Behr's 2024 Color of the Year, Cracked Pepper (PPU18-1), has arrived!
Staying on theme with last year's neutral pick — a versatile off-white shade called Blank Canvas — the popular paint brand has chosen a soft black that is intended to lend character and a modern flair to just about any space, indoors and out.
Behr, which is sold exclusively at The Home Depot, recently brought its Color of the Year to life during a media preview held at Napa Valley's Stanly Ranch. With the luxury hotel's picturesque vineyards as the backdrop, Behr hosted content creators and design editors (including the Good Housekeeping team), inviting them to explore kitchen, dining room and living room vignettes showcasing the classic hue.
"People have been working with light, warm neutrals for the last few years, and Cracked Pepper is a color that can create a comfortable atmosphere," Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr Paint, told Good Housekeeping. "It's a bold, strong color that is very adaptable and easy to bring into any decor style."
The evolution of consumer preferences and paint trends has a lot to do with this year's Color of the Year choice, too, according to Sarah Fishburne, The Home Depot’s director of trend and design. "Our research shows that homeowners are more open to darker colors," Fishburne told Good Housekeeping. The company's recent survey revealed that more than half of Americans (57%) believe a darker wall color is design-forward. What's more, two-thirds of Americans (65%) note that a dark color makes a room feel bold.
But what if you're more comfortable with light paint colors and feel reluctant to take a design risk with a dark shade? Woelfel recommends starting small rather than wrapping all four walls with it. "Paint a piece of furniture, a ceiling, update an island in a white kitchen or use it for interior doors," she says.
It also has major potential outdoors as well, Fishburne added. From the exterior of a charming bungalow to a modern farmhouse or a coastal property, Cracked Pepper's warm, organic nature can add depth and interest. Fishburne says she even used it for the gutters of her red brick home. "Sometimes white gutters can be very daunting, but this color is very forgiving," she says.
In other words, the choice is yours!
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
