain, though at first glance it reads like a paint color. It’s Violet, Minwax’s entry for 2025 Color of the Year. An unconventional stain color is a great way to add some personality to an interior space. Here it plays well with the other violet hues in the bathroom, but because the wood grain on the vanity cabinet is visible, it provides a nice textural element and a subtle contrasting violet. If the vanity was painted in a similar hue rather than stained, it wouldn’t stand out from the wall.
6. Grounded by Sherwin-Williams
Rather than choosing one hue to define 2025, Sherwin-Williams put forth a color capsule of nine colors, most of which are on the warmer end of the spectrum.
One of the hues, Grounded, a rich brown with red undertones. This selection is perfect for those who never jumped on the gray bandwagon — or grew tired of it after many years of popularity. This is a good color option if you want a deeper, darker, dramatic color on the walls but aren’t a fan of cooler navy blue or dark gray.
7. Caramelized by Dunn-Edwards
If you liked the direction of the previous color, check out this similar color from Dunn-Edwards. Caramelized is a medium-value brown with orange undertones. Layered with other lighter and darker warm neutrals, as shown here, it creates a warm and inviting vibe.
It’s an appetizing color that works equally well in a dining room or eat-in kitchen, as well as in a bedroom or bathroom. And because it’s a fairly light color compared with all the previous hues featured so far, it’s a good choice in a light-deprived space.
8. Encore by Valspar
If none of the warm Color of the Year picks so far have been your cup of tea, perhaps this beautiful blue from Valspar is more to your liking. Encore is a saturated blue with a slight violet undertone.
Blue-painted kitchen cabinets have, and continue to be, a popular choice, and this shade of blue works well in this capacity, especially when paired with crisp whites and other light neutrals.
9. Quietude by HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Another cooler hue, shown on the wall, though this option is a bit lighter and more neutral than the last. I’ve specified this particular color numerous times and find it a flexible hue that shifts from green to blue to gray throughout the day, depending on the quality of light in the space. Despite the gray tones, it never feels overly cold or sterile. Consider this hue for a bathroom or bedroom where a crisp, clean and soothing feel is desired.
10. Mapped Blue by Dutch Boy
Last but certainly not least is Dutch Boy’s offering, Mapped Blue. I’m a big fan of colors that mimic the sea and the sky, and this blue hue has a lovely watery vibe. It’s light, but not too wispy, and has just a touch of green in it, which keeps it from veering too chilly.
Consider this color for a bedroom suite in a warmer climate or on the walls or ceiling of a small space you want to appear larger, as soft cool colors tend to visually recede, making a space feel more expansive.
Your turn: What do you think of the 2025 Color of the Year selections? Which would you pick? Share your thoughts with us!
Ready to bring these trends to life in your own home? The Lisa Ciccotelli Group is here to help you find or create the perfect space that fits your style. Reach out today to start your journey!
Read the full article below on the decadent and rich colors of the year here: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/10-paint-colors-set-to-define-2025-stsetivw-vs~178751444
