Design NJ: Designers' Favorite Colors

February 15th, 2021 by Ren Miller

It’s no secret that new paint is one of the easiest and fastest ways to freshen the look of a room. Paint manufacturers stand ready with suggestions — some even identify a Color of the Year for you to consider.

Pantone®, the Carlstadt, New Jersey-based color expert on everything from printing standards to fashion forecasting, has been choosing a Color of the Year since 2000. It’s still the iconic leader in color, and thousands of stories are written when the Pantone Color Institute announces its Color of the Year.

That kind of attention doesn’t go unnoticed. Virtually every major paint company has since started to choose a Color of the Year — and many choose more than one. Pantone, which doesn’t make paint but on occasion licenses its name for paint colors and fan decks, chose a two-color combo this year: “Ultimate Gray” and “Illuminating” (yellow). Benjamin Moore named “Aegean Teal,” Sherwin-Williams chose “Urbane Bronze” and Pratt and Lambert highlighted “Contemplative” (deep green).

Many other companies chose a whole range of colors. In fact, for 2021 alone, nine of the top paint companies chose 93 Colors of the Year. Too confusing when you simply want to know what color to choose? The first rule: Choose what you like. The second rule: Get some professional advice.

Design NJ asked five designers to weigh in on their favorite color and share why they like it.

 https://www.designnewjersey.com/expert-advice/designers-favorite-colors/