2020 Paint Color Trends: 24 Best of the Best Picks
All of the major paint manufactures have announced the 2020 colors of the year! I’m sharing each one and the 24 best paint colors for 2020.
Choosing the best of the best 2020 paint colors is no small task! Between 5 paint manufacturers there are 112 total color choices in the 2020 palettes.
I’ve combed through Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Behr, Valspar and PPG’s paint color picks to share what is new for next year.
24 total paint colors made my 2020 best of the best paint color list!
NEW: 2023 Paint Color Trends: Best of the Best Picks!
2020 Paint Colors of the Year
First, let’s start at the top with each of the major paint manufacturer’s colors of the year for 2020.
Plus I am sharing the newly announced Pantone 2020 color of the year.
The different companies covered are as follows:
Surprisingly, each paint color of the year is a little different than the other.
What I found as a common theme among the paint companies is a nod to going back to nature, peace, and serenity. Nice, huh?
One thing is certain, they all want to talk about how their color is THE color as we head into a new decade!
When you see my best of the best picks for 2020, you will see how much lighter the majority of colors are versus 2019 where paint colors were mainly DARK and MOODY!
Plus yellow and yellowed greens are an emerging theme for the coming year.
So many colors last year were very dark, which are great for cabinets, top half of a wall, or an accent wall.
Most rooms can’t handle a floor to ceiling dark color!
The new colors and much more calming and livable.
Pantone 2020 Color of the Year
While Pantone isn’t a paint manufacturer, they are THE leader in color in all industries.
What is so interesting is they, like the paint manufacturers, are focused on the color of a new decade that is also focused on tranquility and nature.
There new color of the year is reflected below, in TWO other paint manufacturer’s picks.
Ah, classic blue is so peaceful and calming! It’s a great color as an accent to base a room around that easily coordinates with all other colors.
This is what Pantone has to say about their choice Classic Blue:
“Imprinted in our psyches as a restful color, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser like clarity, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue re-centers our thoughts. A reflective blue tone, Classic Blue fosters resilience.”
Benjamin Moore 2020 Paint Color of the Year: First Light
The fact that Ben Moore chose a light pink was interesting. Hasn’t that already been done in years past by other companies?
By choosing First Light 2102-70 as their color of the year. what they are confirming is that pink is a new NEUTRAL.
A revitalized spirit is the focus this coming decade.
Fortunately, there will always be room for a pale pink in the mix of paint colors.
It does act as a soothing back drop for other colors. Pink is timeless.
Mixed with other neutrals and accented with black, Benjamin Moore gives First Light an entirely fresh look.
Overall, Benjamin Moore’s 2020 color palette is soft, pretty and serene.
Sherwin Williams 2020 Paint Color of the Year: Naval
Now for more of what we saw in 2019. Sherwin Williams chose Naval SW 6244 as their 2020 color of the year.
Again a nod to nature, but of a different variety.
Think of a dark night sky or the depths of the sea instead.
A classic navy to mark the start of a new decade and focusing on self-nurturing: mind, body, and spirit.
This deep blue is an easy backdrop to other colors found in nature.
Sherwin Williams Colormix® forecast for 2020 is a host of 45 colors that are divided into 5 segments that are “welcoming and intuitive palettes that bring joy, serenity and focus to the mind, body and spirit.”
Valspar 2020 Paint Color of the Year: Secret Moss
Oh, Valspar why don’t you pick just one color?
They like to pick a palette of “paint colors of the year” instead.
So I’m choosing their color of the year for them, which is Valspar’s Secret Moss 5005-2A.
This feels so earthy and natural.
I like the deep tones in the color that can work with so many different styles of decor, from modern to traditional this is a great neutral green.
Greens and blues are hot this year, so adding an easy to use mossy green to the mix is important.
It also ties back to all of the nature inspired paint color picks this year.
Click here to see all of Valspar’s 12 2020 Paint Color picks.
Behr 2020 Paint Color of the Year: Back to Nature
Ok, so Behr is being literal with the back to nature theme with their new 2020 paint color pick of Back to Nature S340-4 🙂
This is a more yellowed green, so I wouldn’t recommend it for a full room but as an accent color.
Behr’s Back to Nature looks perfect on an exterior door, as a complement to a light gray stone home flanked by black accents.
On Behr’s site they refer to this color as “Calm. Gracious Balanced.”
It really is a feel good and calming color.
Review all of Behr’s 2020 15 paint color picks here.
PPG 2020 Paint Color of the Year: Chinese Porcelain
Here’s another deep blue! Very similar to what Sherwin Williams picked, but more of an ink blue with a yellow undertone.
“Chinese Porcelain is a deep, shaded, orchid blue that instills calmness, reduces anxiety and encourages sleep,” says Dee Schlotter, PPG’s senior color marketing manager.
Again PPG is saying what all of the other manufacturer’s are saying that we need more calm in our life!
All of the paint companies during their color research tapped into our need to reduce stress in our lives.
In this fast paced technology filled world, our home is definitely our haven.
Color plays a big part in calming our nerves and relaxing our minds!
All of PPG’s 2020 paint 29 colors can be found here.
Best of the Best 2020 Paint Color Picks by Porch Daydreamer
What you’ve been waiting for, my Porch daydreamer best of the best picks!
Seriously, I am a super nerd and a color fanatic so I LOVED digging through all of the colors to find the prettiest palette.
What I am so surprised by is how different the mix of colors looks versus 2019.
The colors are softer and more more serene for sure. Some of the paint colors are way to bright or too dark for most people, so I avoided the extremes.
Here is the key code to the brands and colors.
- BM = Benjamin Moore
- B = Behr
- SW = Sherwin Williams
- V = Valspar
- PG = PPG
1. BM First Light 2102-70 | 2. V Crushed Out 7001-19 | 3. SW Breathless SW-6022 | 4. BM White Heron OC-57 | 5. B Painter’s White PPU18-08 | 6.V Desert Fortress 2008-10B | 7. BM Thunder AF-685 | 8. PPG Intuitive PPG1022-2 | 9. SW Diverse Beige SW-6079 | 10. SW Sleepy Blue SW-6225 | 11. V Grey Brook 5001-1B | 12. BM Oxford Gray 2128-40 | 13. PPG Chinese Porcelain PPG1160-6 | 14. SW Endless Sea SW-9150 | 15. SW 6244 Naval | 16. PPG Aquamarine Dream PPG1135-4 | 17. V Secluded Garden 5002-4A | 18. B Dragonfly PPU12-03 | 19. B Back To Nature S340-4 | 20. SW Acacia Haze SW 9132 | 21. BM Cushing Green HC-125 | 22. V Tempered Sage 6006-5A | 23. BM Golden Straw 2152-50 | 24. B Charismatic PPU6-14
What I look for are LIVABLE colors that can be used in a wide variety of spaces within a home, but look new.
A FUN fact is that many of the Sherwin Williams picks are part of the Pottery Barn color collection.
My favorite picks for kitchen or bath cabinets are the deep blues and Sherwin Williams Naval is one of them!
Read all about the best kitchen cabinet paint color combinations.
NEW! 2023 CABINET COLOR TRENDS
Hopefully, I’ve helped you narrow down the endless number of paint colors to find the perfect one for your project!
Check out my Paint Project Resource Guide for lots of helpful advice around paint and painting.
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Until next time…
Porch Daydreamer
Tracey
I love the navy blue in the photo of kitchen cabinets. What color is it?
It’s the Sherwin Williams color of the year…Naval and I call it out in the header and description.
Hi, I am looking to paint my kitchen cabinets a creamy yellow. Not gold or bright yellow. Also, should I paint the walls the same color? I have a lot of blue & white dishes and want to bring in a cream or a pale creamy yellow.
Thanks
Karen
Looking to paint kitchen walls. Cabinets buttercream. Open to pale blue sunroom and darker beige living room. Any suggestions for kitchen color. Presently soft terra cotta
Hi Tracey!
I wanted to let you know I finished painting my kitchen crème in my coffee and it looks FABULOUS!!! The trim is Sherwin Williams extra white. The back splash isn’t completed yet. I also painted the trim around the kitchen door. Now that the trim is painted extra white the door looks dirty. Its like a gray color so I’m thinking of painting the door. Any suggestions on a color? I thought about painting it white, but that might be to much of the same color.
I’m glad it looks so great! Normally I paint my doors the same color as the trim. That may your best option!
Hi Tracey!
I came across your website a couple of weeks ago and saw the color by Valspar Crème in my coffee. I’m thinking of painting my kitchen crème in my coffee and the base boards and ceiling will be painted pure white by Sherwin Williams. In addition, the back splash will be in Sea shell Mosaic tile. What are thoughts? I’m hoping the crème in my coffee will work for the kitchen since its that particular room has northern exposure lighting.
Thank you
Cream in my Coffee is the best selling white at Valspar because it’s such a nice neutral. I think it sounds like a good pick!
Thank you for sharing your 2020 top picks. I love #21 green for the bottom kitchen cabinets but wanted to use Chalk paint. Do you know a brand that has that same or ad close as possible color in Chalk paint?
Hi, Patricia! I would never recommend chalk paint for cabinets and would rather have you read this post and use this instead: https://porchdaydreamer.com/best-cabinet-paint-valspar-cabinet-enamel/
In that post, I have several tutorials linked to follow.