Why You Shouldn't Let Trends Ruin The Way You Think About Paint Colors

With unexpected '90s design trends making a bold comeback in homes everywhere and some 2024 design trends officially going out of style, it may often seem like there is a new décor movement every other day. With these fast-paced turnarounds, keeping up with the latest trends can be a challenge, especially when it comes to paint colors. In an exclusive interview, House Digest spoke with Erika Dale, Interior Designer/Founder of Erika Dale Interior Design, to learn why you shouldn't let trends ruin paint colors.

Painting your home is a big project not to be taken lightly, but with paint trends often changing, how do you keep your house's color palate looking fresh? Dale suggests that homeowners take time before jumping on the bandwagon. "Paint trends, while fun to watch for inspiration, should not be the sole reason to select a paint color," she explained. "Paint companies come out with these 'trends' to make people feel like they need to make a change, and therefore sell you more paint. So take these forecasts with a grain of salt and enjoy them for what they are (eye candy!) rather than as a rule to follow."

Avoiding changing your paint color based on its current popularity can help prevent disappointment down the road. And, it will certainly save you some time and money. When House Digest spoke exclusively with Dale, she shared what to do instead of focusing on the newest looks.

"When choosing a paint color, it is essential that you pick a color you love since you will be looking at it every day," Dale said. "While it can be fun to take inspiration from a trending paint color, ensure it has staying power in your heart before committing to it on your walls or it will be no time before you are sick of it." Make sure to avoid mistakes everyone makes when choosing a paint color for their home, and, as Dale told us, this includes relying on trends. "Try researching photos of a general look you are loving (i.e. green kitchen cabinets or muted blue bedroom) and when you find a photo that takes your breath away, see if the source shares the paint color or research a similar alternative hue," she suggested.

When deciding on a new paint color, it is also important to not rely on the paint swatch you see online or in the store. Take time to paint a few spots on a couple of different walls, and look at the paint during different times of the day. This will help ensure you like the look no matter the lighting, and help prevent you from making a hasty decision. 

If you did decide to follow a trend at one point, the paint on your walls may be out of style. However, this is not a reason to re-paint your walls. During House Digest's exclusive interview with Dale, she provided advice on what to do when your paint color is "out."

"My advice for readers that feel they used paint color that is now considered out of style is to ignore trends and ask themselves if they still love it," Dale said. "If so, hold tight because paint trends are cyclical and always come back around. For a refresh without new paint, research similar looks to see if there is a way to make small changes with your decor to give your 'outdated' color a new life. Alternatively, if you aren't crazy about the color anymore, find new inspiration and make a change."

The most important part about decorating your home is that you love it. If you are planning on living in the property for a long time, rather than worrying about which house style homeowners love the most, consider which house style you love the most.