TKG’s Color Trends Report for 2024
TKG’s Color Trends Report for 2024: What’s Popping Post-Labor Day
Labor Day’s behind us, schools are buzzing again, and those summer whites are tucked away. Fall’s here, and in the design world, that only means one thing: it’s COTY (Color of the Year) season. Sure, we’ve been on top of these announcements, covering the latest from brands like Graham & Brown, Behr, and PPG. But what’s really shaking up the palette this year? We dove deep, straight from the designers hustling in the trenches every day, to bring you the dirt on what colors are hitting home hard.
5 Color Trends Luxury Clients Are Digging Now
It’s not just about having a Color of the Year anymore; it’s about what colors are actually lighting up living rooms and livening up lobbies. “People want bold, they want unique,” says Julia King from Studio Roene in California. She’s spotting clients leaning into bold combos like red and green or purple and yellow that used to make people cringe. Rayman Boozer from New York’s Apartment 48 is meshing neutral earth tones with zesty colors, like cowhide chairs on vivid pink backdrops or a walnut table beside a splashy blue kitchen. It’s clear: designers like Jamie Drake, Brigette Romanek, and Frances Merrill are not just mixing high-contrast vibes but dialing up dynamic palettes that stick to one color in varied shades.
The scene is set, and color is the driver. While the trendcasters are busy predicting, we’re here picking the brains of top designers to find out which shades are defining luxury right now. Below, unravel five key color palettes making waves on everything from walls to furniture.
Purple Reign
A chic kitchen with soft lavender cabinets
Move over, Barbie pink—purple’s taking the throne. “Purples are all the rage, straight from the farmer’s market: think plums, eggplants, even purple asparagus,” shares Drake. King adds a twist with mauve and dirty lavender, while Alison Rose in New York can’t see past lavender in her projects.
And it’s not just the color that’s luxe. Lia McNairy and Azar Fattahi from Lala Reimagined in LA are all about the feel, using Portola Paints’ Black Magic and a Roman Clay finish that feels like “cool, smooth velvet.” These hues aren’t just climbing the walls—they’re the go-to for plush furniture pieces in jewel tones like saffron and aubergine, making every seat in the house feel like a throne.
Mid-Pastels
Leah Ring from Another Human tagged this palette “Mid-Pastels,” where colors like Benjamin Moore’s Summer Blue and Apricot Chiffon sit between loud and soft—“joyful yet soothing,” she calls it. Brigette Romanek notices more muted tints cropping up, from creams to soft pinks and greens, while Patrick Mele is dipping everything in subtle pastels from robin’s egg blue to creamy yellows.
Tomato Girl
Thanks to TikTok’s “Tomato girl summer,” the punchy color of ripe tomatoes is making a splash across interiors too, from fiery reds to deep oranges. Rachel Chudley in London finds her high-end clients asking for earthy reds that set the stage for other bright pops of color.
Dunes for Days
Say goodbye to grays and hello to warmer tones like browns and oatmeals. Patrick Mele and Frances Merrill are bringing back richer base tones like Benjamin Moore’s Desert Camel, which they say pairs perfectly with lighter, cooler furniture colors to strike just the right balance.
Maximalist Millwork
For those who can’t get enough color, maximalist millwork is in. Designers like David Quarles are painting everything from baseboards to crown molding in colors that complement bold wallpaper patterns. It’s all about enveloping spaces in color, from floor to ceiling.
Is Greige Bold or Blah?
Lastly, is greige just a yawn or secretly chic? Top designers are split. Some are bored to tears with its overuse, while others find it the perfect backdrop to make other colors pop. It’s the age-old debate: is greige the ultimate neutral or just plain dull?
That’s your sneak peek into the colors shaping spaces in 2024. As the Color of the Year selections find their way into next year’s palettes, only time will tell which hues will dominate. Stay tuned, and maybe ditch that greige for something a bit more daring this year.
