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Paint and Color Trends in 2020

Written by Cristina Miguelez

Published on January 13, 2020

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Paint and Color Trends in 2020

We asked some of the hottest home design experts about paint and color trends in 2020. Check out the most popular colors for home interior and exterior.

To provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information, we consult a number of sources when producing each article, including licensed contractors and industry experts.

Read about our editorial process here. Want to use our cost data? Click here.

Using the paint color trends for 2020, you can take the blank slate of the new decade and create balance in your life and home. You should feel good about your space, and the color you choose to paint your rooms can go a long way in transforming your space and create a place that makes you feel good. As 2020 gets underway, we wanted to help you know what was going to be popular this year to help you make your design choices for your space. We talked to some of the hottest home design experts to get their thoughts on the hot color trends as we start the new decade. We've compiled these trends into a simple report, ideal for designers and homeowners alike, so you know which colors to keep and which ones to get rid of as you redesign your space.

Our experts weighed in on paint and color trends from numerous angles to give you the most complete picture. While there are numerous findings in our report, here are some of the key findings on the trends to watch out for.

Painting Projects Will Be Led By Couples

Not all homeowners are the same. Some owners are ready to take on a big project, while others would rather stay away. Our experts weighed in on the kind of homeowners that are more likely to take on a painting project than others.

They concluded that homeowners that are couples are more likely to carry out a painting project this year than single homeowners or retirees. This likelihood is even higher if the couple has children. This could be true for several reasons including the fact that children's bedrooms tend to be painted more frequently, as well as hallways and other walls that become the victim of doodling.

Gray Interiors are Cooling Off

For years gray has been the go-to color in design. However, according to our experts, this love affair is coming to an end. In fact, only 20% feel that gray will continue to be a popular color in 2020. The remaining experts feel that gray's popularity has already peaked and is on it's way out, although more than half of the experts agree that despite its loss of popularity, people will still use it.

So, if gray is on its way out, what colors will be taking over? It turns out that more than half of our experts say cool neutrals, such as white, gray, and taupe, will be the top trending palette in 2020.

These neutrals go well with many different design styles and accommodate a variety of tastes. Chances are that we'll be seeing more cool neutrals this year and in the years to come.

Gray and White Exteriors Sell Houses

Curb appeal is a major part of being able to successfully sell your home. The color of your home goes into creating said curb appeal. Our experts weighed in on what color a homeowner should paint their home to maximize their curb appeal.

If you're looking to sell your home this year, gray and white are the top-recommended colors for the exterior of your home. This gives your home a neutral look that appeals to a wide range of buyers, helping them picture themselves living there.

Pick Your Color Based on Your Architecture

Putting aside personal preference, our experts agree that architecture should play a major role when deciding on a color for the exterior of your home before selling. Choosing a color that conflicts with the architecture of the home can make your home feel out of place or "off." In other words, certain colors just look right with the architectural style of your home.

According to a lifestyle influencer, Amra Beganovich, founder of Amra & Elma and Colorful Socks, when conducting a poll on her Instagram, her audience almost unanimously agreed that the color palette for her home should reflect the ambiance and blend seamlessly with the home's architecture. The color often sets the mood for the entire home and signals consistency.

This is so important that over 75% of our expert contributors said the home's architecture is the most important factor in choosing an exterior color before selling. The consensus is that this factor is more important than the color of your neighbors' house, preferences of the area, or what is currently trending.

Pick Neutral Colors for Interior Rooms

There are countless colors to choose from for interior rooms. Each color gives its own character to the space. While jewel tones have been slowly growing in popularity, neutral colors continue to be the winner when it comes to color recommendations for individual rooms. The right neutral color, paired with the expertise of a professional painter, can be well worth the cost to completely transform your space.

When asked about the best color for the living room (as well as other individual rooms), most of our experts recommended traditional white or warm gray. Again these neutral colors are popular because they appeal to a wide audience and work with many different design styles. It is also easy to incorporate these colors into a space without having to make changes to other design elements like furniture.

However, if your space is on the smaller side, our experts recommend painting the room a pale blue or gray/green. While the size of a space is a key factor in selecting a paint color, it is only part of the equation, as lighting and architecture can also play a major role in the color selection process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it's safe to say that despite the bold colors that are often announced as the color of the year, neutral colors continue to be the clear leader for both interiors and exteriors. The variation that we are seeing is in the hues of neutrals that are popular. Staying on top of color trends can help you make better decisions that will have the biggest impact and longest staying power, for your home as well as your clients. This is important whether you plan on selling or staying in the home long-term. If there are no plans to sell your home in the next few years, then it's important to stay true to your style. As Billy Baldwin once said, "Be faithful to your own taste, because nothing you really like is ever out of style."

Our Expert Contributors

Fixr's Paint and Color Trends in 2020 report has been created by consulting with the following experts in the design industry. We extended a special thank you to each of our contributors for lending their expertise in the creation of this report.

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