A sense of serenity unites the 2024 picks for color of the year.
Think of your favorite color. Whatever comes to mind is one of the nearly 10 million colors that a human eye can see, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. And every single color has the power to evoke different emotions or influence the atmosphere in which it appears. “Colors have a significant effect on how humans think and behave, how they experience their physical world and whether they achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves,” says Sally Augustin, principal of La Grange, Illinois-based firm Design With Science. “Happily, for most of us, we do perceive color, and color can have a big effect on our mood, how our brain functions, how well we get along with other people, all sorts of different things.”
Colors have a significant effect on how humans think and behave, how they experience their physical world and whether they achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves.
Sally Augustin, principal of Design With Science
Color can be particularly important when it comes to bedding. A 2022 survey conducted by Fluent Research and Milliken & Co., Spartanburg, South Carolina-based bedding industry supplier, found that consumers like color when mattress shopping. A market simulation from the same study also found that consumers “have a preference for mattresses that use color to distinguish layers and are willing to pay more for them,” something to consider when working on mattress designs.
In 2024, calming shades will reign supreme with selections ranging from vibrant blues to honey beige and rich greens to soft black say color forecasters. No matter the hue, themes of nature, wellness and comfort unite them all. Help your company stand out in the marketplace by keeping these trendy colors under consideration when designing new products.
Shades of blue
One might say this year’s class of colors is tailor-made for the bedding industry. The most predominant color among the 2024 lineup is blue, with paint and stain companies C2 Paint, Valspar, Minwax, Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore all selecting a shade in the hue as color of the year.
“We liken blues to trustworthiness, patentability, competence, that kind of thing,” Augustin says. Blue is also historically linked to sleep and sleep products, thanks to its association with calmness. Upward SW 6239, Sherwin-Williams’ 2024 color of the year, represents “the gentle forward momentum in all of our lives,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams. “It brings to life that carefree, sunny day energy that elicits a notion of contentment and peace. With this color, we invite our consumers to take a pause and infuse a new sense of ease and possibility into their spaces — one that doesn’t overwhelm, but rather establishes meditation and tranquility,” she adds.
Minneapolis-based Valspar named the grayish sea-green Renew Blue 8003-37D its color of the year, as it “evokes a feeling of balance and calm,” says Sue Kim, Valspar’s director of color marketing.
Somewhere between Renew Blue and Upward is Thermal 752 from Buffalo, New York-based C2 Paint. Embodying what Augustin describes as a calming color, “C2 Thermal reminds us of a vast blue sky and the infinite array of blue hues nature offers to help restore and redefine our mood,” says Philippa Radon, interior designer and color specialist for C2 Paint. “This bespoke pale yet punchy blue is poised for adventure and brimming with hope, evoking feelings of loyalty, trust and confidence.”
Dunn-Edwards, headquartered in Los Angeles, also references nature with its 2024 pick, Skipping Stones DET567. The gray-blue color is part of the paint company’s 12-hue color palette, New Dawn. Grounded in nature and minimalism, the rest of the palette features muted colors like sage green, icy blue-gray and peachy beige.
For its 2024 selection, Montvale, New Jersey-based Benjamin Moore takes a more playful approach with Blue Nova 825, a punchy blue with a red-purple undertone. “Blue Nova 825 is an alluring mid-tone that balances depth and intrigue with classic appeal and reassurance,” says Andrea Magno, color marketing and development director for Benjamin Moore. According to Augustin, women tend to like more reddish colors while men gravitate toward more greenish colors. If you are developing a product line geared toward women, a color like Blue Nova could be used for ticking or a marketing campaign.
Think pink
“When women look at shades of pink, they tend to become more optimistic,” Augustin says. When pinks are not too saturated — think baby pink instead of hot pink — they can create a sense of relaxation, she says. Saturated pinks were everywhere last year like Benjamin Moore’s Raspberry Blush 2008-30 and Pantone’s Viva Magenta 18-1750. But this year is decidedly more muted. For 2024, Carlstadt, New Jersey-based Pantone has anointed Peach Fuzz 13-1023 its color of the year. Sitting somewhere between pink and orange, the hue is intended to conjure “an air of calm,” according to a press release. “The color we selected … needed to express our desire to want to be close to those we love and the joy we get when allowing ourselves to tune into who we are and just savor a moment of quiet time alone,” says Laurie Pressman, vice president of Pantone Color Institute.
This sense of balance is also seen in Sherwin Williams’ Persimmon HGSW6339 by HGTV Home. The soft coral color has a tangerine undertone that strikes a balance between calming and energizing. Although colored foam typically is green, blue or pink, Persimmon could be a good color choice to stand out from the competition.
Light and bright
It doesn’t get more classic than a bright white, the color of most mattresses on the market today. “It won’t be any surprise to learn that we associate white with cleanliness,” Augustin says. But for something a little livelier, consider Glidden’s pick for color of the year, Limitless PPG1091-3. Intended as a modern neutral, the honey-beige hue complements warm and cool colors.
“We are entering a new era of explosive creativity and change,” says Ashley McCollum, PPG color expert for Pittsburgh-based Glidden. “Consumers are using color in even more unconventional ways than ever before, and they need a palette that offers versatility to work with both new and existing decor.”
Dark and moody
Darker shades can be intense but, when used in the right way, can create a powerful effect without being overwhelming. A recent survey by Santa Ana, California-based paint company Behr found that 65% of Americans say a dark color “makes a room feel bold,” while 56% say it feels stylish. It’s perhaps unsurprising that Behr selected the soft black Cracked Pepper PPU18-01 as its 2024 color of the year. According to Augustin, black is linked with sophistication.
York, Pennsylvania-based York Wallcoverings also went dark. Bay Brown, inspired by nature, is part of the company’s 2024 color trends palette, Elements. The palette also features dark beige mushroom, light white chocolate, moody blue Aurora Borealis, soft green Lucky Jade and the terra cotta Baked Earth. “With the emergence of quiet luxury, we’re seeing a gravitation toward warm, understated neutrals across fashion and furnishings alike, and Bay Brown reflects a rich base color that’s incredibly versatile, yet very personal and unique,” says Carol Miller, color and trend expert for York Wallcoverings. Used together or alone, these two hues could create a dramatic statement on ticking — particularly if you’re planning a high-end collection — thanks to their implication of luxury.
Go green
“All different sorts of greens have been shown to enhance our creative performance or creative thinking,” Augustin says. The muted yet dramatic Viridis is Graham & Brown’s 2024 color of the year. “We wanted to highlight the healing and rejuvenating qualities of nature and the need to create calm and take the time to slow down in this bustling world,” says Maryanne Cartwright, head of design for Blackburn, U.K.-based Graham & Brown.
Dutch Boy Paint took it a shade darker with the deep olive Ironside 422-7DB. “Creating a space for wellness should be a driving factor in everyday life,” says Ashley Banbury, color marketing manager for Cleveland-based Dutch Boy. Its dark color evokes a level of sophistication similar to Behr’s Cracked Pepper with undertones that take cues from nature, self-care and healing.
Looking ahead
Even though we’re only at the beginning of 2024, the color forecasting industry is already looking years in the future. New York-based consumer insight and trend forecasting company FS recently made its predictions for 2025 and beyond. In spring and summer 2025, color palettes will include what the company calls “Enlivened Midtones,” with colors like terra cotta, burnt ochre and artichoke. Also, look out for a twist on neutrals with colors like muted lemon, auburn and dark beige. In the fall of 2025, FS predicts Urgent Orange will be an anchor color, signaling that boldness will come back after years of nature-inspired shades. Although trends are cyclical, the psychology behind colors — and how they make us feel — never goes out of style.
