This Year’s Trendiest Wall Colors Are The Prettiest We’ve Ever Seen

If you’ve ever walked into a home covered wall-to-wall with shag carpet, wood panels, and plastic-covered sofas, you know the importance of an upgrade — at least once in a while. But if you don’t have the resources (or even the desire) to do a full makeover, don’t sweat it. A fresh coat of paint can change the entire feeling of your home, modernize it, and even make it the trendiest place to hang with friends.

“You can tell how long trends are gonna last by how blown up they get,” says Sarah Earl, Brooklyn-based interior designer and founder of Known Array. “If every magazine article has the same components, a [color] is absolutely gonna trend.”

To upgrade your home with a bit of vibrancy, Earl broke down The Home Depot's 2021 color palette to talk all things trendy for this year. And as an interior designer for eight years, she’s seen plenty of styles come and go.

Of course, if something looks great in a New York City loft, how do you know it’ll have the same affect in your home? Easy. Simply download The Home Depot’s ProjectColor™ app to see for yourself. Here you can browse paint colors, match them to the shades around your home, and get a clearer picture of what your room would look like with a fresh layer of paint. Now, getting down to business...

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Earl’s first pick is a richer take on millennial pink, which blew up in 2016, landing on everything from eyeglass frames to reusable water bottles. Of course, as 20- and 30-somethings mature, their space should grow with them. Behr Sedona Pink, a heightened take on the modern classic, does exactly that. “This would look really amazing if your floor were a deep walnut,” she says. “Then you could have a black or rod iron frame [to increase the contrast].” Hear that? It's the sound of hundreds of millennials repainting their bedrooms.

For those who might be slightly intimidated by color, Earl says she can “absolutely see [Behr Mesa Taupe] in any room of the house. This could go from the living room to a dining room and even a kids’ playroom.” Pair it with lighter wood floors (which the Philly-born designer acknowledges used to be frowned upon and judged but are completely desired now), and your whole home would feel fresh and bright. That could explain why this updated classic is gaining popularity. “Really pretty neutrals” trend for one simple reason, according to Earl: They’re anything but boring. Unlike white, neutrals give a room warmth and “personality,” and are completely ageless.

You don’t need to be a teenager going through a phase to rock a little black wall in your home. Earl promises that “black is always trendy, as long as it doesn’t have a starring role in the room.” Consider painting kitchen cabinets or part of your powder room black, paired with a backsplash or tile design. There’s no denying it, Earl says, “That’s just really freakin’ cool.” Think of black paint like you would a little black dress or a classic black suit: No matter where you put it in your home, it can add a touch of lasting elegance. “It’s completely timeless,” Earl says.

Behr Basswood might seem like a neutral, but don’t be fooled. “This color isn’t a taupe,” Earl explains. “There’s this weird yellow undertone to it and I think that’s what makes it a little more quirky.” How do you pair it? Simple: with more of the same. “My clients are loving [using the same tones] but super textural fabrics,” she says. Another reason to give this hue a try is if you're experimenting with home decor trends from the 1970s like macramé, rattan furniture, and monochrome rooms varied by patterns and textures. Try using Basswood with a patterned wallpaper, or get creative with a ‘70s-inspired sunken couch.

Aside from Behr Kalahari Sunset just being “a really good color,” Earl says its versatility is what makes it perfect for the home. “You can paint an entire room this color and pair it with vintage textiles — it just goes with so much.” As for why this shade is currently trending? The warm tone can be easily paired alongside popular hues like mustard yellow to make any room feel like a desert at dusk. “I could really see this color in a den or a TV room, because that would be super chic but also very practical and warm,” Earl urges.

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot.