Say farewell to cool neutrals and welcome rich and earthy tones this year. Many individuals undertake home improvement projects at the start of a new year—which means you might already be contemplating paint hues for your next renovation. To aid you in selecting the perfect shade, paint industry specialists are revealing the colors we should bid adieu to in the coming year, and those we should prepare to embrace in 2025. The consensus is that the gray, black, and stark white shades—which have been trending in recent years—will be substituted with warm neutrals and rich, earthy tones in 2025. “The way we perceive color and how we use it at home is continually evolving," says Ashley Banbury, color marketing manager at HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams.

Light grays are giving way to soft shades of beige, while dramatic black tones will be replaced with equally dramatic, yet slightly softer, chocolate brown hues. Interiors are embracing a cozy, warm, and inviting aesthetic, and there's no better way to set this mood than with a fresh coat of paint. To help you stay on trend, here are the paint colors exiting with the old year and arriving with the new.

Helen Norman

1. Swap Grays for Taupes and Khaki
While shades of gray remain a timeless neutral for both interiors and exteriors, the trend pendulum is shifting away from this cool hue. "Grays were such a popular color for about a decade that this color family transitioned from trendy to a now-classic choice for homes," Banbury says. "We're moving away from gray and neutrals with cool undertones as the trend shifts toward warm neutrals, like modern beiges and taupes, to create a cozier atmosphere in our spaces." With the current design trend steering away from cool neutrals and towards warmer tones, Banbury says Khaki is a color to embrace in 2025. “Consumers are seeking comfort and simplicity in the home and are looking to neutral backdrops rather than decor and furniture to create that ambiance," she says. For this reason, she anticipates khaki shades like Stucco to be popular in the coming year. "It's going to be a significant color trend for 2025 because it’s a minimalist warm neutral that signals rest and relaxation," she says.

Jean Allsopp

2. Swap Black for Chocolate Brown
Similar to gray tones, black hues provided a stylish way to introduce a dramatic element into our homes. "Once consumers catch on to a trend, the interest in that color family extends to adjacent hues on the color wheel," Banbury shares. She explains that while pure black has been one of the most favored paint colors for HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, shoppers are now gravitating towards other dark and dramatic hues instead. "We're observing consumer interest shift from a true black to charcoal tones and chocolate brown," she says. “Rich, deep browns are truly having a moment, as we've observed in street style this fall, and that is reflecting in how consumers wish to design their homes," Banbury says. She recommends chocolate brown shades in saturated hues that will evoke a mood and impart warmth to any space.

Behr

3. Swap Cool Tones for Warm Reds and Purples 
"Reds and purples have surged in popularity due to their emotional depth and cultural significance," says Erika Woelfel, BEHR’s VP of color and creative services. "[This] is why BEHR selected Rumors as our 2025 Color of the Year, a deep ruby red." She explains that there’s compelling evidence in both fashion and global design trends that reflects people's desire for confidence and self-expression through color. "Red’s passionate energy and purple’s creativity-inspiring qualities resonate with individuals seeking vibrancy and richness in their surroundings," Woelfel says. She adds that these colors provide a dynamic aesthetic and a bold presence in both interiors and fashion.

Adam Albright

4. Swap Stark Whites for Blues, Greens, and Yellows
Stark white is another paint color to bid farewell to in 2025, according to industry experts. "In 2025, I believe cool tones will be out and warmth will be in," says Jamie Davis, co-founder of Portola Paints. "For example, stark whites and grays will be set aside for more saturated, earthy shades such as rich browns, blues, and greens." The shift from stark white tones points to an overall trend towards cozy and inviting interiors that embrace rich hues, such as Portola's Wellfleet and Newbury Port. Banbury concurs, suggesting shades of yellow as an alternative to bright whites. Butter yellow was a significant trend in the spring and summer, and Banbury believes it will remain popular as we look ahead to warmer months in 2025. "The pastel yellows we can expect to see everywhere have a newfound sophistication due to their green undertones, which make this color family feel more grounded and connected to the Earth, such as Convivial Yellow," she says.

Laura Moss

5. Replace Accent Walls with Double Drenching
When it comes to painting trends for the coming year, Banbury shares a trend that indicates a shift away from painted accent walls. While not quite full color-drenching, the double-drenching color method focuses on covering a space in a monochromatic color scheme. “As we explore new ways to express ourselves through color at home, we’ll see more rooms painted in drop-down color, meaning walls will be coated in one hue and ceilings and architectural details, such as crown molding, will be painted in the next lighter or darker shade within the same palette," she says.