When you build a new home in the D.C. metro area, one of the most exciting parts is the opportunity to make your space completely your own. But while furnishings and décor do a lot, you’d be hard pressed to find a more budget-friendly and impactful way to influence a space than a good coat of paint.
Gone are the days of new homes featuring a single color you select from a builder book with a limited palette. Many of today’s builders offer a larger range of colors to choose from, along with an option to select multiple colors, which can help your home feel more your own from day one. However, to take your space to the next level and give it a more custom feel, you’ll likely want to make some updates after you get the keys. Here are five current paint trends that can make a big impact at low cost.
Color drenching
In the past, we’ve been advised to leave the ceilings white to keep a room feeling open and heightened. Color drenching bucks this guidance and then some—and with good reason. By drenching your space in a single color, choosing a single shade for the walls, ceilings, and even trim, you can make a space feel larger, while disguising certain elements, such as heating registers and light switches. By picking a single shade, you give an illusion of height, even in smaller spaces, and can instead use a variety of sheens to give the space a bit of texture.
Dark and dramatic
White, light, and bright is timeless, but there’s something intriguing about a space that embraces a bit of drama. Bold, jewel-toned hues are having their moment, as are dark-brown-to-black kitchens that play with brass fixtures and create beautiful, eye-catching spaces that stand out.
Colored doors and trim
Traditionally, the formula has been to select a wall color and pair it with lighter trim and doors painted in the white or ivory family. By flipping the formula, you can modernize your space, and give your doors a bit of flair. Black doors make a big statement, but any shade you love is a great way to add a bit of interest and personality to your home.
Mixed finishes
Picking a single- or whole-house color palette is a great way to bring some cohesion to your space. Mixing paint finishes is a great way to keep that cohesion while giving a bit of texture and visual interest to a space. For example, you could use a creamy shade of white on the walls to bring openness, painted in a family-friendly eggshell finish for practicality. Then choose that same shade of white for baseboards and doors, but with an easy-to-clean satin finish. While the color is the same, the paint sheens will play with light differently.
Goodbye, gray
For years, we’ve seen cool gray tones enter walls, cabinets, and flooring selections as a more modern selection. However, over the past two to three years, “greige” has been the preferred color, bringing in some versatility and the reintroduction of warmer tones. While greige is still a great way to warm up a space and give some tone neutrality, design preferences are continuing to move toward the beige end of the greige scale, with the grays making their exit.
