Farewell! These Are The Paint Color Trends We're Ready To Ditch In 2024

We’re quick to share the latest and greatest trends (that’s part of the gig, folks), but our highest decorating ideal remains the same from year to year: Choose what you love, and the rest will follow. That’s why we so appreciate what these Southern designers had to say when we asked them about the paint color trends that they’re hoping to kick to the curb in 2024. Their answers leave plenty of room for interpretation, so you can embrace the trends while still celebrating your personal decorating style.

A One-Size-Fits-All Approach to Calming Hues

Historically, when we consider peace-bringing shades, a very specific sliver of the color wheel comes to mind, but that’s a super limiting way to think about color, notes Atlanta designer Laura W. Jenkins. “Given the pace and stress of today's work, we have been wanting to create serene, relaxing environments for our clients. This can mean different things for different people,” she acknowledges. “For one current client, we are designing their bedroom in a deep blue color contrasted by lots of natural lighting, and for another, we are designing the entire room in a pale gray-blue that feels light and airy.” 

Too-Bright Whites 

Stark, all-white-everything is no more the move, says Palm Beach designer Ellen Kavanaugh. “The new white is warmer and has depth,” she explains. Skip white paints with cool undertones in favor of white paint colors with warm undertones, which means they have the tiniest hints of reds, pinks, yellows, and oranges. 

Colors Picked Just Because They’re Popular

In the spirit of that “Choose what you love” ethos we mentioned earlier, you should never go with a paint color solely because it’s the of-the-moment thing to do. Your decorating choices should first be rooted in what makes you happy. Jenkins agrees: “Color is very personal, so the most important point is to paint [your spaces] in colors that bring you joy. Don't be afraid to add color if you love it.”

Superficial Shades

“Clear, vivid hues are out,” says Kavanaugh. In other words, steer clear of paints that lack dimension or earthiness. Instead of these artificial tones, she says, opt for “colors that are rich and feel organic, like they would be found in the natural world.” Shades that have an inherent muddiness to them, like Farrow and Ball’s Lichen or Benjamin Moore’s Milk Shake, fit the bill for this environment-inspired paint color trend.

A Tepid Embrace of Color

Regardless of what hue you choose, taking a timid approach with paint is a no-go for 2024, says Jenkins. Instead, saturate the space in whatever color you’re using. “This means painting the walls, trim, and often the ceiling too [in the same color], only changing the finish,” she says. “I love Borrowed Light or Dead Salmon (both by Farrow & Ball) for a full, saturated look.”