Design Spotlight: Benjamin Moore's 2020 Paint Colors

Some look forward to holidays such as Christmas or Halloween, a birthday or anniversary, but here at the Mackenzie + Company Studio, we’re a little different. Each year we find ourselves patiently awaiting the one day of the year when color, design and shade names take precedent over anything else. What holiday could this possibly be? The day that marks the reveal of the Benjamin Moore Single Color and Color Palette of the year. We’re looking at you, 2020!

This year’s color palette places a heavy emphasis on lighter, more ethereal shades that come close to the pastel level without quite going over. In the words of Benjamin Moore, this palette was chosen ultimately to reflect a bright new decade that is fast-approaching.

While we have to admit that we weren’t initially blown away by this year’s color palette as a whole, there are specific hues amongst the selections that we’re eager to see more of and would potentially use in upcoming projects! Can you guess what our top picks are before we tell you?

Out of the ten shades Benjamin Moore presented, we can’t stop thinking about Cushing Green, White Heron, Oxford Gray and Thunder. As self-proclaimed neutral fanatics, it’s not much of a surprise that we gravitated toward the earthy, coastal tones that were showcased in this year’s palette. Keep on reading for our specific thoughts on each:

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CUSHING GREEN: An olive green with just a touch of light and bright, this hue would be perfect to transition an otherwise light and neutral space to fall season, perhaps as an accent color for a wall or a color to incorporate within accessories.

WHITE HERON: Have you ever found yourself looking for a white that wasn’t crisp, but also not too muted or dulled down? White heron might just be your shade. Whether splashed across your walls or used for a front door, we can absolutely see ourselves coming back to this shade again and again.

OXFORD GRAY: The gray-blue hybrid we’ve all been waiting for—we see this coastal dream shade being HUGE for 2020, both on and off the coastline.

THUNDER: Perhaps the most serene and down-to-earth shade of the bunch, Thunder will leave any room, space or color palette feeling grounded and more at ease.

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If you’re more of a visual person (aren’t we all?), below we’ve showed an example from our own portfolio that showcases how similar shades can all be worked into one space or one design. Remember, no color can be added in as minimally or as much as you’d like!

Of course, we can’t forget to touch upon Benjamin Moor’s spotlight color of the year—FIRST LIGHT. This neutral, soft pink has the potential to bring energy and new life to any space, without going overboard on the pastel. As far as pink goes, this may be the most “user-friendly” pink we’ve come across in some time, meaning that it will be relatively easy for anyone to add the shade into their home without thinking TOO pink.

So now that you’ve seen Benjamin’s Moore’s 2020 color palette in it’s entirety, we just have to know—what is your favorite? Your thoughts on the entire selection? Reach out to us on Instagram and let us know; we love hearing from you!

Cheers, The Mackenzie + Company Team