Cat’s out of the bag: the era of drab farmhouse grey is far, far behind us. This transition started in 2020 and 2021 when the colors of the year shifted toward dreamy, escapist tones that reminded us of travel and whimsy (you know, so we wouldn’t go insane during lockdown). Then, in 2022, we saw the emergence of post-pandemic neutrals: warm, earth-inspired hues that’d soothe us as we made our way back into the world. Finally, in 2023, we welcomed a slew of vibrant greens—speaking to a collective embrace of renewal and new beginnings. So, what’s on the docket (color-wise) for 2024? It’s all about the cosmos.
After four years of training wheels in a post-COVID landscape, color manufacturers are (finally) giving us permission to shoot for the stars with stunning, galaxy-inspired tones. This started with Sherwin Williams’ color of the year, Upward, which is a faded denim blue that represents “the ethereal dance of ambition and dreams,” according to Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. It’s designed to inspire “the cosmic tug that urges us to reach higher and embrace the uncharted realms of our imagination,” so essentially, blue-sky dreaming. Benjamin Moore’s 2024 pick, Blue Nova, seems to be following suit, where the sumptuous blue violet mimics a starry night's embrace.