
5 Paint Color Trends Designers Are Begging You to Leave in 2025
As the new year approaches, interior designers are advising homeowners to move away from certain paint color trends that have dominated interiors and embrace new palettes. The general consensus among designers like Jasmin Reese, Zoë Feldman, Ashley Rose Walsh, and Marianne Jones is to shift from bland, cool neutrals and minimalist schemes towards richer, warmer, and more expressive tones that reflect personal style and create inviting spaces. This movement signifies a departure from colors that have become overused or were more trendy than timeless.
One significant trend to retire is the prevalence of "oatmeal tones." Zoë Feldman, an interior designer, suggests that after years of beige walls and sofas, people are ready for rooms with more character. Instead of safe beiges, she recommends incorporating deep ochres, mossy greens, and moody blues. These colors, rooted in nature, offer a sense of calm while being richer and more intentional. Feldman specifically highlights the use of smoky, herbaceous greens in kitchens and inky blue-green cabinetry to add depth and refinement, noting how these shades complexly shift between gray, blue, and green depending on the light.
Another trend on its way out is the use of "dusty pastels." While charming in concept, Ashley Rose Walsh believes these hues are being replaced by moodier tones that exude greater confidence and presence. For 2026, she anticipates homeowners will favor colors with significant depth, such as merlot, olive, moody blues, terracotta, and warm clay. Walsh praises these colors for their grounded sophistication, which she finds to be both contemporary and enduring.
Similarly, "cool grays" are also seeing their decline. Walsh points out that cool grays, which were once a default neutral for many renovations, now feel cold and impersonal compared to the current preference for warmer, earthier palettes. Marianne Jones supports this shift, advocating for rich browns, dusty olives, tobacco tones, warm yellows, deep teals, plums, and moody reds and burgundies, all of which contribute to a more saturated and earthy feel.
"Stark whites" are also being toned down. Walsh explains that gallery-style whites are giving way to softer, more nuanced shades that provide warmth without sacrificing brightness. Jasmin Reese advises against overly bright whites, which can appear sterile and cold, and instead recommends whites with warmer, creamier undertones. The goal is to achieve a perfect balance of warmth and brightness, making off-white or luxurious cream paint colors ideal choices for a soft and sophisticated ambiance.
Finally, "cold minimalism" is being replaced by "color-drenching." Jones notes that color-drenching—painting walls, trim, and ceilings in a single hue—is gaining popularity, often in warmer, nuanced shades. This trend is seen as a reaction against cold minimalism and a desire for cozy, enveloping spaces that uplift mood. Jones suggests that the evolving palette leans towards deeper, more sophisticated warmth to provide emotional comfort. Homeowners embracing this trend might opt for saturated colors like ochre, deep dusty rose, aubergine, terracotta, or olive to create a cohesive and impactful look.
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