Which Colours Will be Big in 2020?
This January’s Maison et Objet fair highlighted two palettes: pale pinks, greens and sand, and deeper burgundy and blue
Claire Tardy
22 January 2020
An international meeting place for professionals in lifestyle, interior decoration and design, the Maison et Objet trade fair brings together nearly 3,000 brands and 90,000 visitors twice a year. At this January’s edition, the Houzz editorial team was on the scene to scout out the latest trends in furniture, materials, patterns and colours.
Colour-wise, two palettes stood out clearly this year: a range of light colours that includes neutral tones, vegetable greens, sky blues and tender pinks, and a set of dark hues, including terracotta, burgundy and deep blues.
Colour-wise, two palettes stood out clearly this year: a range of light colours that includes neutral tones, vegetable greens, sky blues and tender pinks, and a set of dark hues, including terracotta, burgundy and deep blues.
Light Palette
Pale neutral shades
Neutral tones are no longer there just to play up more daring colours: they now take the starring role in decorative palettes. This year, we’ll use them on walls and furniture, energising the final result with darker accessories or small furniture pieces.
Pale neutral shades
Neutral tones are no longer there just to play up more daring colours: they now take the starring role in decorative palettes. This year, we’ll use them on walls and furniture, energising the final result with darker accessories or small furniture pieces.
Beiges are therefore in the spotlight, and are part of the natural palette that’s becoming more and more popular in interiors.
“When it comes to decoration, Generations Y and X especially favour terracotta and sandy colours. Anything linked to the earth could not be trendier,” says trend-hunter Vincent Grégoire, whose analysis was the basis for the theme of this edition of Maison et Objet: (Re)Generation.
“When it comes to decoration, Generations Y and X especially favour terracotta and sandy colours. Anything linked to the earth could not be trendier,” says trend-hunter Vincent Grégoire, whose analysis was the basis for the theme of this edition of Maison et Objet: (Re)Generation.
From sand to vanilla
Still within the pale neutral spectrum, colours such as sand, vanilla, straw and washed-out, toned-down yellows have become more popular. They add a soft warmth to interiors. Like other neutrals, they’re currently appreciated for their soothing properties, appealing to a busy society in search of nature.
Still within the pale neutral spectrum, colours such as sand, vanilla, straw and washed-out, toned-down yellows have become more popular. They add a soft warmth to interiors. Like other neutrals, they’re currently appreciated for their soothing properties, appealing to a busy society in search of nature.
Combined with sage green or muted vegetal hues, these shades can warm up a cold palette without being too aggressive or taking away from a soft overall effect.
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Inspired to update your interiors? Find a local interior designer on Houzz today.
Tender greens
Greens are experiencing an upsurge in popularity. Paint manufacturers are responding and have been developing their own green shades in a kind of ode to nature. Dulux was one of the first, naming pale green Tranquil Dawn (pictured) as its Colour of the Year 2020. This shade appeared on many of the booths at the fair.
Greens are experiencing an upsurge in popularity. Paint manufacturers are responding and have been developing their own green shades in a kind of ode to nature. Dulux was one of the first, naming pale green Tranquil Dawn (pictured) as its Colour of the Year 2020. This shade appeared on many of the booths at the fair.
From mint green to peacock blue
But we spotted many more shades of green this year, all with one common denominator: softness.
From sage we go to mint green for a feeling of freshness that announces the coming of spring.
But we spotted many more shades of green this year, all with one common denominator: softness.
From sage we go to mint green for a feeling of freshness that announces the coming of spring.
Introducing a touch of blue into the mix, blue-green peacock brings with it a certain depth, in contrast to other hues in this palette.
Delicate sky blue
This year we also noticed a slightly washed-out sky blue, which has been somewhat forgotten until now. It enriches the natural palette with allusions to sky and water, a natural complement to earth and plants.
This year we also noticed a slightly washed-out sky blue, which has been somewhat forgotten until now. It enriches the natural palette with allusions to sky and water, a natural complement to earth and plants.
Tender pinks
Whether pale, muted, pastel, peach or salmon, pinks will be very much in evidence in 2020 interiors. Used in more extensive colour schemes to inspire wellbeing, or as an accent to bring softness to a combination of warm and/or deep colours, pinks will be used to add richness to our décor.
Whether pale, muted, pastel, peach or salmon, pinks will be very much in evidence in 2020 interiors. Used in more extensive colour schemes to inspire wellbeing, or as an accent to bring softness to a combination of warm and/or deep colours, pinks will be used to add richness to our décor.
Dark Palette
Terracotta
Terracotta eases us from light to dark palettes, which we’ll be seeing a lot of in 2020. This warm shade is nothing new, as it’s made a comeback in recent years. But it’s a symbol of the current craze for earthy colours, pointing to a range of natural shades at the heart of the dark trend as well as the light palette.
Terracotta
Terracotta eases us from light to dark palettes, which we’ll be seeing a lot of in 2020. This warm shade is nothing new, as it’s made a comeback in recent years. But it’s a symbol of the current craze for earthy colours, pointing to a range of natural shades at the heart of the dark trend as well as the light palette.
Terracotta works well anchoring warm colour compositions. Sometimes it appears contrasted by a cooler shade, like here, where the green sofa is highlighted by terracotta, pink and mustard yellow.
Burgundy
We also saw reds tinged with blue as burgundy steps back on the scene. This colour added nuance to the colour schemes we saw at the fair. It not only goes well with greens and blues, but also with a whole range of pale neutral tones.
We also saw reds tinged with blue as burgundy steps back on the scene. This colour added nuance to the colour schemes we saw at the fair. It not only goes well with greens and blues, but also with a whole range of pale neutral tones.
Classic Blue
Named Colour of the Year 2020 by the Pantone Colour Institute, Classic Blue was shown combined with many similar colours at this edition of Maison et Objet. It inspires calm, confidence and harmony, mixing easily with this year’s other popular shades, especially burgundy.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, describes it as “a warm presence that evokes the sky at the end of the day, vast and infinite, opening up a world of possibilities”.
How to decorate with Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2020.
Named Colour of the Year 2020 by the Pantone Colour Institute, Classic Blue was shown combined with many similar colours at this edition of Maison et Objet. It inspires calm, confidence and harmony, mixing easily with this year’s other popular shades, especially burgundy.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, describes it as “a warm presence that evokes the sky at the end of the day, vast and infinite, opening up a world of possibilities”.
How to decorate with Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2020.
The Marriage of Light and Dark
Light and dark are two palettes that stood out clearly down the aisles of the fair. But while they can be used to gorgeous effect separately, it’s worth noting they’re also easy to combine: pastels support saturated colours, while vivid shades wake up softer hues for a great overall effect.
Tell us…
Which of these colours would you decorate with in your home? Let us know in the Comments section.
Light and dark are two palettes that stood out clearly down the aisles of the fair. But while they can be used to gorgeous effect separately, it’s worth noting they’re also easy to combine: pastels support saturated colours, while vivid shades wake up softer hues for a great overall effect.
Tell us…
Which of these colours would you decorate with in your home? Let us know in the Comments section.
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I'm in love with the vanilla and greens. Feels like the ocean and sea glass. Please no to burgundy.
We have a terra cotta tiled and creamy coffee colored master bath. When we renovated 8 years ago I wanted to pull it out and do a more “modern” black, white and gray look with marble but for budget reasons we didn’t. I am happy that we have many of the wall colors in my house which I have enjoyed despite the trends to the contrary, including pale blues, greens, beiges, pink, and a teal accent wall in the master.
I think Gen Xers and Y are responding to the colors they probably saw in their Grandparent’s homes “ way back when”. The Boomers are giving homage to an earlier time; Midcentury, because of the emotional pull those colors and design have. We don’t seem to have the same attraction to colors that were popular in our recent pass. Plus we may be convinced that we need to “get with the times“ and “move on”.