Why Summer 2025 Is All About Earthy Warmth and Outdoor Flow
Summer 2025 Color Trends: How to Style Bold Paints and Earthy Neutrals in Your Home
Summer 2025’s palette is all about rich personality: think deep plums and berry reds paired with warm, earthy neutrals like cinnamon, mushroom, sand and terracotta. This season we’re moving beyond sterile greys and whites toward “grounding, organic tones” that feel nurturing, alongside pops of saturated, jewel-like accents. Major paint brands agree: we’re seeing a return to nature – from brown and green neutrals to cozy browns – and a celebration of moody bold hues for maximum impact. In practice, that means a warm sand or olive wall can cozy up a room, while a single accent wall in a ravishing red or velvety plum can energize the space. Below, we break down how to incorporate these summer 2025 color trends into your home with style – and even point out some new paint color releases to try.
Bold Accent Colors to Energize Your Space
Benjamin Moore’s 2025 Color of the Year, Cinnamon Slate, is a “plum-infused chocolate brown” that “balances boldness with warmth”. In other words, it’s rich and moody yet cozy. Deep, saturated reds and purples are making waves as statement accent colors. For example, Farrow & Ball’s archival Etruscan Red (a dark brownish red) is heralded as a “grown-up” take on the red trend – think of a dining room or kitchen island in velvety red for drama. And Benjamin Moore’s new Cinnamon Slate (plum-brown) is perfect for a living room or bedroom accent wall .
When using bold hues, less can be more: focus the color on a single feature wall, built-in bookcase, or a cabinet. For instance, a dining room wall in deep ruby or plum can become an elegant backdrop for gold-accented sideboards and lush artwork. Balance it out with neutral upholstery and metallic accents so the color truly pops. Pillows, vases, or tabletop decor in oxidized reds or berry tones will echo the accent wall and tie the scheme together (shop coordinating home accents on Amazon – affiliate link). If bright greens appeal, Sherwin-Williams’ vibrant Chartreuse SW 0073 is a fun yellow-green to try on an entry wall.
Need help pulling your space together? Our virtual designers can recommend the perfect accent color to fit your vision. We love Studio McGee’s accent furniture (affiliate link) for injecting color – think a jade-green side chair or a brick-red sofa. Whether you choose an avant-garde magenta wall or a sophisticated burgundy vignette, these bold paints will give your summer home an unforgettable style.
Embrace Earthy Neutrals for Warmth and Depth
Farrow & Ball’s new Dibber No.312 is an example of this season’s earthy neutrals. Described as an “understated green” with a “close association with the natural world,” Dibber reads as a warm olive/khaki on walls. It creates a soothing backdrop perfect for cozy corners: imagine a study or dining room painted Dibber, offset with rustic wood and woven textures. This kind of warm neutral wall pairs beautifully with natural linens, basketweave rugs, and wood furniture – it envelops spaces in comfort.
Sherwin-Williams also highlights rich neutrals in its 2025 palette: “Grounded” SW 6089 is a versatile brown that “imparts richness and the stability of a refined earthen tone”, ideal for enveloping living rooms. “Clove” SW 9605 is an entrancing near-black brown perfect for a statement bedroom or library, while “Malabar” SW 9110 is a sandy beige “ideal for layering with delicate, warm hues to create serenity”. Use Malabar on upper walls or moldings, and combine it with deeper browns or olive trims to achieve the layered, organic look.
To style these warm neutrals, layer in varied textures and natural materials. For example, paint your kitchen island in Farrow & Ball’s Marmelo (a warming apricot-brown) and install terracotta-hued tiles – a nod to the terracotta trend – and the combo will feel both fresh and timeless. Or drape sand-colored linen curtains against a Cinnamon Slate accent wall for a Pinterest-worthy vignette. Mushrooms, taupes, and cinnamon tones act as a canvas for pops of green foliage and blush or mustard textiles. Find cozy throws or neutral accent pillows (Amazon affiliate) to build on this palette.
If choosing paint feels daunting, remember: warm neutrals tend to be very forgiving. As Sherwin-Williams notes, many neutrals this year “go beyond beige or taupe,” so even an earthy greenish-beige like Sunbleached SW 9585 or a mellow eggplant-beige works as a base. Need inspiration? Check out our past guide on styling warm neutrals for more ideas (e.g. pairing off-white cabinets with an earthy accent wall). Living Bright Interiors’ virtual color consultants can also walk you through sample pots from Farrow & Ball or Sherwin-Williams to find the exact warm tone for your space – just reach out on our site.
Fresh Paint Color Picks from Farrow & Ball, Benjamin Moore & Sherwin-Williams
Color experts and paint brands have released some gorgeous new options for 2025 that embody these trends. For example, Farrow & Ball has introduced nine new earthy shades: besides Dibber (green), check out Marmelo No. 316 – an orange-brown (“between orange and brown, a warming shade” ideal for kitchens) – and Naperon No. 315, a rich terracotta (“earthy”, an upbeat new neutral). They also revived archive hits: Etruscan Red (a dusky, brownish red) is back as a “sophisticated take on the red trend,” perfect for a statement wall, while Broccoli Brown and Sap Green re-enter the palette as deep organic neutrals. In short, Farrow & Ball’s 2025 colors mix soft olives, browns, mustard yellows and muted pinks, which you can combine freely (“they share our signature response to light,” helping each undertone shine).
Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year Cinnamon Slate (2113-40) is already turning heads: a “delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown” that lives up to 2025’s moody-yet-comforting vibe. (In a demo photo, the plum-toned wall above is simply stunning behind a gray sofa.) The full Benjamin Moore 2025 palette includes warm neutrals like Chowning’s Tan and gentle blushes like Tissue Pink – good candidates for adjoining rooms or trim.
Sherwin-Williams’ 2025 capsule spans from juicy brights to gentle neutrals. Aside from Grounded and Clove (above), note “Chartreuse” SW 0073 – a lively yellow-green that adds tropical zing – and “Rain Cloud” SW 9639 – a stormy gray-blue for cool contrast. All are fully swatchable via their app or dealer; for cozy summer spaces, try painting your trim or millwork in Sunbleached and your walls in Clove for a warm, enveloping scheme.
Whichever paint you choose, remember that bold colors become more livable when paired with neutral furnishings, and warm neutrals become richer with texture and pattern. We encourage sampling these shades in small areas first – sample pots from Farrow & Ball or Benjamin Moore are great (and we have tips on when to use their complementary whites). Our clients often find they love the feel of these new paints on woodwork or ceilings, not just walls, creating a layered, curated feel.
Styling Tips: Applying the Trends
Accent Walls and Cabinetry: Pick one wall, a fireplace surround, or a kitchen island for your bold hue. A restored moodboard could show a living room before/after with one plum wall and the rest in soft taupe. In kitchens, try painting lower cabinets in deep cherry or forest green and upper cabinets in a warm cream – this two-tone look nods to the earth-tone trend. (Create an inspiring moodboard for Pinterest featuring before/after shots.)
Soft Furnishings & Decor Layering: Use accessories to echo your chosen palette. For example, on a neutral oatmeal wall you might add a plum velvet chair and a cinnamon wool rug. Or on a rich green wall like Dibber, use blush pink or mustard throw pillows (Studio McGee has pillow collections in these warm tones*) and natural rattan baskets. Terracotta pots, jute textiles, and woven baskets instantly reinforce an earth-tone scheme.
Mixing Neutrals with Pops: Balance is key. A creamy mushroom sofa can be enlivened by berry-colored cushions and a cinnamon throw. A terracotta accent wall could be balanced by sand-colored drapes and white trim. Need product ideas? Browse our Amazon Finds storefront for curated decor – from amber vases to Moroccan clay pots – that match summer 2025’s palette (affiliate links coming soon).
Layered Lighting and Metallics: Warm neutrals pair beautifully with brass or matte gold fixtures; a bold accent wall works with black or dark bronze hardware. Think layers: a sand-painted wall (like Sherwin’s Malabar SW 9110) beneath a gold chandelier, for example. This juxtaposition adds depth to the earthy scheme.
Throughout all styling, keep in mind the advice of color experts: these new palettes are “flexible across styles”. A warm cinnamon wall feels as at home in a midcentury living room as in a boho kitchen. Don’t be afraid to experiment. And if you find yourself uncertain, our design consults can guide your color choices and even create digital mood boards of your own space.
Pin This! Get Inspired and Get Started
2025’s summer palette of bold plums and olives to soft sandy neutrals is rich with possibility. We encourage you to save and pin our moodboards and before/after shots to your Pinterest boards for a dose of inspiration. Ready to bring your home’s color story to life? Sign up for our newsletter to get more color advice straight to your inbox, or book a virtual design consult to have our team craft your perfect summer scheme.
Whether you’re repainting an accent wall in a dramatic ruby tone or swapping out throw pillows in earthy hues, this summer’s color trends are all about creating a warm, personal sanctuary. Embrace the vibrant and the grounded – you’ll end up with a space that feels both energizing and utterly inviting.
