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Interested in the Colour Trends? Why not check out our very latest look at the trends that are coming our way in 2022! See all the latest colour inspiration right here.
2020 has thrown us all for a curve. Whatever your plans were, the mission became one of self and community care. We need colour trends, inspiration, ideas and spaces to match. Soothing, calming, protective spaces, but spaces that are also stimulating to be in a lot more than we might be used to.
So, gone are the hot colours of recent years.
US paint giant Sherwin-Williams were the first major player to announce their Colour Trends for 2020-2021. Theirs is always an interesting bellwether for the design industries.
The team of colour scientists, statisticians and social psychologists at S-W look at the buying trends, design trends, the news stories and advertising, trying to extrapolate an idea of where fashion and design might take us in the next year.
It’s fascinating, subjective, creative work! As with all design, it’s all about what resonates, and from all this research, the colour team build a series of palettes using the tones they see coming to the fore.
So: where do these design fortune-tellers think the colour trends are headed for 2020 and the decade to come?
[Keep in mind, all these predictions were being worked on back in 2019, well before anyone imagined a pandemic would turn every plan on its head! It’ll be fascinating to see where these same scientists see us headed now and where the world’s designers end up heading in lockdown.]
Let’s take a look at how you might rejuvenate those interiors you’re spending more time in than anyone expected.
What’s your 2020/2021 colour inspiration?
Contents
Colour Trends 2020 / 2021
Sherwin-Williams
S-W typically like a bold palette. Their predictions for 2019 were certainly that. When they announced their 2020/2021 colour trends it was almost shockingly calming! These 5 palettes were all intended as a response to “the fast pace of modern life and technology [which] is leaving us all in need of a little more serenity in our interiors”.
Check them out:
Palette #1: Alive
The first palette is being called “Alive” by the forecasters. This evolves from 2019’s bright, sparkling jewel tones, deepening and enriching them. What were eye-catching accent tones have been turned into luxurious backgrounds. The rich blues and ripe, dark olive finishes echo mindful living and natural surroundings, as well as the vibrant organic colours of fruits and vegetables.
Palette #2: Mantra
The Mantra palette is softer; a more neutral range without being at all bland! The balance of warm and cool tones is intended to imbue a pastel calm. This palette works really well in transition spaces; calm and cool with no need to overwhelm or intimidate.
Palette #3: Play
This is by far the most eye-catching of S-W’s 2020 palettes, and somewhat more typically Sherwin-Williams. “Play” is all about pops of colour; this is where the accent walls are still clinging on!
2019’s colour blocking was some of the most interesting movements in colour we’d seen for several years (along with maximalism and the return of exception wallpapers). Contrasting an accent wall with a dramatic sofa or sideboard will always create “a moment”.
Such bold design choices certainly don’t work for every room, but where so many of the S-W palettes trend towards the “subtle”, the colour trends here are as subtle as a rollercoaster! They’re really exciting to see.
Bright pink, aqua and gold are all about bringing joy to a space, and look at the drama of this aubergine. A real favourite.
Palette #4: Haven
Haven is all about nature, but with a stronger, even cooler take. From the depths of their infamous perle noir to the sea, sand, forest and sky shades are all about organic, natural elements; a slightly different take to the Alive palette, and one we really like.
Palette #5: Heart
S-W’s final palette is “Heart“. What better way to round off the year’s mindfulness theme?
These silky, neutral tones pair really well with those of Haven and Alive set. They bring a warmth with clove, soft coral and earth tones, giving a protective, insulated feeling to a space. Almost like a burrow. These are the “snuggle” tones you want to wrap around yourself to escape life’s hubbub.
As for the rest…?
Of course, this is one company’s forecast, based on current trends.
Dulux made for an interesting contrast in their pick for 2020’s Colour of the Year.
Where Sherwin-Williams ultimately selected the luxuriously calm deep blue tone “Naval” from the “Alive” palette, the Dulux team forecast a tangential trend toward a less elemental – but no less natural – olive/forest green of Tranquil Dawn.
Both colours are so much cooler and more soothing than the ochres, reds and oranges of recent years. We loved them both at the time of their announcement, and our appreciation has only grown as 2020 developed, with all its turbulence outside and the desire for calmer, more soothing interiors.
As time has gone on, it’s the rich deep blue that has entranced us most.
When Pantone announced their choice of “Classic Blue” as the colour for 2020 it seemed only too perfect.
Check out our write-up of the Colour of the Year for more detail there.
We’re still looking forward to seeing how these colours might influence the designers. With the upheaval in schedule for the year’s design exhibitions, it’s becoming difficult to know when we’ll get to see those big reveals, but the anticipation only makes it that more exciting.
As always, the most important thing is how you use any of these colours.
How have they inspired your spaces?
Let us know in the comments below, on Instagram or by getting in touch.
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. appreciate it
Thanks Dock!
We’re using a customized version of Slush Pro, which is a Genesis theme from zigzagpress.
Glad you like it. We do too!
Hi,
I will really appreciate if you can suggest color trends for home decor products for autumn 2020.
Hi Zeeshan,
Autumn is great for warmer colours, creating a sense of snug coziness that draws us inside and together, away from the literally and figuratively cooler/grey-blue world outside (orange is also a natural complement to blue – giving a nice counterpoint).
Both the ‘Heart’ and ‘Alive’ palettes are good options from Sherwin-Williams here, with subtle warmth.
Hope that helps — and check out our post on 2019 trends too for more inspiration on where you can take these looks with the latest thinking in decorations.
Hurrah, that’s what I was searching for! Great stuff!
Glad we could help!
Тhis site was… how do you say it? On the money!!
Finalⅼy I’ve found something that helped me. Thanks!
Glad to hear it, GW! Good luck!
In the color pallet #3 called play is that the name of the paint color? I really like the color but I’m having trouble locating it in the store. Terry
Hi Terry!
The Sherwin-Williams palette names refer to whole collections of colours. “Play” is actually a combination of 9 very different colours; probably the best way to see them all is here.
I hope this helps. It’s a great palette! We look forward to seeing how your redecoration works out!
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the structure
of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to
say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with
it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 pictures.
Maybe you could space it out better?
Thanks for the suggestions, Bess!
We’re always looking for ways to improve, and as we grow, sourcing and incorporating more beautiful photography is definitely high on our agenda!
We hope you keep checking back regularly, and we hope you’ll always let us know how we’re doing.
Awesome post! Keep up the great work! 🙂
Thanks Bess! Glad you could stop by!
Hi, enjoyed your post. Thank you. I am looking for the “haven” paint at Sherwin Williams website but on their site it is green! I am wanting the blue- grey that is according to your post, named haven. Can you help me?
Good question, Leanna! That’s our favourite tone in this line-up too.
The full Haven palette is here : the colour you’re after is actually called “Granite Peak” — it’s SW 6250.
Hope this helps!
Be sure to come back and let us know how it looks in your project. Good luck!
Thank you so much for this post! We recently moved into a new home with really outdated kitchen cabinets, so I’m planning on getting then updated with a local cabinet refinishing company in just a few weeks. I had my heart set on just doing white shaker cabinets, but after stumbling across your blog post on Pinterest, I changed my mind! I absolutely love the Rock Candy color and will have the refinishers color match it. I think this palette will look a lot better with the style we are trying to go for!
That’s so exciting, Sarah! Good for you. Having fun with colour is one of our absolute favourite things and we love the direction you’re thinking. It’s that little extra pop that you’ll get to enjoy every day. We can’t wait to see your finished space. Be sure to let us know how it works out!
I love the entire design on the heart palette and I am planning on redesigning my guest bedroom exactly like this. Can you verify if the room’s color is likable sand or redendpoint? Also, can you tell me who sells that amazing chair?
Hi Jen – we know what you mean. It’s got that fantastic, Scandinavian “Hygge” coziness, right?
The dominant colour in that design is indeed the Likeable Sand (SW 6058). If you like that chair then you’ve got a whole rabbit hole of furniture joy to fall down! That chair is an adaptation of a really beautiful mid-century design by the great Danish designer, Hans Wegner. Once you look up his designs you’ll start to realise you’ve been seeing them all your life without knowing they all came from a single design studio! You can splash out on some very high quality, solid wood replicas like this, which will probably last just about forever (and cost a small fortune), but if you enjoy the hunt and want to find a real bargain, start checking out the second-hand and charity furniture stores near you. We’ve seen incredible furniture even at car boot sales and these mid-century designs are exactly the kind that were built to a super high standard and are still in fantastic condition.
Good luck with the redesign! Definitely let us know how you get on – can’t wait to see it!
I am buying a small 2 bedroom cottage which I will enjoy part time and rent on vacation rental site. It is in the foothills of a year round resort with winter skiing. The area is known for vineyards, breweries, and fruit orchards. I was thinking about the haven color theme. After a day of hiking, skiing or vineyard hopping, I want my guests to feel completely relaxed and comfortable. Suggestions?
Hey Jennifer – your project sounds fantastic! So exciting. The Haven palette sounds like a great match for you; have you taken a look at the 2021 colour trends that have just come out this week? Only Dulux have announced their colour of the year for next year so far, but the Haven palette here fits right in with where Dulux see the trends going next year, making your choice pretty timeless. Check out their palettes: the Trust palette especially could give you some other interesting ideas to play with, and maybe into the golds and yellows of the their Timeless palette.
Give it a look and let us know what you think. Can’t wait to see your finished project!
For palette #4 where did you find the trim? Just love it!
All credit has to go to Sherwin-Williams’ own styling.. It’s such stand-out palette though, isn’t it? We’re pretty smitten with it too.
This article is wonderful! love your post and it’s very informative. I wonder if palette #5 will still be in the list of trends for 2021.
Hopefully you’ll also share a post about the colour trends for the year 2021, looking forward to that.
Thanks for stopping by, Ava! We’re working on next year’s trends now, so be sure to check back in the next week. And palette #5 is a winner isn’t it?! It’s a safe bet for 2021 trends too – it shares a lot of links with the earthy, organic tones preferred by Dulux for the coming year.
I’m planning on repainting my stuff at home but I’m really bad at color combinations. Now I have an idea of what needs to be done. I’ll just wait for my concrete contractor to finish their job outside, then I’ll start refacing the furniture inside.
Good luck, Mari Ann! Can’t wait to see the results.