Every year the color masters over at Behr grace us with their pick for color of the year—the hue they consider most de rigeur, most indicative of our current moment. Well, it seems we're living in an era of husky, sensuous blues because this year's pick, Blueprint, is just that.
The color is a mid-tone blue that Behr describes as "warmer than denim and softer than navy" which, as far as descriptors go, I find absolutely enchanting. To me, the tone evokes dusky beach, a placid early morning mist. There's something quite soothing about the hue without being sleepy. It's energized in its stillness.
I spoke to Erika Woelfel, the vice president of color and creative services at Behr, who had a few things to say about this year's selection:
Valerio Farris: What does this color say to you?
Erika Woelfel: "Blueprint is a color that lays a terrific foundation for reimagination and transformation to take place within a space, and creates a confident, assured feeling. It speaks to our desire to be the best versions of ourselves—authentic, positive and true—both at home and out in the world. It feels stable, soothing, confident—all without being overpowering."
VF: How would you recommend weaving this color into your life?
EW: "At Behr, we understand that people aren’t painting every room of their home every single year. So if you happen to be searching for a new wall color right now, Blueprint is a hue that’s here to stay, and can work in many different room types—from bathrooms to kitchens and living rooms. If you’re looking to reimagine your space in a smaller way, try painting a piece of furniture like a book shelf or bench in this classic blue."
"The power of Blueprint is that it can take on different personalities when paired with a variety of different hues. That’s why we created four different palettes to make choosing a décor direction easy. Color Binge adds sass with its palette of monochromatic hues from teal to deep navy, Inspired Curation is for homeowners looking for modern, jewel-toned pairings like warm gold and deep green, Down to Earth is made up of on-the-rise neutrals terra cotta and earthy brown that feel solid and grounded, and Soft Focus uses Blueprint to anchor some of our favorite trending pastels (think: blush peach and lilac)."
So there you have it. The color we can expect to be popping up everywhere in the coming year is soothing, stable, confident Blueprint. Feeling inspired but not ready to commit an entire wall or side of your house? Start small—try incorporating a small detail in Blueprint into your room or paint an accessory in the special hue. Who knows? It could become your new favorite.
Where do you stand on Blueprint? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Written by: Valerio Farris
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