Maison & Objet: 10 Color Trends for Home Design in 2020
At the Paris trade fair, beige had a strong showing, along with soft nature hues, saturated colors and light-dark combos
Claire Tardy
25 January 2020
The Maison & Objet trade fair in Paris is an international meeting place for professionals in lifestyle, interior decoration and design that brings together nearly 3,000 brands and 90,000 visitors twice a year. Houzz editors were on the scene at the January 2020 show to scout out the latest trends in furniture, materials, patterns and colors.
Two palettes stood out clearly this year: a range of light colors that includes neutral tones, vegetable greens, sky blues and tender pinks, and a set of dark hues such as terra cotta, burgundy and deep blue.
Two palettes stood out clearly this year: a range of light colors that includes neutral tones, vegetable greens, sky blues and tender pinks, and a set of dark hues such as terra cotta, burgundy and deep blue.
1. Beige and Neutral Shades
Neutral tones are no longer there just to play up more daring colors: They now take the starring role in decorative palettes. This year we’ll see them on walls and furniture, energizing the final result with darker accessories or smaller pieces.
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Neutral tones are no longer there just to play up more daring colors: They now take the starring role in decorative palettes. This year we’ll see them on walls and furniture, energizing the final result with darker accessories or smaller pieces.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
Beiges are therefore in the spotlight, and they’re part of the natural palette that’s becoming more and more popular in interiors. “When it comes to decoration, Generations Y and X especially favor terra cotta and nude colors. 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 & Objet, (Re)Generation.
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2. From Sand to Vanilla
Still within the neutral spectrum, other colors like sand, vanilla, straw and at times washed-out, toned-down yellows have become more popular. They add a soft warmth to interiors and, like other neutrals, they’re appreciated for their relaxing and soothing properties, meeting the needs of a busy society in search of nature.
Still within the neutral spectrum, other colors like sand, vanilla, straw and at times washed-out, toned-down yellows have become more popular. They add a soft warmth to interiors and, like other neutrals, they’re appreciated for their relaxing and soothing properties, meeting the needs of a busy society in search of nature.
Combined with sage green or other muted vegetal hues, these shades can warm up a cold palette without being too aggressive or taking away from a soft overall effect.
3. Tender Greens
Greens are experiencing an upsurge in popularity. Paint manufacturers took notice and have been developing their own green shades in a kind of ode to nature. Dulux was one of the first, naming the pale green Tranquil Dawn its Color of the Year 2020. This shade was seen in many of the booths at this month’s fair.
Will These 9 Paint Colors Take Over Homes in 2020?
Greens are experiencing an upsurge in popularity. Paint manufacturers took notice and have been developing their own green shades in a kind of ode to nature. Dulux was one of the first, naming the pale green Tranquil Dawn its Color of the Year 2020. This shade was seen in many of the booths at this month’s fair.
Will These 9 Paint Colors Take Over Homes in 2020?
4. From Mint Green to Peacock Blue
But numerous varieties of green were spotted this year, all with one common denominator: softness. Beyond sage green there was mint green, with its feeling of freshness that announces the coming of spring.
But numerous varieties of green were spotted this year, all with one common denominator: softness. Beyond sage green there was mint green, with its feeling of freshness that announces the coming of spring.
Continuing with green but adding a touch of blue, this peacock hue adds drama and depth to a room.
5. Delicate Sky Blue
This year we also spotted a slightly washed-out sky blue, which had been somewhat forgotten until now. This shade enriches a natural palette with allusions to sky and water, a natural complement to the colors of soil and plants.
This year we also spotted a slightly washed-out sky blue, which had been somewhat forgotten until now. This shade enriches a natural palette with allusions to sky and water, a natural complement to the colors of soil and plants.
6. Tender Pinks
Whether pale, muted, pastel, peach or salmon, pinks will be very much present in 2020 interiors. Used more expansively to inspire well-being or alone to bring softness to a combination of warm and deep colors, pinks add richness to decor.
Color Trends From the 2019 Maison & Objet Design Show
Whether pale, muted, pastel, peach or salmon, pinks will be very much present in 2020 interiors. Used more expansively to inspire well-being or alone to bring softness to a combination of warm and deep colors, pinks add richness to decor.
Color Trends From the 2019 Maison & Objet Design Show
7. Terra Cotta Is Still Here
Terra cotta takes us from light to dark palettes, which we expect will be prevalent in 2020. Terra cotta has made something of a comeback in recent years, and it fits right in with the current craze for earthy colors.
Terra cotta takes us from light to dark palettes, which we expect will be prevalent in 2020. Terra cotta has made something of a comeback in recent years, and it fits right in with the current craze for earthy colors.
Terra cotta can be an anchor for warm color compositions, and it can also be contrasted with a cooler shade, as seen here, where the green sofa is highlighted by terra cotta, pink and mustard yellow.
8. Burgundy Returns
We also saw reds tinged with blue or indigo, as burgundy stepped back on the scene. This color added nuance to the palettes we saw at the fair. It goes well not only with greens and blues, but also with beige and neutral tones.
Maison & Objet: 7 Color Trends to Watch in 2019
We also saw reds tinged with blue or indigo, as burgundy stepped back on the scene. This color added nuance to the palettes we saw at the fair. It goes well not only with greens and blues, but also with beige and neutral tones.
Maison & Objet: 7 Color Trends to Watch in 2019
9. Classic Blue
Named Color of the Year 2020 in December by the Pantone Color Institute, classic blue was shown combined with many similar colors at this edition of Maison & Objet. It inspires calm, confidence and harmony, mixing easily with this year’s other popular shades, especially burgundy. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the 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.”
10 Ways to Use Classic Blue, Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year
Named Color of the Year 2020 in December by the Pantone Color Institute, classic blue was shown combined with many similar colors at this edition of Maison & Objet. It inspires calm, confidence and harmony, mixing easily with this year’s other popular shades, especially burgundy. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the 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.”
10 Ways to Use Classic Blue, Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year
10. The Marriage of Light and Dark Palettes
Light and dark palettes clearly stood out at the fair. Though they can be used separately, they’re also easy to use in combination: Pastels support saturated colors, and vivid shades wake up softer hues to great overall effect.
More on Houzz
Read stories about decorating with color
Find a color consultant near you
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Light and dark palettes clearly stood out at the fair. Though they can be used separately, they’re also easy to use in combination: Pastels support saturated colors, and vivid shades wake up softer hues to great overall effect.
More on Houzz
Read stories about decorating with color
Find a color consultant near you
Shop for home products
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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”.