Date:  March 27, 2018  |   Photography: Courtesy of vendors  |   Producer: Tiffany Adams  |  

What’s the most thought-about—and often-excruciating—décor decision homeowners face? You guessed it: picking a paint color. Here, color experts from three well-known brands tell us what’s trending and share a bit of advice for your next paint project.

Above: Benjamin Moore’s “Pleasant Pink”

Benjamin Moore

THE EXPERT: Andrea Magno, Color & Design Expert

How to Make an Impact with Paint
“Introducing strong hues is a great way to make an impact,” Magno says. “Start with a focal point, such as a fireplace mantle or the back walls of built-in bookshelves where you want to draw attention to artwork or accessories. As you get more confident, you can graduate to painting the doors to a room or a hallway, window trim, or wainscoting.”

What’s Trending
“We are seeing a shift toward warmer colors and even bolder colors after a long stretch of cool and pale hues,” Magno says. “People are interested in brightening things up with color by incorporating more saturated yet easy-to-live-with hues for 2018. For example, the Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2018 is Caliente, a vibrant, charismatic shade of red. The Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2018 palette features 23 colors that range from hues in the red family, with a nod to the very popular pinks we’ve noted with Pleasant Pink, to deep reds such as Cranberry Cocktail.”

Above: Sherwin-Williams’s 2018 Color of the Year “Oceanside”

Sherwin-Williams

THE EXPERT: Sue Wadden, Director of Color Marketing

Her Advice
“Don’t be afraid to experiment with color. Of all the decisions you are making when building or renovating your home, painting the walls is the least permanent decision you will make.”

What’s Trending
“People today have a growing sense of adventure, and it is making its way into even the coziest corners of our homes,” Wadden says. “We are craving things that remind us of bright folklore, like mermaids and expeditions across continents. Oceanside, our 2018 Color of the Year, is the color of wanderlust right in our own homes.”

Above: PPG Paint’s “Paradise Found”

PPG Paints

THE EXPERT: Dee Schlotter, Senior Color Marketing Manager

Her Advice
“Choose your paint last. Prior to selecting a paint color, it is important to first select new or consider existing flooring, fabrics, and window treatments. Once these elements are considered, a complementary tone can be selected from the other colors in the room or home’s palette.”

Her Go-to Colors
“If you want gray, my go-to would be our highly popular Moth Gray. It’s a pale gray with a brown undertone that looks great with natural light in new and older homes,” Schlotter says. “But, I like color! So, I am a fan of Paradise Found for a great green/blue hue. Colonial White pairs nicely with this for the trim. I also like Bermuda for a super-dark turquoise that is especially nice in baths. I use Delicate White (a very pure white) for the trim when this color is on the walls. Finally, my go-to yellow is Soleil with Atrium White for the trim.”