Benjamin Moore’s 2018 Color of the Year Heats Things Up

Though autumn has brought cooler temperatures to the Pacific Northwest, Elle Décor made a hot announcement this week, as they shared the Benjamin Moore 2018 Color of the Year! A drastic shift from the dark and alluring deep purple of 2017’s “Shadow,” 2018’s color is a spicy, eye-popping shade of red called “Caliente AF-290.”

As Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore Director of Strategic Design Intelligence tells Elle Décor, this year’s color evokes a sense of passion: “whether used as a note or on our walls, the spirited personality of red turns heads signaling surprise and adventure. The eye can’t help but follow its bold strokes.”

Though many often think of red as a color too bold for much versatility, Benjamin Moore showcased the hue in a variety of homes from a farmhouse to a modern home, both as an accent and main color. In celebration of “Caliente AF-290,” we pulled a couple of our favorite uses of the color. We think this fun color works best as an accent, whether it’s found in a stellar fixture or used subtly in a number of pieces to create a more cohesive space.

A strategic use of red in the shelving, pillows, rug and dining chairs brings the rooms of this open floor plan together.

We love the way the bright pop of red brings the eye to this modern light fixture to brighten the dining space.

For more information about Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year, click here.