Few things set the tone of a house more than paint color.
Whether you want to add a bold touch or give your home a mellow vibe, the paint you choose can influence the feel of your home.
But like anything else in interior design, even paint colors are subject to fickle trends, and right now, the trend of the moment is warmth.
Warm colors, said Emily Meszkat, who runs her own interior design firm, refers to any color with a yellow undertone and can span anywhere from soft whites and blues to moody sage greens. Cool colors, in contrast, often have green or blue undertones.
“We’ve seen a big push towards warm colors and away from cool grey tones and bright whites,” said Meszcat, who has designed many homes in Rye.
A lot of the new trend has to do with the return of natural woods and white floors, which work better with the more yellow undertones of warmer colors. If her clients do choose color, Meszkat said, “moss green is super in, and for a bold choice, we are seeing a lot of Peacock blue, especially for home offices.”
“Every seller assumes the home should be all white to sell, but in truth, we are seeing a trend towards more warmth,” said Jennifer Reddington of the Georgio Reddington team at Compass, who sees dozens of homes in Rye. “Whether it’s a warm wood island combined with painted white kitchen cabinets or warmth in paint colors throughout the house, sellers and buyers are desiring a cozier feeling throughout their homes.”
That means cool greys, which had a moment a few years ago, and bright whites are out, as clients shift to this moodier, softer feel.
Sasha North Claus of Sasha Meredith Designs, another Rye interior designer, has found that because of this push toward neutral earth tones, clients are more willing to take risks on smaller rooms.
She has seen more clients requesting wall paper in bathrooms or dark earthy greys that give off a downtown vibe.
“Along with this shift to moodier, earth tones, I have seen clients willing to take more chances on bold choices,” she said. “From painting windows or trim, to a fun wallpaper, I have definitely seen a shift from the primarily neutral interiors that we were seeing a few years ago.”
Trends should matter only so much when it comes to painting your home, Meszkat said.
You should always choose what works best with your house and furniture. Darker homes tend to require colors that are bright and white to look lighter, so if you have dark floors or dark furniture, this trend might not be right for you.
If you are pulled toward this warm, earthy moment, Claus said, Benjamin Moore’s Snowfall White is one of her most requested whites and is always a great choice.
Whatever direction you go in, get a paint sample before you start.