Every year we monitor trends in culture, design, and fashion to create a color forecast for the year to come. In 2020, as the world was rapidly changing due to the impact of the global pandemic, we started to see a shift in our relationship with the built environment. Every type of space, from residential to commercial settings, needs to be versatile and will likely be used in different ways than intended. That’s why we curated the BEHR® Color Trends 2021 Palette to provide a versatile palette of colors that bring a sense of elevated comfort into any space in 2021.

We predict many projects in 2021 will call for versatility and comfort. From the workplace and education to healthcare to hospitality, every industry is working to adapt to our changing society and understand the impact on the built environment. In the commercial building and design process, paint can be used to help convey feelings of security, warmth and well-being. We’re starting to see spatial design considerations that reduce open floor plans, particularly in office settings, and paint color will play a significant role in ensuring work environments still feel comfortable, light, and productive.

In 2021, we may start leaving our homes more often, and many of us who haven’t already may return to the workplace and other commercial spaces. Returning to a state of calm through color in these spaces will allow for a more welcoming and comfortable transition. Creating comfort is as easy as choosing colors like Canyon Dusk S210-4, an earthy terracotta inspired hue that evokes a harmonious atmosphere, soft and serene Smoky White BWC-13, or even the comfortable neutral Almond Wisp PPU5-12, all of which provide a solid color and stable backdrop to any setting. It’s never been more important to design rooms in a way that creates peace of mind.

One of my favorite traits of paint palettes is when they’re versatile enough to create a welcoming environment everywhere – from a home office to a classroom, to a newly reopened hotel. The BEHR Color Trends 2021 Palette, in particular, is organized into four design themes to help transform spaces to evoke feelings of positivity and serenity. Mindful Escape is designed to create a soft neutral theme inspired by clean modern lines, while Optimistic Glam adds a touch of 70s glamour and energizes any space. Created Clarity uses pastels to build the perfect serene background for any room, and Dramatic Revival combines deep, rich colors to help make the perfect bold statement. The four design themes and the wide range of colors, from neutrals to bold hues, enable both professionals and DIYers to mix and match colors in endless combinations so they can be used wherever you need them. Our hope is this palette will help ease the difficulty of creating adaptable spaces in what sometimes must be quick turnaround solutions, while creating comfort not only where the colors are used, but also comfort for the person using them.

Another anticipated color and design trend for 2021 is the need to create rooms that feel open and light no matter how big or small they may be, and a mix of soothing blues and greens can help you do that. For example, reassuring blues with calming influences that bring a cooling delight, and natural green hues with rejuvenating effects can help create a refreshing environment. We expect the trend of incorporating organic and natural elements in both commercial and residential spaces through paint and decor will continue into next year, particularly as we all strive to welcome positive energy and vitality into our everyday lives.

While it’s difficult to make definitive predictions for the year ahead in terms of design trends – especially as unpredictable as this year has been – we do know from a recent Kelton study that one in five Americans think a fresh coat of paint is the one project that yields the highest return at home. We also know both commercial and residential spaces will need to be designed in a way to accommodate new requirements like social distancing, without sacrificing productivity or collaboration. Flexibility will be key when designing and building new spaces and reworking existing environments in the year to come.

In addition to launching our color trends predictions for 2021, we rolled out new resources to help paint professionals get answers to their questions from wherever they are. Our scientists developed videos to showcase how we test our paint to make sure they’re the highest quality before we put them on the shelves. The videos help answer the questions pros ask most in an easily accessible way. These videos can be viewed through “BEHR Labs Answers.” As we innovate new products, we’ll continue to add to the series to ensure you have the facts you need.

This past year, we’ve all learned how to adapt to the environment around us, and this palette is meant to help our spaces evolve as quickly as we do. We designed the BEHR Color Trends 2021 Palette with designers, architects, and paint professionals in mind, knowing they will explore new color combinations that help everyone step into comfort. You can learn more about the palette and our color trends by visiting behrpro.com/2021trends or visiting your local The Home Depot store.