Benjamin Moore Just Set Us Up for a Strong, Energetic 2018

We wait for Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year like cinephiles wait for Oscar nominations, and the 2018 announcement did not disappoint: The paint pros picked Caliente AF-290, a strong and energetic red with personality to spare.

Benjamin Moore chose Caliente for its bold, luxe vibe. “Strong, radiant and full of energy, Caliente AF-290 is total confidence. It is pleasing, passionate and makes people feel special, like ‘red carpet treatment’,” said Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore Director of Strategic Design Intelligence. We’re energized just thinking about all the ways that Caliente can turn up the heat in our spaces.

Sexy reds like Caliente practically scream “accent wall,” and that’s definitely a great way to employ this hot splash of color. We especially love this treatment in smaller spaces that might seem to shrink with darker walls.

If you live for MCM, you’ll have no trouble incorporating Caliente into your palette — red and modernism go together like PB&J, from the classic Saarinen TWA Terminal at JFK …

… to the cheeky pop of Calder’s mobiles:

But one of the best things about Caliente is that it also has the depth and warmth to work in more traditionally appointed spaces.

Put it outside, and it at once draws attention and feels welcoming (in the US, a red door is a traditional symbol for being a safe spot for travelers; in feng shui, red doors help good chi to be drawn inside):

Whether you call it bold, passionate, sexy, or warm, Caliente AF-290 surely incites something in you. So how do you feel about the 2018 Color of the Year? Ready to get Caliente?

Check out the full 2018 color palette and see how to complement Caliente AF-290 here.

^{This post is sponsored by Benjamin Moore.
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