Paint trends 2024 – We reveal the key colours and effects to update your home this year

With the arrival of a new year, what better way to kick things off then updating your home with colour and we've got all the latest paint ideas you'll need.

Whether you just want to refresh woodwork and skirtings, fancy changing up your ceiling shade or are after an entirely new look for your interior, knowing what the key paint trends for the year ahead are, will guide you to making the most up-to-date choice.

A simple paint shade can have an immense affect on our emotions, happiness and well-being. Getting the colour scheme right has never been more key for creating a contented happy home. Our homes are our own personal sanctuary, a space where we want to feel safe, comforted and – above all else – happy.

These are the trending colours to embrace for any DIY and decorating projects for the year ahead. As well as the latest colours, our colour and paint experts explore the latest trends in how to use paint within our living spaces too. 

Paint trends 2024

Decorating and paint trends for 2024 are looking like they are split into two camps - going bold and bright, or keeping things neutral.

When it comes to bold colour, it’s all about berry reds and earthy neutrals, giving rooms a touch of drama alongside warmth and cosiness. Colour drenching also remains a huge hit, making a big impact in any room. 

And of course nature continues to be an inspiration when it comes to a more neutral palette. Colours found in the great outdoors, like mushroom, dried grass, cloud and seafoam - these hues will definitely be taking us through the next year of decorating.

Follow our guide below to get clued up on all the key paint trends for 2024. 

1. Damson hues

This autumnal shade is set to continue it's reign well into 2024. Damson interiors have been all over our social media feeds as of late, from kitchen units painted in the dramatic shade to entire living rooms drenched in the deep red hue. 

‘These berry shades are a step forward from previous pink tones such as millennial pink, Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2023, Viva Magenta, as well as the hot pink ‘Barbie’ inspired choices that have been seen everywhere this summer. Damson is a mature and timeless choice that is not simply a style du jour,’ says Sam Sutherland, Flitch’s Interior Stylist.

‘Damson's velvety undertones create an atmosphere of luxury and comfort, whether used on accent walls, upholstery, or soft furnishings, it effortlessly adds depth and sophistication to any room,’ adds Kate Palmer, Creative Director at The Painted Furniture Company.

2. Peach fuzz

Pantone's colour of the year for 2024 is the delightfully summery 'Peach Fuzz', so if damson is a bit too rich for your liking then this could be a sunnier alternative. It's mood-boosting qualities make it ideal for a bedroom where you want to awake with joy or for adding brightness to any room in your home that doesn't get much sunlight. 

‘Pantone 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending time with others or taking the time to enjoy a moment by ourselves,’ says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at Pantone Color Institute. ‘Drawing comfort from Peach Fuzz, we can find peace from within, impacting our wellbeing.’ 

3. Colour drenching

Colour drenching has been steadily gaining popularity for a while now, but we expect to see make its way into the mainstream in 2024. It involves painting walls, ceiling, architraves, doors and even cabinetry all in the shade which creates an enveloping effect. It can feel like a commitment if you're not very colour confident, but it's certainly replaced feature walls as a way to make a statement. You could start small with a colour-drenched cloakroom or create a cosy living room coated in a deep, inviting hue. 

'Even if you have a smaller room… colour-drench it!' advises Tash Bradley, director of interior design at Lick. 'It opens up the whole space and you don’t notice the edges of the room. So, if you have a windowless bathroom for example, don’t leave that ceiling white, paint the ceilings and the woodwork in the same colour as the walls.'

'A darker colour can be used to create a cosy and inviting space. This is a good choice for rooms that are used in the evening, such as bedrooms or living rooms. Deep yet muted green tones, such as Paint and Paper Library’s Salvia, are perfect for creating a relaxing and inviting atmosphere,' adds Michael Rolland, managing director at The Paint Shed.

4. Primary pairings

Take inspiration from colour-blocking, still found to be popular in the fashion world, and think about dressing your kitchen like you would pull an outfit together! One colour for the top and another for the bottom, with a little injection of colour for accessories - like this pop of yellow. 

Joa Studholme, Colour Curator at Farrow & Ball explains how to achieve this, ‘The biggest overall paint trend in 2023 will be about how we use colour as much as the colour itself. The use of stronger, simpler colours is extremely popular. Eclectic mixes evoke the warmth and harmony of a more innocent age’. 

She goes on to say, ‘this can be achieved by using two colours on one wall – easy if you have panelling or a dado rail, but if not then arm yourself with masking tape and just paint the bottom third of the wall in one colour and the top in another. The blue tones of Selvedge are made to feel all the more upbeat when combined with deeply saturated green Beverly and this look sums up this growing trend of using a friendly combination of block colours’. 

5. Earthy neutrals

There's nothing more inviting and cocooning than wrapping your hands around a mug of hot chocolate, or a caramel latte. So it’s no surprise that these colours are being seen more and more within the popular neutral palette. You certainly can’t scroll through Instagram without seeing hundreds of living rooms in these rich neutrals and now these tones are moving into kitchens and bathrooms too. 

Andy Greenall, Creative Director at Paint & Paper Library says, 'Moving away from impersonal and stark bright whites, kitchen design schemes are becoming more considered, with schemes reflecting the wider interior aesthetic of a home. Richer, mood-setting colours are being used to great effect in combination across woodwork, cabinetry and walls.' 

‘Mink’ is a wonderfully versatile, warm, pink-based neutral that adds depth and warmth to kitchen walls. Pair with the enigmatic, deep red-brown ‘Scarlet ‘n’ Rust’ for a sophisticated, timeless scheme.’ 

6. Mixing matt and gloss

A wonderful way to create depth and interest on a flat wall is to mix matt and gloss paints in the same colour. Try a checkerboard pattern, alternate stripes or like in this image, zoning an area. The change in paint finish means that light will bounce off them in varying amounts, creating interest to an otherwise plain wall. 

Take this hallway idea as an example, Andy Greenall, Creative Director at Paint & Paper Library says, 'Paint finishes, from high gloss to chalky matt, have a profound effect on colour. Our new versatile and self-priming formulations give designers permission to play with finish, to be creative in their choices and confident that the finishes are durable enough to withstand any situation.' 

'I love to see finishes used in surprising ways; the same colour set side by side in contrasting finishes will create a contemporary moment in a traditional space. Consider juxtaposing the chalky matt Architects’ Matt with our high sheen Architects’ Gloss.’ 

7. Create a piece of art

Accentuating areas within a room with a strong colour can help create a painted masterpiece, and give a room a one-of-a kind look. For example, choosing to paint an alcove to create a bold statement, or to highlight a fireplace surround in a striking complementary colour, will give a room a truly personal touch. 

‘Look out for areas which lend themselves to be ‘pulled out’ to give an instant punch of colour’, Emma Bestley, Co-founder & Creative Director of YesColours, explains.  'Colours can be used to manipulate the way your architecture looks and feels. And for homes without these details; colour can also create the appearance of architectural features, even if all you have is a few blank walls and a flat ceiling.'

'Painting using earthy colours like our warming Loving Orange, can completely transform a structural detail into an eye-catching feature. It grounds the scheme which then becomes a more inclusive and inviting space. The same goes for the use of olive green in the skylight reveal, it turns the emptiness of that space, drawing your eye towards the subtle but cheerful detail.'

8. Dusky pink

We have been drawn to earthy tones of pink to help bring comfort and warmth to our interiors during the past couple of years and it’s something that looks to continue into 2024. 

This earthy tone of pink is moving away from baby pinks and soft white pinks and is more a blend of blush and beige mixed to create a grounding shade of pink. 

‘A pale, soft pink, like Thrift, is a calming, gentle colour with a warming, nostalgic feel. It’s an important colour for 2024 as it’s incredibly versatile, working in bedrooms, drawing rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. It pairs beautifully with a number of shades, including ochre, blue, grey and green. Most importantly, it’s a colour which makes a house feel like a home’, says Francesca Wezel, Founder of Francesca’s Paints