As we approach 2025, interior design trends are shifting away from the colors that dominated the past decade and towards tones offering more warmth, personality, and comfort. These changes are driven by the turmoil of recent years and our desire to create cozier, more inviting environments.
Learn what top interior designers say about outdated paint colors for 2025 and what hues you should consider instead.
Meet the Expert
- Will Brown is the principal designer of Will Brown Interiors.
- Ellie Mroz is the founder and principal designer of Ellie Mroz Design.
Cool Grays: The Once-Ubiquitous Neutral
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Gray prevailed in home design for years, offering a neutral backdrop for any decor style. However, experts agree this trend is finally losing its appeal as 2025 approaches.
“While gray had a long reign as a neutral, it’s time to step aside,” Will Brown, principal designer of Will Brown Interiors, says. “Cooler tones, especially, lack the vibrancy and warmth people seek these days. With the chaos happening in our world, gray feels dreary and depressing.”
Brown points towards a movement of warmer neutrals offering more personality and a sense of calm.
Instead of the starkness of cool gray, designers recommend colors like taupe, beige, or greige (a mix of gray and beige). These tones add a warmer feel without sacrificing the neutrality homeowners often crave.
Some great alternatives include Benjamin Moore’s Manchester Tan (HC-81), Shaker Beige (HC-45), or the soft and subtle Pale Oak (OC-20).
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Barbie Pink: Bold and Bright, But Too Much
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The “Barbiecore” trend, with its bright and playful pinks, took off in the last few years but this is one color that experts are eager to leave behind.
“There’s a high intensity to this hue that can feel overwhelming in large amounts—it can really vibrate,” Brown says. “Thankfully, it’s losing steam.”
Bright pinks, while fun for a pop of color or statement piece, can dominate a room in a way many find too bold for everyday living.
Instead of shocking pink, Brown suggests leaning more into muted tones like earthy pinks or terracotta hues. These shades offer a grounded, sophisticated take on pink without losing charm.
Some of his favorite alternatives are Valspar’s Adobe Blush and Potter’s Clay, which provide the warmth of pink in an understated way.
High-Contrast Trim: Sharp Lines Are Out
Ellie Mroz has strong opinions about trim—specifically, how not to paint it in 2025.
“Avoid painting the trim a highly contrasting color,” she advises.
While it’s a bold choice, high-contrast trim disrupts a space’s flow, making it feel choppy and less cohesive. In contrast, using the same color for walls and trim—or a complementary tone—creates a seamless, more modern look.
This design approach, known as “color drenching,” involves painting everything the same color, varying only the finish.
“Varying finish choices in the same paint color add subtle interest; we recommend a satin finish on trim and matte on walls,” Mroz says.
This method allows for a clean, unified aesthetic without the sharpness of contrasting trims.
Cold Whites: Unwelcoming and Sterile
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Crisp, cool whites were a go-to for creating bright, airy spaces, but this ultra-cold shade of white is starting to feel—well, cold.
In 2025, designers are moving toward warmer, creamier whites that still reflect light but feel more welcoming and less sterile.
Whites, such as Benjamin Moore’s White Dove or Simply White, are softer alternatives that offer a bright but less severe look. These whites are ideal for creating a calming space while embracing the light and clean feel white walls provide.
Jewel-Toned Accent Walls: The Bold Accent Wall Fades Away
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Every design magazine used to feature a deep jewel-toned accent wall as the focal point of a room. Well, that trend is officially over.
Mroz is not shy about saying goodbye to it.
“We steer clear of the accent wall, and encourage clients to commit to one color,” she says.
While accent walls were once seen as a way to add depth and interest, they now make a room feel unbalanced, almost like a remnant of the past.
Instead of a single bold wall, Mroz suggests creating interest by embracing the same color throughout a room and adding texture or switching finishes for subtle variation. A monochromatic palette feels more intentional and sophisticated, and it’s a trend quickly gaining popularity.
Neon Colors: Too Harsh for 2025’s Cozy Aesthetic
Neon shades had their moment, particularly in modern, edgy designs. However, neon hues feel jarring in a world craving calm and coziness.
Bright greens, electric blues, and vivid yellows, while fun for accessories or accent pieces, are too harsh for large expanses of wall space in 2025.
Instead of neon, softer pastels or earthy, muted tones are becoming the go-to. These shades feel more natural and grounding, creating a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere that neon can’t achieve.
Warmer, Cozier Colors for 2025
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The overarching theme of 2025 is warmth, comfort, and cohesion. Experts like Brown and Mroz, lead the charge in moving away from cool tones and high-contrast designs in favor of softer, more inviting colors.
Whether repainting a single room or redoing your entire home, opt for these expert-approved alternatives to ensure your space feels fresh, welcoming, and on-trend for years to come.
