Predicted Paint Colors for 2018

Predicted Paint Colors for 2018 - roomfortuesday.comThis post was SUCH a hit last year, I thought it’d be fun to do it again for 2018. I really love using color throughout my home and feel super comfortable making paint selections. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again- if there’s one design element I feel confident in- it’s color theory. I truly enjoy working with colors, mixing, and finding palettes that play well together. Click through to see what I’m predicting will be popular in 2018!

This post is not sponsored by Sherwin-Williams, but they have become our paint preference over the past year. I have all of the swatch books, and Emmett prefers their quality to other brands…. so the following are all SW paints. We do have a few Benjamin Moore colors in our house as well, but we typically just have our local Sherwin-Williams color match.

Alright, let’s dive in shall we? The right paint color can make or a break a space,

Predicted Paint Colors for 2018 - roomfortuesday.comAs far as trends go, this year I’m expecting we’ll see more color. Gone are the days of white and gray. In 2018, I’m all about bold hues that make a statement. You’ll notice more saturated colors and deeper hues coming into play. I think it’s going to be a big year for blues, burgundy, and warmer beige tones.

Other wild card colors to be on the lookout for? If you’re not afraid of color… I’m seriously loving these tones- expect a few to pop up in my own home later this year:

Predicted Paint Colors for 2018 - roomfortuesday.comSometimes a color will get too trendy, too fast, and suddenly everything looks the same (which I’m not a fan of). If I’m attracted to a popular color, my goal is to use it in a new way (ahem, I’m looking at you green), or experiment with a different tone or hue that feels less ordinary. For instance… rather than sticking with the same hunter green, try pushing it towards a muddy pastel, desaturating it, or mixing a little black to deepen the tone. These will be better options when it comes to longevity.

Paint is really a game changer. You can dramatically change the look of a room, piece of furniture, or even the exterior of a home with a single coat of paint. In my opinion, it’s the most underrated part of a project- and it’s relatively inexpensive. Here’s what you can find in my house when it comes to color:

Predicted Paint Colors for 2018 - roomfortuesday.comTo see the above paint in action, feel free to visit the following room reveals: LIVING ROOM // GUEST ROOM // BATHROOM // MASTER BEDROOM

It’s kind of funny to see all of the paint used throughout my entire home in a collage like this. It turns out, I definitely have a palette. I don’t think homes should be super matchy matchy, but I do think consistency within the palette is a good thing. You never want one room to feel like it doesn’t belong under the same roof.

2017-predicted-paint-colorsLastly, I’m also bringing back my tried and true painting tips:

  • Stop using painters tape. I HATE painters tape… it never works and leaves a squiggly, uneven line. I’m always much happier when I free-hand with a nice brush. If you’re not sure how to do this… watch this video.
  • Stop painting first. People always ask how I compile a color palette for each room. It seems that everyone has trouble selecting paint colors because it feels sort of permanent and daunting. It’s actually really easy! Painting is always the last thing I do to a space (besides styling). I pull swatches from the textiles, furniture, or art. It’s always a great jumping off point when it comes to inspiration. Just because you’re moving in or a room is empty, doesn’t mean that painting needs to happen immediately. Live in the space for awhile, see how the light interacts, find a couple objects that work well in the space and go from there.
  • Buy quality paint and supplies. This seems obvious, but until I started using nice paint, it used to take forever. I value my time and the way a project turns out. You can get by with only 1-2 coats if you buy the appropriate paint. There’s literally a paint for everything. Technology has come a long way… from self-leveling paints to organic and green paints, they’re safer and easier to use. Ask a professional which one is best for your project.
  • Always order a sample. Don’t be the person who spends a ton of money on paint by looking at the tiniest swatch, only to paint your wall and hate the color. Taking the extra time to order a larger swatch or tiny jar of paint is well worth it and makes it SO much easier to decide if the color is what you expected.
  • Know your finishes. It’s a given that different finishes should be used in different areas of your home. Do a little research to see which finish is appropriate. Typically (most of the time) trim should be semi-gloss and walls should be flat, eggshell, or matte. The same goes for doors… semi or high-gloss is best and easiest to clean.
  • Throw the rules out the window. Just because trim is typically lighter than your wall color, doesn’t mean you can’t switch it up. Take our bedroom for example, contrast trim wasn’t super popular at the time I painted, but I knew it would look amazing- so I went for it. Don’t be scared to go bold or trade things up… it’s just paint.

What do you guys think? Do you have any ideas as to what colors we’ll be seeing more of in 2018? Any painting hacks or tricks of the trade I should know about? I can say- I’m looking forward to seeing more color this year.

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38 Comments

  1. Linda Darling says:

    Love this post! My question is, when you use contrast trim color with white or lighter walls, how do you handle the transition into the next space. If I do a doorway, there is always that flat portion leading to the next space. How do you handle that?

    1. So glad you found it helpful, Linda! I prefer to stop the color where the door jam splits. I’ll answer this question on Instagram stories later today so you can get a visual… @roomfortuesday

      1. I’d also love to see how you do this! I missed the insta story.. would love to see a post about this!

  2. Oh man, that Carnelian Burgandy is calling my name…..So beautiful.

    1. I love that one, too!!

  3. Ellie Meyers says:

    This couldn’t have come at a more perfect time! Just starting to figure out paint colors for my new house….thinking I might need to paint my vent hood olive grove 😍 Gorgeous!!

    1. Ohhhhh, yes!! I vote olive grove vent hood :)

  4. blueflower says:

    Love all the colors here! Any of these color work in a north facing room (lots of windows)? I’d love to find a good non yellow/beige color that’d work. Thank you!

  5. the first color palette is basically what we are doing for our wedding this year :)

  6. Hi! How did you create the paint colors in your home image? I would love to do something like that as well.

  7. All the colors are beautiful and the blues are timeless! I also painted all my trim SW-7005

  8. What color is the blue-y paint on the lead image with the paintbrush on top of the can? Smoky Blue?

    1. Hi Liz, it’s Blue Note by Benjamin Moore. xox

  9. Vinnett Flores says:

    What is the brand of these swatches?

  10. kerry verchere says:

    I have had BM Shaker Beige since the house was built, birch floors, can you suggest a new color, east facing, wanting to go with more of a mushroom tone. Thank you if you can .

  11. Your color schemes are gorgeous! What color would you recommend for a kitchen/eat-in area with honey oak cabinets and south-facing french doors that lead to a large sunroom. I LOVE the woodwork as is, but it’s hard to find a wall color that plays off it nicely.

  12. Elizabeth Olson says:

    Thank you so much for all the advise. Getting ready to paint and looking forward to getting started.
    I love your paint color recommendations. We are going with the blue family.

    1. Yay!! So exciting. It’s going to be beautiful! xo

  13. I’d love to know how you made these collages too! Great post!

    1. Thanks, Dana! My background is actually in graphic design, so I pretty much make everything from “scratch” when it comes to roundups, templates, and blog graphics. My programs of choice are adobe illustrator and photoshop. Hope this helps! xo

  14. Love the color schemes. What would you recommend for the kitchen?

    1. Thanks Aixa! It really depends on the space. You could do any color in a kitchen- it just depends on the look you’re going for.

  15. Thank you! Gorgeous colours! I have to paint my entire house (just finished) in a few months. Can you tell me what do you mean by “Trim”?

    1. Thanks, Andrea! I refer to mouldings and millwork as trim (crown moulding, casing, baseboard, quarter round, etc).

  16. Alejandra says:

    Sarah could you do one for kitchens? Just moved in and can’t deal with the color it has now, but it has some nice mexican talavera tiles.. I was thinking blue? But I don’t want to darken the place…

    1. Definitely! I’ll add that to the calendar / blog list :) xox

  17. Nancy Seigler says:

    Sarah, Just found your blog and love it. We are doing a complete redo on our beach place and need to figure out paint colors (I am not a green person). Kitchen, dining and living room are all one large open space; cabinets are white with marble counters and stainless appliances and floors will be hickory. I currently have a red slip covered sofa but want to change color. What color walls would you suggest (east facing) and what about slip cover?

    1. Hi Nancy! Thanks so much! Your beach house sounds amazing. I offer e-design services for things just like this- paint consults with swatches mailed to you, etc. If you’re interested in those types of services, please fill out this form: https://roomfortuesday.com/e-design-2/ Thanks for following along! xox

  18. Sarah! I love it!! We are painting all of the doors in our house tricorn black as well as our headboard wall in the master bedroom. Another white that I love is SW Fleur de Sel. We’re painting it on most of the walls in our new house. I totally agree that the elledecor post is WAY off. I have seen the golden yellow color paired with a dark green and a blush and totally loved it….it’s definitely more of an accent color for me. I would not paint a whole wall like that….even in my kids room.

    1. That’s the best black, Wendy! I’ll have to add Flour de Sel to the list, thank you. I do like some of the hues in the Elle Decor post, but yeah- some of them I was thinking YIKES! Moderation is always key :) Happy Friday!

  19. Love the colors! What are your suggestions for dark rooms with very little natural light?

  20. What about kitchen colors?

  21. Where can I buy these paints !!!!??? Love them all !!

    1. They’re all from Sherwin-Williams, Susan! xox