Gray Is Still Going Strong. 'Metropolitan' is 2019 Color of the Year.

Sophisticated neutrals have been the “go-to” for the last few years in most of our custom home designs, and it looks like the color may be here to stay for a little bit longer. Benjamin Moore® Paints recently announced its 2019 Color of the Year—Metropolitan, which is a stylish gray with cool undertones.

This understated, yet glamorous gray creates a soothing, impactful common ground, which is a big contrast to last year’s fiery red tone. To complement the gray, a pallet of harmonious hues was also unveiled which includes a spray of neutrals, soft pinks, and rich blues and greens. The moods that can be created in your home design by combining the soft neutrals or pairing them with rich colors inspired by nature is limitless.

Image Credit: Benjamin Moore Paints

In contrast, other paint companies have gone bolder with their choices. Blueprint, which is a deep blue-gray was the winner for Behr. This rich color has been popping up on custom home exterior finishes, in entryways, on walls, furniture, and cabinetry. The color pairs nicely with neutral grays and really well with metallic finishes.

Photo Credit - Behr

Even bolder, Pantone’s color trends for 2019, note 72 colors as trending and their list includes shades of spicy reds, rich oranges, and purples grounded by swatches of deep cappuccino and a strong grassy green. These colors typically spill over into the home design/build industry and should soon be seen making their debut in upholstery and window treatments.

Sherwin Williams color of the year falls somewhere between these two extremes with a warm terracotta, Cavern Clay. Noted to embody renewal, simplicity and a free-spirited, bohemian flair, this color can be either casual or formal. Pair it with stone or metals or to create a more cozy feel, by combining it with cobalt blue.

With color choices stemming from all ends of the spectrum, each of these lists includes one, if not a few neutral grays to serve as the grounding element to the richer, bolder tones. Whether we’ll begin seeing bolder tones fighting their way to the front or just used as pops of color against their calming counterparts is hard to say. What we do know is that shades of gray aren’t going anywhere just yet. You’ll continue to see cool and warm tones in wood floors and countertops and in other interior and exterior elements of today’s custom homes.

For a complete list of 2019 colors of the year, go to your favorite paint company’s website where you can find a list and images to serve as inspiration for your next remodeling project or when making selections and designing your new custom home.

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