Designers reveal their go-to hues

Dana Arazi Levine, Arazi Levine Design, arazilevine.com

I love using dark, moody colors because they bring a touch of sophistication and depth. Maroon (like Rust-Oleum’s “Chocolate Cherry”) holds a special place among my favorites; despite its rich, moody tones, it manages to convey warmth and invitation. I find it particularly well-suited for spaces where you aim to exhibit design boldness or make a lasting impression on guests — like powder rooms, bars, or butler’s pantries.

Jeanne Barber, Camden Grace Interiors, Camden-grace.com

I’m surprised but excited to see the cooler, vibrant blues make a resurgence, like Benjamin Moore’s “Blue Nova.” These colors were big in the ’80s and ’90s (I had a periwinkle bedroom), but in the last decade, blues with warmer undertones have been prolific (think of all those jewel-toned teal libraries). There’s a place for both at the table. In fact, mixing cool blues and warm blues gives a room some pop and avoids it reading flat.

I will always love a blush (like Dulux’s “Sweet Embrace”), but not in the traditional context of a little girl’s room. It’s one of those colors that goes with everything: green, mustards, RED! Love a blush and red combo. If you’re scared of a vibrant red, a rich burgundy color also pairs nicely.

Cecilia Casagrande, Casagrande Studio, casagrandestudio.com

Benjamin Moore’s “Blue Nova” surprises me in a world of browns, creams, greens, and navy. Those colors are the trends I have been seeing for a while now, but “Blue Nova” makes me feel hopeful that people still love a nice, classic denim blue.

Erica Vanderhoof Palm, Newton Kitchens & Design, newtonkd.com

I’m leaning toward earthy sage green and olive tones (like Graham & Brown’s “Viridis”) as an accent in traditional and transitional kitchen designs as an alternative to blue. Green tones are a beautiful complement to light white oak flooring, as well as a lot of the natural marbles and quartzite countertop materials.

Karen Swanson, New England Design Works, ne-dw.com

I am working on a project with a wallpaper that combines colors similar to many of these: HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’s “Persimmon,” RustOleum’s “Chocolate Cherry,” Behr’s “Cracked Pepper,” Glidden’s “Limitless,” Dutch Boy’s “Ironside,” and Dulux’s “Sweet Embrace.”

It is a striking combination of colors I have not seen very often. We will use the wallpaper on a very high ceiling to bring down the scale and add warmth to the space.

Laura Keeler Pierce, Keeler & Co. Interior Design, keelerandco.com

I’m surprised there aren’t more warm tones here; I’ve noticed such a shift toward browns, beiges, mulberry, and sage. I love the mouse-y shade of gray/brown (Dutch Boy’s “Ironside”). It would be perfect in a library where you could retreat at the end of the day.

While orange is not my go-to, the soft pumpkin tone (HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’s “Persimmon”) is changing my perspective. I can see casing and trim painted this color in a quirky, playful attic room of an old summer cottage. It’s youthful and energizing.

Katie Boucher, Right Angle Kitchens and Design Inc., rightanglekitchens.com

Many of our clients connect with warm greens (like Graham & Brown’s “Viridis” and Dutch Boy’s “Ironside”) because it complements many wood tones in their existing decor and architecture and reads as an organic addition to the room’s palette. Warm greens are wildly versatile. Whether it’s a moody or muted tone, it’s almost always a calming hue. Green can make you feel grounded.

Kristine Irving, Koo de Kir Architectural Interiors, koodekir.com

I think I’ve embraced color more as I’ve gotten older. Graham & Brown’s “Viridis,” Rust-Oleum’s “Chocolate Cherry,” and Dutch Boy’s “Ironside” were the colors of my Thanksgiving table this year. My mom was surprised because I usually use white linens.

Sarah Cole, Sarah Cole Interiors, sarahcoleinteriors.com

I love this collection of colors. It indicates a clear shift away from whites and grays. While there are some saturated hues, the inclusion of softer shades feels refreshing. The soft blues and greens work well in coastal homes. The more saturated and earthy red, olive, and charcoal are beautiful choices for the area’s older homes. We have used many of them in recent years in homes here in

New England, sometimes in big ways, like on cabinetry and walls, and other times as accent colors.

Shannon Tate, Shannon Tate Interiors, shannontateinteriors.com

I’d love to see the darker colors (Behr’s “Cracked Pepper” and Dutch Boy’s “Ironside”) in a bedroom or family room. They both feel very cozy and would feel really nice wrapping around the room, ceilings included; also perfect for a chilly winter day with blankets and a warm cup of something delicious.

JARED KUZIA Sarah Cole, who designed this bedroom, sees this year’s collection of colors as a return to muted ones that are earthy and organic.

ERIN LITTLE Tyler Karu of Tyler Karu Design and Interiors is continually inspired by chocolate brown, a color reflected in the 2024 colors of the year collection. Here she paired a chocolatecolored grasscloth wallcovering with the same color trim.

JARED KUZIA Cecilia Casagrande of Casagrande Studio designed this space in a Newton Colonial Revival. The walls and ceiling color, Farrow & Ball’s “Hague Blue,” is a saturated blue with green undertones that feels in keeping with the colors of the year.

DUTCH BOY Dutch Boy’s color of the year, “Ironside” was applied to the walls and the ceiling for a sophisticated look.

JOYELLE WEST Kristine Irving of Koo de Kir Architectural Interiors used a blush-colored grasscloth wallcovering in the parlor of a historic Boston home.