Hello again!

It’s been a pretty peculiar fall so far in the New York area, with one day being in the 80’s and the next in the 60’s, but it’s finally starting to stay cool. And along with dropping temperatures and cozy sweaters fall also brings color trend forecasts for the coming year, which is always a bit of a big deal for us design nerds.

Those of you that follow me on Instagram will know that last week I was able to spend some time at the D&D building for a series of events, and one of those was Benjamin Moore’s official reveal of their 2018 Color of the Year.

2016 Color of the Year - Shades of White

In 2016 Benjamin Moore selected Simply White OC-117, a very lovely white with just a hint of creaminess to it. Sherwin Williams was on a similar wavelength with their choice Alabaster SW7008. And while a lot of people felt it was a very vanilla (no pun intended) year, I think it goes to illustrate the wide breadth of subtle variety in just the white spectrum.

2017 Color of the Year - A Little Moody

Then, last year in 2017 things got a little moodier. It seemed that the pendulum swung nearly all the way with Benjamin Moore’s pick Shadow 2117-30, a deeply saturated purple. Just like the name evokes, it's a little dramatic and makes for a strong impact. Here are some great suggestions.

Sherwin Williams went with something more in the middle for 2017 with Poised Taupe SW6039, which is “neither hot or cold, dark or light.” Sue Wadden described it “like grey and brown had a baby”. It's quite versatile and is sort of perfect in that Goldilocks-and-the-three-bears kind of way. It's a nice strong color without being too dark or too light, and it pairs well with colors possessing either warm or cool undertones.

2018 Color of the Year - Things Get Fiesty

This year is rather interesting with both houses going with bold saturated choices, but one is decidedly hot and one is super cool.

Benjamin Moore selected Caliente AF-290 as their 2018 Color of the Year. I have to agree that this is definitely a hot color trend. This season red has been almost everywhere, including half of the fashion emails in my inbox and even including La Cornue ranges! Benjamin Moore was careful to choose what they refer to as “a livable red” in their choice of Caliente, which is a warm red with brown undertones. So it’s pretty versatile and pairs well with pinks, blues, grays, and browns.

In contrast, Sherwin Williams went with Oceanside SW6496 as their pick for 2018 Color of the Year. It's also a bold color, sort of a peacock blue-green-turquoise and it goes great with bright vibrant colors or along side other blues and greens.

Using the Colors of the Year

I can easily see both Caliente and Oceanside used as an accent color for a little punch in an overall more neutral palette - an accent wall, a single piece of furniture, or in an assortment of soft furnishings like drapery or accent pillows. And hello, let's not forget a bold front door! Talk about an easy yet impactful update!

Photo: Benjamin Moore

I can also see both colors working wonders in a smaller space in need of that "WOW" factor, such as a powder room, dining room, or even a library or office. In these more intimate spaces, these bold colors would be great splashed all over; go for broke and layer on the textures and sheens!

Photo: Laura Michaels Design

I can also imagine either Oceanside or Caliente in a dining room above crisp white wainscoting, with a warm wood tone dining table and a big bold brass chandelier. It could easily have a boho-casual vibe, or a more formal feeling. This concept works great in a bedroom too!

Photo: Ave Styles

I could even see using the two Chosen Ones together. Red, blue and white are a classic combo and these two would be a fresh twist playing with the hues on old favorites.

Photo: Benjamin Moore

Or since they could be used together as jewel-toned accents, in which case I might even see Shadow making a bit of a guest appearance!

Photo: Atlanta Homes

So there you have it! How do you feel about Caliente and Oceanside? Are you drawn to hot or cool colors?

If this has left you feeling inspired to refresh your space, check out my color consultation service. And remember to follow me on Instagram for more color inspiration and other design tidbits!

Also check back for other color trends beyond the Chosen Ones - there's entire palettes!

Until next time!