10 small space interior paint trends to look out for in 2024

These small space interior paint trends for 2024 will help recharge and refresh your home

Three pictures: one of a peach living room, one of a brown room with wall art, and one of a blue and terracotta bedroom
(Image credit: Sofology / Desenio / Benjamin Moore)

Finding small space interior paint trends is a great way to revamp your place. From the different hues on our walls, to the many shades of couch, your home's color scheme plays an important part in creating a joy-filled space.

As we transition into a new year, with hopefully a little more optimism, the interior paint color trends for 2024 are sure to have a positive impact on your space. Whether you want to add a bold shade or go for something refined, there's something for everyone in this year's trends.

Featuring highly of course the latest small space color trends, these looks will recharge, break boundaries and refresh every space, to reflect how we now live and use our homes. We've spoken to experts to find out what they are and how to decorate with them.

As we crave freedom, expansion, and a return to nature, the best paint colors for small spaces this year will embark on a bright kaleidoscope color story, balanced with emerging and restorative new neutrals. For each trend, we've also found a paint color to match, so you can get the look in your home ASAP.

The prices below were correct at the time of publishing this article.

1. Go green

emerald green mood board color trend 2022

(Image credit: Etsy)

2024 is the year of green supreme with a fresh-forest of verdant shades bringing the rejuvenating virtues of nature inside. As digital lifestyles become ever more demanding, home retreats crave a deeper connection to authenticity, rooted in raw materials, tactile touches, and nurturing, living hues. 

Etsy trend expert, Dayna Isom Johnson, says: "Symbolizing harmony and growth, along with royalty and refinement, emerald green is the perfect color to remind us to find balance this year." Even better, this rich and grounding shade compliments a variety of other popular colorways — from earthy terracottas and neutrals to luxe golds and silvers — making it easy to add into existing decor.

2. Zen shades

Mint green living room with fresh greenery ceiling garland

(Image credit: Crown Paints)

Create a sanctuary of calm with muted green infusions that help to quiet our minds and bring comfort to decluttered spaces. Naturally joyful and optimistic, soft, organic shades encourage creativity and self-expression with a modern twist. It's always fun having a spring refresh with green living room ideas.

Ashley Banbury, senior color designer, Dutch Boy Paints, says: "Color we are bringing into the home is affected greatly by the world around us. Currently, we are designing spaces that create a comfortable and calming sanctuary."

3. Blue beyonds

A blue bedroom with terracotta bedding and a curtain

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

Breathing new life into interiors, transformative shades inspired by sea to sky infinities are airy and fresh. Soothing blues promote a sense of tranquility, particularly effective in relaxation spaces like bedrooms and blue bathrooms. With so many diverse shades to choose from, blue can strike many chords. Electric blues add drama to walls, whilst cooler tones can lend an industrial mood. 

Speaking of her love for blue, colorist Francesca Wezel, Francesca’s Paints says: "Blue is incredibly present in our lives; the color of the oceans and the sky, it grounds and connects us to our surroundings. It is a dynamic, elegant color that can be used in every room. Incredibly versatile, its uses are endless, and it brings a radiance and happiness to interiors."

Benjamin Moore's color trends for 2024 include its color of the year blue nova, which is a warm, indigo shade.

4. Terracotta rouge

Terracotta bedroom scheme

(Image credit: Albion Nord)

The natural world continues to offer unique and eye-catching materials for us to work with. "By mixing foraged, pre-loved items, contemporary and bespoke pieces alongside explosions of abstract color, we can design spaces that have their own distinct sense of identity," says Camilla Clarke, creative director at interior design studio Albion Nord

She explains: "In this bedroom, the brown, red paint tone evokes a calm but serious statement. When choosing a bold paint color for an intimate room such as a bedroom, it’s important to choose a paint that is made from natural materials as they’re much softer and chalkier in tone so the final result won’t appear too harsh."

5. Maxi dazzle

dark purple walls, tiled splash back, purple cabinets

(Image credit: CTD Tiles)

2024 interiors are getting playful with attention-seeking shades and vivid wallpaper trends that exude energy, sass and personality. Dazzling, jewel tones in highly saturated colors that derive their name from gemstones like amethyst, emerald and ruby, can be used to zone multifunctional spaces — adding bold contrast and style confidence. Opting with an extrovert jewel tone makes a trendy statement, and color blocking walls could be a good choice if you don’t want to commit to painting an entire room with a jewel tone. 

6. Digital dreamscapes

A small living room with peach walls and a peach couch with colorful cushions

(Image credit: Sofology)

As we dive ever further into an escapist mindset, interiors explore a surreal world where dreams meet reality via unconventional forms in a contemporary mural of tonal colors for the living room

Harmonize evocative, dreamlike pinks with bright citrus pops such as Pantone's color of the year for 2024 Peach Fuzz and teacup rose to create an artful aesthetic that plays on perspective.  "Use dreamy and fun romantic hues of blush rose and raspberry swirl and layer color upon," says Jemma Saunders, color specialist at Crown

7. Lilac bliss

lilac bedroom with built-in. cabin style bed

(Image credit: Shannon Eddings; Photography Molly Culver)

Elegant and subtle pale violet shades evoke a magical, twilight glow and alluring beauty. Strikingly delicate blends offer flexibility and versatility for use across a variety of bedroom color ideas and design styles.  

Shannon Eddings, founder and designer, Shannon Eddings Interiors, says: "We are getting a lot of love for this earthy shade of purple that can go both feminine or masculine." She continues, "When it’s dark, the mauve can get very calming and when the sun is out, the color reads bright and inviting. We like it for built-in bunks, library bookcases or a small scale space like a powder bath (with the trim and ceiling painted in the same color but different finish."

8. Natural neutrals

Warm neutrals kitchen scheme

(Image credit: Claire Zinnecker Design; Photography: Madeline Harper)

Calming neutrals will be the color trend of 2024 and probably beyond. Stress levels are at an all-time high and the last thing most people want to come home to is a home with walls painted in a color that can dramatically raise anxiety and stress levels. "After a stressful day of bad news and work, you probably want to come home to clean, light hues and tones," says Dan Beer, CEO, Beer Home Team.

Tom Diverio, partner at Dunagan Diverio Design says: "We find that our clients are seeking a more simplified lifestyle, with clean lines and a sophisticated palate. The days of heavy moldings and darker rooms have given way to wide-open spaces with tons of natural light." He continues, "Tailored furnishings alongside beautifully designed millwork and carefully selected materials are now the standard. Interior walls become textural canvases as natural elements flow through the spaces."

Embrace a paired back canvas with these neutral-nurturing, cream living room ideas.

9. Sunny side-up shades

Home office with yellow and indigo contrast walls

(Image credit: Fenwick & Tilbrook)

As working from home becomes the modern standard, remote workers seek to bring sunshine shades indoors, to create a mentally stimulating home office space that promotes deep concentration.  

"We’ve seen many people are searching for new ways to warm up and brighten the space that they spend the most time in, and painting rooms in brighter, uplifting colors is one of the best ways to do this," says Abbey Hesketh, color specialist, Graham & Brown. She continues: "Bright yellow shades represent optimism and happiness, so they are the perfect pick for promoting positive emotions within the home."

10. Crisp whites

Pared-back white dining room with wooden flooring and trestle style dining table

(Image credit: The Greenspring Home)

It’s the classic and timeless home decor go to, and white paint colors are back to dazzle 2024 small spaces in space-opening, bright delight. "In my opinion, the popularity of the paint color white will continue to rise. In a world that can at times feel very heavy, many homeowners are craving spaces that feel serene, open & airy," enthuses Kelly Marohl, owner and designer of The Greenspring Home blog.

FAQs

What colors are trending for 2024?

Neutral colors like beiges and whites and pastel colors like baby blues and pinks are all trending for 2024.

What shades of gray paint are here to stay?

"Grey paint shades are going to be big this upcoming year, such as grey blues and grey greens. From what I've seen so far, grey greens are going to be the most popular out of all greyish shades. This can range from light to dark — all will be a popular choice in home decor this year," says Randy, former interior designer and co-founder of RelaxingDecor.


Knowing the trending colors for the year is very useful when refreshing your home for the year. Want to find out about even more popular shades for the year? Farrow & Ball's color curator says this trend will take over in 2024.

Content Editor

Holly is a Content Editor at Real Homes, and has previously worked at Future Homes brands including Country Homes & Interiors and Livingetc. She has a background in interior and event styling spanning a decade, which previously took her from coast to city and beyond to Australia. 


Holly loves working with creative minds and discovering fresh, indie brands, and is a firm believer that no home can have too many cushions, unruly blooms or decorative details of happy

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