Behr’s 2025 Color of the Year Is a “Captivating” & “Luxurious” Bold Hue
Right now, color in home design is taking its cues from so many things — nature, food, nostalgia — and palettes have been all over the board, ranging from bold to muted. Trends in paint, though, are always about what’s new and next, and today Behr Paint is doubling down on the return of red by announcing Rumors (MQ1-15) as its Color of the Year for 2025.
A dynamic ruby shade, Rumors walks the line between warm and regal beautifully, thanks to its earthy brown undertones and sophisticated saturation. But Rumors is not your average fire engine red or gourmand cherry — it’s much more nuanced and dimensional, reading at once modern and timeless. It’s equally at home in a quirky, eclectic living room or in a traditional-inspired dining room.
You can paint your lower cabinets this shade for a bold touch in a kitchen, says Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr. Or create a moody, “captivating, luxurious feel,” she says, in a bedroom or office by color drenching the walls, ceiling, and woodwork in this stunning shade.
Both Woelful and Sarah Fishburne, director of trend and design at The Home Depot (Behr’s exclusive retail partner), had been tracking the red family for a while but knew the shade for 2025 had to be different than a run-of-the-mill red. “When you think of reds, they’ve always been timeless, warm, and welcoming,” says Fishburne. “But everything seems to be grounded more in nature now. We needed an earthy, grounded red that could transpire between styles and go indoor to outdoor.”
Above all, Woelful says Rumors, although complex, is super approachable. “It works with what you have,” says Woelful. “We’ve been living with a lot of neutrals, and the time was right for Rumors because it layers in for an engaging, bolder brighter touch.” It’s the perfect shade for trying out “the unexpected red theory,” and it’s great for a pop, whether you want to try it in a satin finish on a kitchen island or in a high gloss on an exterior front door, says Woelful.
Rumors is part of a larger 2025 Color Trends palette which includes a smattering of warm earth tones like Gardener’s Soil (MQ2-54) and Colorful Leaves (M190-7) alongside cooler hues like Aerial View (S530-3) and Frosted Jade (PPU11-13). The assortment also includes former COTYs Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01) and Blank Canvas (DC-003). Even Better Beige (DC-010), Nutmeg Frost (S210-1), and Wild Truffle (HDC-NT-27B) speak to the revival of browns, taupes, and honey colors.
Everything in the palette is meant to work together, and all Behr paint can be purchased at The Home Depot.
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