Home Home Improvement Painting We Can Officially Say These Are the Top Paint Trends of 2021 Here's all the inspiration for your next paint project. By Katie Holdefehr Katie Holdefehr Instagram Website Katie Holdefehr is the associate editorial director at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on March 12, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Now that we're well into 2021, let's take a look back at all the predictions for Color of the Year 2021. Some paint colors have proven to be favorites among interior designers and trendsetting homeowners, while certain painting techniques have taken over our Instagram and TikTok feeds. From the "it" paint color to 2021's version of the accent wall, here are the definitive paint trends of the year. Behr Finally Revealed Its 2021 Color of the Year—and It's the Warm and Cozy Neutral We've Been Waiting For 01 of 05 Clay Paint Colors Behr This year, the desert landscape of the American Southwest proved a major source of inspiration for the design world. Whether called clay, faded terracotta, or—Behr's pick for Color of the Year—"Canyon Dusk," warm earthy hues are having a moment. These colors are grounding and comforting, helping turn a bedroom or living room into a sanctuary. 02 of 05 Painted Arches Carly Fuller / @mycityapartment For those who are lucky enough to have arched doorways in their homes, many designers and homeowners are playing up the architectural interest by painting the archway in a high-contrast color. No arched doorways to speak of? Follow NYC home stager Carly Fuller's lead and DIY your own using paint. By adding the arch behind her work-from-home desk, she helps visually separate this office nook from the rest of her bedroom. 03 of 05 Colorful Wall Paneling Emily Henderson Design / Photography by Sara Tramp Years ago, Joanna Gaines and the HGTV show Fixer Upper popularized white wood paneling (hello, fans of shiplap!)—but now, colorful wainscoting, or wood paneling applied just to the lower half of the wall, is gaining in popularity. Of course, designer Emily Henderson was ahead of the trend when she created this dreamy bathroom in Portland. The wall paneling is V-groove, which Emily explains provides a more custom look than beadboard. The paint color? Cyberspace by Sherwin-Williams. 04 of 05 High-Contrast Ceilings Benjamin Moore Recently, more designers are considering the fifth wall: the ceiling. In addition to adding decorative treatments like wood paneling or wallpaper, many are opting to paint the ceiling. A light blue color can mimic the sky on a sunny day (especially in a room full of windows), while a dark gray ceiling makes a dining room or library feel cozy and intimate. Here, the bathroom ceiling is painted in Buxton Blue by Benjamin Moore. 05 of 05 Moody Hues Sherwin-Williams From dramatic forest green kitchens to charcoal dining rooms, dark paint colors are being used to create rooms that cocoon. Sherwin-Williams predicted this trend with its pick for Color of the Year 2021: Urbane Bronze, a sophisticated shade of gray. This trend will likely become less popular during the summer months as light and airy looks take center stage, but we expect moody hues to make a comeback this fall. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit