Miller Paint announced its Summer Color Trends for 2021. The Northwest leader in paint manufacturing is predicting that homeowners will take renewed opportunities to connect with loved ones this summer, as they reflect on the past year. 

Inspired by the warmth of summer nights and our emergence from the pandemic, Miller Paint’s Summer Color Trend hues are rich, complex and unexpected. Grounded by sultry darks, this palette is reminiscent of tree silhouettes against a full moon sky. Peeks and pops of melon, earthy gold and a vibrant pink offset the hazy, heavy hues to infuse outdoor spaces with energy and uplift.

Founded in 1890 by local artist and muralist, Ernest Miller, the Miller Paint brand continues to collaborate with designers and creators to help inform future color trends. This season, Director of Color Marketing for Miller Paint Puji Sherer collaborated with Kate Blairstone, Portland designer and co-founder of the new outdoor living brand Understory, to create a unique yet versatile color palette that begs to be outside.

“The darker hues represent contemplation, while vibrant gold and pink represent connection,” said Sherer. “As we reflect inward and share outward, we continue to move out of the pandemic and into healing; these colors are welcoming and ground us in the current moment.” Sherer recommends using the darker colors in this palette for exterior siding and trim, with accents of the more saturated colors to highlight architectural detail.

“The Northwest’s plantscape was one of the inspirations behind Understory’s outdoor fabrics. We used the vibrant hues in the fabrics as the foundation of Miller Paint’s summer trends to show how color from nature can be used to create a harmonious palette for your home,” said Blairstone.

Miller Paint’s moody summer color palette includes these colors:

Vermont Slate | H0149 — A mysterious midnight blue. Perfect for exterior siding when black feels like too much.

Sayward Pine | H0101 — Black with the slightest touch of green. Use on trim, front doors or a cabin in the woods.

Sari | 1066 — Like summer in a color swatch. Part pink, part sunburst; use as an accent on doors, sills and garden boxes.

Unforgettably Gold | 0900 — Muddy and muted. This natural gold hue shines right up when paired with blacks and blues on brackets, cornices and fascia.

Vintage Victorian | 1142 — A not-so-pure pink with purple undertones. Repaint furniture or a Dutch door in this nostalgic hue that feels like NOW.

To celebrate summer, Miller Paint published an easy DIY project for turning a wooden ladder into an outdoor statement piece for displaying blankets to keep the nighttime chill off. 

Interested in creating your own Colorful Backyard Oasis in 5 Easy Steps? Learn how here.

To learn about Miller Paint’s Spring Color Trends from last season, visit the Miller Paint website.