2025 Color of the Year - Home Stager Edition

Back by popular demand, we present Staged by Design’s 2025 Colors of the Year, Home Stager Edition.

We are often asked the question, “What’s the best color for my home, my listing, my one-bedroom condo with limited light, etc”. This is a difficult, if not impossible question to answer, as so many factors go into selecting paint colors. We take into account the amount of natural light, countertops, cabinets, and flooring at a minimum, to ensure cohesive flow and coordination. It is also crucial to understand that colors look drastically different based upon the light. Pro Tip - avoid cool or daylight bulbs as they skew your paint colors.

We started our Colors of the Year, Home Stager Edition a few years ago to help bring contrast to the Paint/Pantone Colors of the Year, which often reflect anything from economic conditions to emerging fashion trends. Those choices can become popular, or simply fade away.

Our pics for 2025 are approachable, on-trend, and suitable for both real estate and design, but are by no means a one-size fits all approach. As we always recommend, you MUST try these selections in your home to see how the colors “read” on YOUR walls, in bright light, low light, daytime and nighttime before deciding if the shade is right for you.

Color drenching is a term you should familiarize yourself with, as it is HOT right now. Color drenching is an interior design technique that involves painting an entire space with a single color or a closely related group of tones. It’s an entire mood, and if you are feeling it, we say paint with confidence! We reference it with a few of our more saturated tones.

For resale, it is always better to be conservative in your selections, and we have included those as well. We feel this year’s palette represents the following: moody, earthy, organic and fresh.

Let’s color 2025 in a positive light with these refreshing colors!

Leigh: FRENCH CANVAS bENJAMIN MOORE 1514

French Canvas is a bit of a chameleon, with beige, green and gray undertones. This can feel both modern, yet timeless at the same time.

Photo credit: DVD Interior Design

CONTENTEd SHERWIN WILLIAMS SW6191

Contented: This soothing green has blue/gray undertones for a calming space. A perfect color to embody Quiet Luxury.

Alison: REPOSE GRAY SHERWIN WILLIAMS SW7015

Repose Gray: An oldie but a goody! This color leans as a warmer neutral with green and taupe undertones - but less warm than its beloved cousin, Agreeable Gray (secretly still my favorite neutral!)

Photo credit: Studio McGee

GREENBLACK SHERWIN WILLIAMS SW6994

Go bold or go home. Greenblack makes a striking statement. A cool black with a hint of green undertone - perfect for a dramatic accent wall (and for those of us afraid to use too much color!)

Marlo: yorktown green benjamin moore HC133

Yorktown Green: Dark, yet sophisticated, with undertones of teal, blue green and gray. Basically, a green with a little mystery….

Army green Benjamin moore 2141-30

A more interesting green, Army Green is somewhat neutral and can easily blend well with other color palettes. Great for an office, bedroom, powder room or accent wall.

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MARIA: ALABASTER SHERWIN WILLIAMS SW 7008

A soft white that’s warm and balanced, Alabaster is a great contrast to darker grays.

Photo credit: Nicola’s Home

URBANe BRONZE SHERWIN WILLIAMS SW7048

Urbane Bronze This striking color has subtle earth tones with its combination of gray and brown, evoking a sense of tranquility. It is dramatic and full of depth when used as an accent wall or on built-ins or fireplace surrounds.

wendy: oragmi white sherwin williams sw7636

Origami White: Bright, but not TOO stark, this pairs beautifully with blacks and brighter whites on trim.

thunderous sherwin williams sw6201

Thunderous: Green undertones without being overtly green, with enough gray to make it flexible. Perfect for color drenching.

RACHEL: sNOWBOUND SHERWIN WILLIAMS SW7004

Snowbound: This lovely shade is a bit of a cooler white with gray undertones and can be described as a designer white with quiet comfort.

stardew sherwin williams SW9138

Stardew: A calming and luxurious blue with warm and cool undertones. Outstanding both for exteriors and peaceful interiors.

There you have it-our paint color picks for 2025 - or any year for that matter. These timeless classics will be a safe win for any homeowner. (However, we always advise homeowners to sample colors in their own homes as light plays a huge role in how a color shows in a home.). If you are looking for a refresh in your home, but don’t know where to begin, we offer color consultations for selling AND living! Just go online and book your appointment today.

Let us shine a spotlight on your home!

2023 Color of the Year - home stager edition

Many paint companies have a tradition of forecasting a color each year. These colors are a prediction of what will shape our home in the coming year. Sometimes they hit the mark and other years, well, we wonder what they were thinking. For 2023 we are seeing a lot of, (gasp), red undertones! Our job as home stagers is to find colors that work well in most homes and are pleasing to most people. So as much as we love a good hot pink (we see you Pantone Viva Magenta!), we decided to share some of our own 2023 paint colors. They represent more of a classic, tried and true aesthetic, rather than a prediction of may or may not materialize with design trends.

Leigh - Moderne White, Sherwin Williams 6168

Photo credit: DVD Interior Design

Moderne White, SW 6168, is a color that is neither gray NOR white. With an LRV of 62, it's soft, and unobtrusive, while still feeling fresh and bright. It does have a green undertone, which causes the color to show blue/green in certain light. It’s a great, neutral color for any room and can be a great main area color for a home.  If you’ve been wanting white in your home but afraid the color will be stark and cold, this timeless color will give you that style you want but add a touch of warmth and sophistication.

Kim - Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore HC-154

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy is the truest navy paint color you can get. With an LRV of 8, it’s on the dark end of the scale and you will not see a shift in color with lighting. In other words, what you see is what you get. If you’ve wanted color but are scared to try color in your home, this dark blue is a timeless dark neutral that will last for years. Kim recently used in her own home for cabinetry and doesn’t regret it one bit. It’s the perfect color to add a pop but also keeping your home neutral, timeless and appealing to others.

Alison - White Dove, Benjamin Moore OC-17

Photo credit: Studio McGee

Benjamin Moore White Dove is a classic white that provides a little bit of warmth to any space. With an LRV of 83, it’s not a crisp, stark white. This makes it a perfect candidate for trim in any home. Some colors don’t play well with a stark white trim, so this is where White Dove shines because it looks bright and clean without being overly bright white. White Dove works in all homes and looks amazing with grays, beiges, blacks, blues, greens, and more. It also plays well with all types of woods and metals. It’s also the perfect white for painting furniture.

Marlo - Saybrook Sage, Benjamin Moore HC-114

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Greens are so calming. Saybrook Sage by Benjamin Moore is no exception. With it’s gray green hue, it provides a little bit of neutral to a room. This color is great for exteriors, and when used inside, can bring a little of the outside indoors. It brings an organic feel to any space or surface when paired with warm wood tones. This color would be beautiful as a kitchen island accent color as well.

Abby - Green Smoke, Farrow & Ball

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If you like Marlo’s green but want a deeper contrast, Green Smoke by Farrow and Ball is a timeless shade that can really go in any room and blend with any style! It adds a natural warmth and sense of calm to a space. If you aren’t afraid of color this is for you. It’s a bold timeless color that has been used in homes since the early 19th century. With it’s neutral tones, its not wonder it keeps on showing up. This color will allow natural wood and brushed gold to pop!

Amanda - Greek Villa, Sherwin Williams SW 7551

Photo credit: Nicola’s Home

Greek Villa by Sherwin Williams ia a fresh neutral option for almost any home. It can be used to brighten a space or make other colors pop. It’s a soft, warm white with an LRV of 84 and is extremely universal. This is very similar to the above mentioned White Dove. If you want to brighten your home but don’t want the stark white walls, Greek Villa is your best choice. It does have a slight yellow undertone so if you have a south facing room just note it will be quite a bit warmer color as opposed to a north facing room. However, it pairs beautifully with natural wood tones for a warm, organic feel.

Wendy - Evergreen Fog, Sherwin Williams SW 9130

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Feature Wall in Evergreen Fog

Evergreen Fog, Sherwin William’s 2022 Color of the Year, is still holding on strong with its neutral earthy tone. It’s beautiful for that pop of color or for that neutral backdrop. It’s got an LRV of 30, which means it will tend to hold onto its green meets gray with a slight hint of blue undertone. Wendy recently used on part of the exterior of her new mountain home because of its organic nature. The best part about this color is its versatility with styles. This color could be used for a coastal feel or when paired with darker colors it looks great with your mid-century vibes.

There you have it-our paint color picks for 2023 - or any year for that matter. These timeless classics will be a safe win for any homeowner. (However, we always advise homeowners to sample colors in their own homes as light plays a huge role in how a color shows in a home.). If you are looking for a refresh in your home, but don’t know where to begin, we offer color consultations for selling AND living! Just go online and book your appointment today.

Let us shine a spotlight on your home!

How to Bring Spring Into Your Home

Spring is just around the corner. And with the warmer weather comes the desire to freshen up our homes. It’s not just about Spring cleaning but we crave to give our home decor a lighter, brighter facelift. Gone are the dark days of winter and bring on the sunshine in our homes. We’ve got five ways to bring spring into your home without breaking the bank. Little touches like these will bring the spring vibe inside and hopefully not cause spring allergies like the outside.

Pillows Pack a Punch

Consider buying new throw pillows in light, airy colors and patterns. Just say no to the heavy fur or textures because spring vibes need soft colors to bring a sense of clean to a space. You will be amazed how new pillows can give life to a tired sofa or bed!

Fresh Florals

Whether your florals are real or faux, fresh, new flowers and greenery help bring the outside into your home. Florals have come a long way in the past few years to the point now that many require a double take to tell if they are indeed faux. Consider some simple floral stems in a vase for your dining centerpiece. Or try out your green thumb and add a new houseplant to your home. Spring will be represented with small touches like this around your home.

New Linens

With the onset of warmer temperatures and gorgeous sunshine, many fall into the spring cleaning frenzy. New linens to your bedroom and bathroom can evoke that fresh clean feeling into your home. Don’t be afraid of white linens - particularly towels. They wash well and can be bleached to keep brilliantly white.

Mirrors are Magical

Consider replacing darker wall art with a mirror. Mirrors can bounce light into a room therefore causing the room to look bigger, lighter and brighter. Such a small change with such a great impact!

Add some Curb Appeal

Small touches such as a new doormat and some beautiful flowers accenting your doorway create a fresh spring vibe for you and your guests as soon as they arrive. Both give off a clean, polished look - but make sure those winter cobwebs are all cleaned up around that entryway too. And, if you’re feeling adventurous, consider a fresh new paint color for your front door (but make sure your HOA approves before preceding)

Bringing a little spring into your home doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. These five cost effective ideas will certainly allow spring to come alive indoors and create a ray of sunshine into your home. If you’re looking to refresh your space we offer redesign services. We design and find the products, then you choose and purchase at your own time that fits your budget. It’s a cost-effective way to get design help and inspiration without breaking the bank. You can schedule an appointment online at your convenience.

Let us shine a spotlight on your home!