Since the onset of this turbulent decade—before the Dunn-Edwards 2024 Color of the Year was even a thought—there have been two definitive waves in color trends: An escalated attraction to greens expressed our longing for groundedness and connection to the natural world; and gray became passé to the point that warmer, richer colors were a more than welcome escape from the tedium of yesteryear’s neutrals.
The desires that underpinned those shifting aesthetic preferences are still valid, but Dunn-Edwards sees another sea change happening. Our homes no longer need to feel like a shelter from the outside world, but a place we return to in order to recharge before heading back out into the fray.
With that in mind, the paint company selects Skipping Stones, a calming, oceanic hue that finds added depth from undertones of green and gray, as the Dunn-Edwards 2024 Color of the Year. The end result is not a tsunami of blue but a color that uses the energy of its aquatic inspiration towards reflective ends. “Skipping Stones represents a perfect bridge between warm and cool,” says Deming Carpenter, color expert at Dunn-Edwards. “It feels both nostalgic and futuristic, which captures the mood and tone of the year to come.”
Fittingly for a color that suggests presence, calm, and peace, there is no shortage of smart ways to invite Skipping Stones into the home. Using the color on four walls and a ceiling can turn a bathroom or bedroom into an immersive sanctuary, but even just an accent wall can conjure a meditative moment. Carpenter proposes Skipping Stones as a point of contrast to warm or white tones, as well as lighter woods. Even a front door in Skipping Stones can articulate the boundary between a hectic exterior world and your personal oasis.
Unafraid of adding a dash of color in the kitchen, designer Leah Alexander of Beauty Is Abundant also sees Skipping Stones as a suitable candidate for cabinets. “This color would be stunning on all kitchen cabinets with a dark, moody, swirly countertop that's also used as the backsplash material,” she tells PRO. “It’s a nice combo of approachable and edge.”
It plays nice with others too. In addition to the color selection, Dunn-Edwards has unveiled four palettes that make up its full suite of 2024 Color + Design Trends selections. Featured in the New Dawn collection, Skipping Stones is paired with blues in all sorts of natural manifestations, from the muted, grayed Lake Placid to the sky-bright Light Azure. The lavender-tinted Bay Fog exhibits further maritime inspiration, while the inclusion of both Boxwood and Opaline confirm that green isn’t disappearing any time soon.
For those clients needing a bit more convincing on the Dunn Edwards 2024 Color of the Year, Carpenter recommends presenting the hue as neutral adjacent. “If someone is stuck on traditional neutrals, Skipping Stones is a great entry point to adding more dimension and color. If you can open your mind to blue as a neutral base, the options are endless.”
