By Scott Hamblen
Beige is a great interior paint color when you’re trying to sell a home.
It’s not so enthralling if you’re spending the entire day surrounded in neutral tones.
Florida’s “safer-at-home” order inspired many of us to tackle long-overdue projects around the house, like painting, cleaning the garage and organizing closets.
The arrival of any new year, particularly 2021, brings hope for a fresh start and a new outlook. New Year’s resolutions often focus on health and wellness, but associates at Sunshine Ace Hardware’s paint departments are noting an uptick in Southwest Florida homeowners looking to start the new year with new colors on their walls.
Choosing a new paint color or color palette is probably the easiest, quickest and most cost-efficient way to spruce up a home. Interior designers have always strived to create a positive mood with their color choices, and 2021 might be the year that more homeowners start to add a splash of color to their living spaces.
Color choices influence a room’s personality. Brighter, warm colors indicate energy, playfulness and happiness, while cooler, neutral colors create a sense of relaxation and freshness.
As 2021 begins, these four noteworthy paint trends are emerging:
- Hottest color: Benjamin Moore named Aegean Teal as its Color of the Year for 2021. It’s easy to see why. The blue-green shade radiates warmth and wellbeing, and is meant to create a sense of natural harmony while initiating periods of reflection and reset. That certainly is what we need after a stressful 2020.
- Warm colors: In addition to Aegean Teal, Benjamin Moore also announced its Color Trends 2021 palette that includes warm, sunbaked hues that play to the senses. Those include Atrium White, Muslin, Foggy Morning, Rosy Peach, Beacon Hill Damask, Potters Clay, Chestertown Buff, Amazon Soil, Gray Cashmere, Kingsport Gray and Silhouette.
- Accent colors: Rooms painted in a single color, particularly neutral tones, can blend together. That creates a space lacking dimension. Neutral colors like white or beige are still popular and timeless choices, but framing a door, window or closet in a contrasting trim color adds dimension without overpowering the senses. Painting a chair rail or wainscoting also accomplishes that goal. Choose a color that matches furniture, upholstery, linens or artwork to create a cohesive feel.
- Accent walls: Taking accent colors a step further, accent walls are ideal for property owners not ready to completely abandon neutral colors by painting one of a room’s four walls in a different hue. Bright or dark accent walls can create a sharp, modern look or offer contrast that helps call attention to a favorite painting or sculpture.
The key in any design is contrast. Someone with a white or light gray sofa, for example, should choose a bright or dark throw pillow to break up the monotony. The same principle can be applied to a whole room.
Major paint brands, including Benjamin Moore, Clark + Kensington, Royal and Magnolia Home, each list adjective-heavy descriptions of paint colors. After a tumultuous 2020, paints described as resilient, soothing, peaceful, harmonious and calming certainly evoke the right emotions.
Andrea Magno, director of color marketing and development for Benjamin Moore, explains that people yearn for stability during times of uncertainty.
“The colors we surround ourselves with can have a powerful impact on our emotions and wellbeing,” Magno said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott Hamblen is chief merchandising officer at Sunshine Ace Hardware, a locally owned company with nine locations in Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Pinellas counties, as well as two Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware stores in Manatee County.
