The 6 Trendiest Colors to Bring Into Your Living Room (and Beyond) Right Now

If we’ve learned anything from the design experts we’ve spoken to as of late about what’s coming down the pipeline for 2020, it’s that decorating with a palette of all neutrals and ultra-minimalist spaces are on the way out. Bold color is top of mind for many influential tastemakers and designers, and this resurgence has us excited. From new, unexpected combos to the latest iteration of millennial pink, these hues will put you ahead of the design trend curve and have people asking you, “What color is that?” when they walk into your space.

No one is more enthused about the resurgence of color than Rayman Boozer, principal designer of Apartment 48.  This comes as no surprise, considering he was once dubbed New York City’s “go to designer for color consulting” by Time Out magazine.  To predict the color trends for tomorrow, Boozer is looking to the past. “1970’s color combinations are going to be very popular,” he says. In particular, he sees citrusy shades coming on strong. But instead of the typical oranges and mustards, he’s predicting limes and true yellows. “Benjamin Moore’s Mellow Yellow (2020-50), Tequila Lime (2028-30), and Sunny Days (172) are bright, fresh options to liven up your next project,” he suggests. We love how he used lime green paint on the “beams” of this living room vignette.

Designer Rebecca Atwood is no stranger to color either. In her new book, “Living With Color“, she discusses everything from choosing palettes to the best way to layer different hues in your home. Her first 2020 color prediction? A cross between millennial pink and purple that’s straight out of the 1980s—dusty mauve. This time around though, mauve isn’t all about ruffles and bows. Today’s mauve is decidedly more modern—a neutral with far less saccharine undertones. And what you mix it with makes a difference, too. “It’s a great accent color on its own or as a bridge between brighter, warm hues like red,” says Atwood, whose punchy fabrics can be seen here, with a dusty mauve sofa as their backdrop.

“If you must go neutral, let it be brown,” says Christina Bryant, founder of St. Frank. “Move aside, grey and beige, this earthy neutral feels fresh and sophisticated.” Be careful, though—a totally brown room probably isn’t the way to go, especially if you’re not sold on the shade yet. First, try tawny brown in something patterned like the wallpaper shown here here. Or pair chocolate brown with pops of pastels to soften it a bit. Then work your way up to a brown painted wall or piece of upholstered furniture, once you’re feeling comfortable with this color’s comeback.

Want to dramatize some of the surfaces in your kitchen? Boozer says black is going to be huge in the new year. “Black marble has finally made its return as the cool countertop material,” says Boozer. Hopefully, it’s a little more forgiving than white marble is—and consider black cabinets and appliances a great way to make your space look more sophisticated as well. Matte finishes are still going strong, so stay away from high shine if you want to be on trend. The one thing to remember here is that all black everything in the kitchen only works when you have a lot of natural light. If not, black is still totally doable for a feature or two.

Now’s the time to take a chance on that deep, moody color you’ve been thinking about bringing into your space. “Jewel tones are giving all-white Instagram vignettes a run for their money,” says Bryant. “Pick deep blues, golds, and purples.” If you’re feeling bold, paint a wall (or a whole room!) any one of these dramatic hues. Or consider a sofa or an accent chair in one of these colors. Velvet fabrics work well in jewel tones, since the material is inherently rich in texture.

Behr chose a shade of green as its 2020 color of the year, and we’re certainly no strangers to surrounding ourselves with all the plants in these parts. So it maybe comes as no surprise that green is trending right now. Atwood’s on board. “I can’t get enough green right now,” she says. “I love it in varying intensities, so it feels like you’re soaking up a forest.” She suggests using softer, more neutral tones on walls and bigger pieces of art and furniture. Layer in brighter, bolder pops of green with decorative accessories.

What color do you think is going to dominate 2020? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!