The Best Paint Colors for 2020, According to Interior Designers
The easiest way to update any space’s look and feel is with a new coat of paint. Whether you’re looking to improve a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen, fresh paint is an easy and affordable way to transform your home.
Designers across the country are excited to see what colors make their way into homes.
In 2019 roughly 39% of all surfaces Paintzen painted were white. But designers involved with our Trade Partner Program seem to think there will be a bit more color in 2020.
Green Jewel Tones
The political and social climate plays a role in some of the color choices this year. Homeowners are looking for something that is both bold and neutral at the same time. These colors will make a statement, but they won’t offend the décor or homeowners.
1. Evening Emerald
Rhobin DelaCruz, who launched his bicoastal design firm in 2008, thinks “moody colors” are going to be on the rise. “Jade green, emerald blue, and gunmetal gray are just a few; we saw take the stage this year.” DelaCruz believes these types of colors are here to stay, but “with a twist.” “With fashion taking a nod to the ’80s, interiors too appear to be on-trend to acknowledge this decade. Expect to see chalkier versions of these moody colors, such as Evening Emerald. It’s bold enough to set the tone of a room and grounded enough to fall into neutral territory.”
2. Dark Green Velvet
Brett Helsham, a successful NYC designer, is also seeing green. “I love Dark Green Velvet right now. It’s this gorgeous green that sits in between a jewel tone and a pastel, being both bright and subdued at the same time – but with a lot of personality!”
Helsham says that we are often drawn to earth tones in times of political and social upheaval because of their neutrality. “You can mix it with a seafoam/toothpaste green for a tone on tone, or you can mix it with a pastel pink to lighten the mood! (I think you can throw any color with it, and it would look amazing – deep purple, yes, bright orange, yes, yes!) It looks great with a beat-up leather sofa and some fun light blue side chairs, or with all neutral-toned furniture with lots of nubby, textured fabrics!”
She goes on to say, “this color is perfect for a room where stories can be shared – a home library or office, or even a den – a place that’s small and intimate where you want to spend time with the ones you love in a more intimate setting.”
3. Royal Hunter Green
Myra Epp of Tetrachrome Design sees homeowners and designers alike embracing warmth and depth in 2020. “I anticipate the industrial minimalist style with the pure whites and light grays [to become] less mainstream.” Her recommendation is to “accent walls using deep shades, such as…Royal Hunter Green, combined with strategic lighting, to create a soft and rich ambiance.”
Bold Blues
Blue is having its moment. PPG named Chinese Porcelain its 2020 Color of the Year, and Pantone awarded Classic Blue the title of Color of the Year. Dee Schlotter, senior color manager for PPG, states, “the need for simplicity and escapism from technology is in part, the reason that consumers are craving blues like Chinese Porcelain that bring us closer to natural elements such as the sea and sky.”
4. Calvary
Studio D‘s CEO, Gail Dunnett, thinks PPG’s Calvary will be trending in 2020. “This color feels classic and current at the same time. The deep navy tones give off warmth and coziness, while the hue’s boldness adds depth to the design of any space.
5. Adventure
Kristen Chuber, a Paintzen color consultant, says, “we are all itching to spend less time in the office and more time in the outdoors.” This desire for the outdoors results in “colors inspired by nature brought indoors and put on our walls,” says Chuber. “Shades like PPG’s Adventure and other aqua paint colors remind us of the beauty we find in mountain lakes, clear streams, and open skies. I think we’ll bring that outdoor-inspiration indoors in 2020 to keep us connected to the world.”
Soft Neutrals
But with all of these bold colors, there is still space for softer neutral colors. “we want colors that make [us] feel grounded and safe,” says Brett Helsham, but “that doesn’t mean to say it has to be dull or boring!”
6. Thunder Bay
Delacruz still sees soft jewel tones, even in his neutrals. Pairing with the darker Evening Emerald, he believes “a softer version like Thunder Bay on the remaining walls of the room” would look beautiful.
7. Sheffield Gray
Myra Epp says, “adding warm metal tones can add an elegant and regal effect.” She believes a color like Sheffield Gray will do the trick.
8. Gray Marble
Epp also believes that “a more neutral shade like the warm Gray Marble can make large rooms cozier alongside darker wood tones or rich-colored fabrics.”
A Contemporary Pair
We reached out to Tali Roth, an interior designer who is also a Paintzen Partner. Roth is from Melbourne, Australia, and began her design career by launching her self-titled fashion label in 2009.
Roth’s love for people and appreciation for unique spaces drives her success. She has a creative and contemporary approach to design and loves the challenge of working in many spaces with a variety of requirements.
“I love Colonial Aqua and Whiskers. I love warm greys so much… they look good with all colors and in any space. Colonial Aqua is just a fun light blue with an undertone of grey, and it’s not offensively strong.”
Colonial Aqua
“I love Colonial Aqua in a bedroom, study, library, or bathroom. It looks awesome with pinks, greys, yellows, and whites. It’s a real mood-lifting color, and it’s interesting without being too aggressive! I wouldn’t paint my living room in it, but I love it in a bedroom. I painted a half wall in this bedroom and nook in this color.”
Whiskers
“I use a lot of this warm grey color that leans towards taupe. I love it EVERYWHERE. It looks wonderful in a contemporary space or a more traditional room with molding and wall details. It’s warm without being too sleepy, and it isn’t the type of grey you will tire of easily. I wanted to find a go-to-grey that I could pair with olive, browns, and peach tones that feel more ‘adult’ than a pale silvery grey.”
To explore more trending paint colors in 2020, visit our samples gallery and order some of your favorite colors and free paint swatches will be sent to your door. When you’re ready to paint, our interior paint pros can help!
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