Overhead view of home painting equipment brush, roller, tray and paint pot

Overhead view of home painting equipment brush, roller, tray and paint pot

One of the quickest, easiest, and most affordable makeovers in your home is a can of paint. One gallon can make a big difference in the look and feel of any room. Go from dull to daring, or tone down a prior adventure into boldness.

The popularity of paint colors changes from year to year, as evidenced in the home fashions you see in the stores and online. Fashion runways aren’t the only place where color trends emerge. Home decorating is influenced by designers and manufacturers, the driving force behind the paint colors you choose.

What’s trending right now? Here are some of the home interior paint color trends for 2015.

50 Shades of Gray—and we don’t mean the book. Gray is the most popular color for interior walls this year. Gray is neutral enough to complement any room, but the range of gray shades are so diverse that the choice can still make an impact—from a soft dove gray to a warmer hue that leans toward brown and all the way to gunmetal and charcoal.

Gray can go from warm to cool, and the tones can seem to shift according to pairings with home furnishings and décor. According to the Paint Quality Institute, “Grays that contain traces of warm hues like red, yellow, or brown seem cozier, and partner best with warm companion colors. On the other hand, grays that have hints of blue or green seem color and more austere, so they are inherently compatible with colors on the cooler side of the spectrum.

Fruitful Choices—Orange and olive are two home interior paint colors plucked for perfection by today’s leading decorators. “I saw a palette of 60s colors on the 2015 runways that was exciting—shades like olive and orange are being given new life,” said Alexandra Kaehler.

Orange can go from sunny and golden to deep rust, giving the homeowner a wide range of choices that can suit any décor. Olive adds a rich, warm backdrop to any room, and pairs beautifully with a diverse array of accent colors.

Feeling the Blues—Blue never ceases to lose its popularity. This year, we’re seeing a definite trend with brighter Aegean blue paired with bright white, creating a vibrant yet still calming effect, like relaxing somewhere in the Greek Isles. Shades of softer blue-green, with a coastal feel, still have a strong following. French blue is a consistently popular paint color among shabby chic fans.

Not Quite White—Creamy white, off-white, ivory, or any white with a hint of warmth is popular. Paint manufacturers never tire of producing a spectrum of not-quite-white hues, using prefixes like “Dune, “Linen”, “Bisque”, and “China”. When you’re looking for a color that’s as neutral as possibly but adds a bit of warmth to your room, you can never go wrong with “white with attitude”.