Our Favorite Fall Inspired Paint Colors
When we’re working on our full service interior design projects, many clients are surprised to learn that paint is the very last thing we select for every design. While they impact the overall mood and theme of a room, considering all the elements in the room helps us to determine how light or dark or cool or warm the color should be. The right paint palette has the power to completely transform and breathe new life into a space, and with fall in full swing, we are highlighting some of our favorite autumn colors.
A good paint palette accentuates the season but works in the room the rest of the year as well. We love fall paint colors because the season is the most naturally rich for color. I mean, just take a look up at the changing foliage for rich reds, bright oranges and yellows, and deep, warm browns. Less expected, but rich greens and deep purples and plums mixed with moody grays pair perfectly with fall. As always, neutrals are a staple in the fall– bold browns, creamy beiges and whites, and cozy caramels are the perfect complement to bold fall colors.
Here are some favorite fall paint colors from our projects.
Project: Lake Forest Showhouse 2020 | Service: Full Service Design & Styling | Photos: Aimee Mazzenga
PLUMS & PURPLES
Plums and purples are some of the deepest and richest hues you can choose for fall. Let’s start with the difference between plum and purple. Plum is technically purple, but a warm and vibrant hue, rather than cool and dark. Both purple and plum look fabulous paired with olive greens, creams and beiges, rich yellows, and chartreuse.
Plum and purple are both rich colors that add lots of depth and weight to your walls, whether it's used as the focal color or an accent wall.
The power of paint is evident in the room we designed for the Lake Forest Show House.
In this space, we used Sherwin Williams 6573 Juneberry in a high gloss lacquer finish on the built ins, trim, and all woodworking.
GREENS
Green is a top color for 2022, and it’s no surprise why. Let’s start with the classic – olive green has long since been a staple in fall designing and styling. Since it varies greatly in hues and saturation from cool to warm tones, it allows for a lot of flexibility. Olive can almost work as a neutral, seamlessly blending into any space. Shades of olive work particularly well with other classic fall colors, like reds, maroons, and burnt oranges.
In the office in our Glenview Golf Course project, we painted the bookcase and all moldings and trim Benjamin Cambridge Green.
In the living room in our City Collectors project, we used HC-88 Jamesboro Gold which is a brownish neutral with a touch of olive.
Project: City Collector’s Project | Service: Full Service Renovation Design, Furnishing Design, &marketing Styling
Project: Glenview Golf Course View | Service: Full Service Renovation Design, Furnishing Design, & Styling
BLUES
When working with clients, they’ll often request a ‘warm’ feeling for their living space, and you know we have a thing with blue!! A dark pop of a deep navy, a rich indigo, or a classic denim in a room add a layer of coziness and sophistication. One of our favorite looks is painting built in bookcases blue OR going all in with blue and painting all the woodworking in a room blue.
Blue can act as a neutral or add a calming sense to any room, bringing to mind wellness and peace. Pair your blue hues with natural, wood finishes and accents or with cool ivory shades.
In the butler pantry in our City Collector’s Project, we chose Benjamin Moore Gunmetal which is a deep blue grey.
In the basement bar of our Lake Geneva Blue & White Project, we chose Benjamin Moore Hale Navy which is a North Shore Nest favorite!
In our Winnetka Luxury Modern project, we used Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue to completely transform the bookcase.
THE NORTH SHORE NEST DIFFERENCE
Helping our clients evaluate their homes and redesign them so they better support their lives is something we have been doing since North Shore Nest was born in 2004. We love being able to use our time-tested approach of thoughtful and functional design to ensure our clients make the right investments in their homes with every decision.
Whether you’re building from the ground up, tackling a large renovation, or furnishing a room or two, we’d love to connect to learn more about your project. Click here for more information about working together.
