Behr Color of the Year: Cracked Pepper
Last year, Behr paint christened a soft white called Blank Canvas as its 2023 color of the year. This cycle, the company did a 180 when it came to their 2024 shade, a dusty black with the zesty moniker Cracked Pepper.
Valspar Color of the Year: Renew Blue
For its 15th-ever COTY, Valspar—which is owned by Sherwin-Williams—has selected a calming, oceanic hue called Renew Blue. The company points to its serene qualities and a renewed focus on finding “balance where it matters most,” a trope that’s emerged in color forecasting ever since the pandemic forced the world indoors. In contrast to deeper blues that defined COTYs three years ago (see Sherwin-Williams’s Naval or Pantone’s Classic Blue), this shade is meant to evoke the natural world.
Minwax Color of the Year: Bay Blue
Stains and coatings company Minwax has also entered the COTY race. And, no surprise, considering the company, like Valspar, lives under the Sherwin-Williams brand family, it’s also a calming blue-green, called Bay Blue. When applied to timber surfaces, the azure stain, the company noted in a release, “creates memorable spaces in a home by enriching and distinguishing wood’s natural beauty.”
Dutch Boy Paints: Ironside
The move toward the dark side continues with Dutch Boy Paints’ COTY—a deep, deep olive green called Ironside. The choice feels like a natural evolution of the soothing sage greens seen throughout the 2022 color cycle, only this time with a sexy, moodier twist. Ironside also could be a happy medium for homeowners looking to experiment with a darker palette but not quite willing to go all in with the black paint trend.
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams: Persimmon
Soft terra-cotta tones have been everywhere lately, and HGTV Home® by Sherwin-Williams’s COTY proves that the trend isn’t going anywhere. The paint brand (available exclusively via Lowe’s) named Persimmon, a pale, sandy peach, as its 2024 Color of the Year. “Persimmon balances the energy of tangerine with grounded neutral undertones, making it perfect for spaces like living rooms and kitchens as it promotes positive relationships and conversations,” the brand’s marketing manager, Ashley Banbury, said in a statement. “The beautiful shade helps rejuvenate a space while bringing unique design visions to life.” It also functions as an amped-up neutral—perfect for those looking to move beyond whites, beiges, and creams.