Benjamin Moore's 2021 Color of the Year, Aegean Teal, Is the "Quietly Striking" Shade You're About to See Everywhere

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's how precious our homes truly are. While respecting mandatory quarantines and social distancing measures, many of us have found joy in simple domestic projects, such as baking, gardening, and decorating. And as the cold weather season approaches and we plan to spend even more time indoors, it's more important than ever that our spaces feel warm, comfortable, and rejuvenating. Benjamin Moore feels the same way. The brand just announced their 2021 Color of the Year and Trend Palette, and it's a reminder that even in the toughest of times, we can still find comfort in our own homes and backyards.

Meet Benjamin Moore's 2021 Color of the Year, Aegean Teal (2136-40), a balanced mid-tone that draws from the hues of the great outdoors. A harmonious blend of blue-green and gray, the color is inspired by the naturally occurring colors that happen all around us and the emotional value they create, says Andrea Magno, the Director of Color Marketing and Development at Benjamin Moore. "We find ourselves gravitating toward soothing, sunbaked hues that create an emotional connection with our surroundings," she explains.

Aegean Teal was introduced alongside a complementary palette of eleven earthy hues: Atrium White (OC-145); Muslin (OC-12); Foggy Morning (2106-70); Rosy Peach (2089-20); Beacon Hill Damask (HC-2); Potters Clay (1221/CC-360); Chestertown Buff (HC-9); Amazon Soil (2115-30); Gray Cashmere (2138-60); Kingsport Gray (HC-86); and Silhouette (AF-655).

While Aegean Teal is versatile enough to pair with each of the selected colors, Magno says that the eye-catching hue can also stand alone. "It's a quietly striking color," she explains. "It bridges the gap between a warm and cool palette, and offers a balanced alternative to navy or green."

The inspiration behind the 2021 Color Trends palette draws not just from the hues of nature, but also from shades seen in the kitchen, the central hub of any home. Magno says the team was inspired by colors of natural foods like fruits, vegetables, and quail eggs—and also by the belief that the kitchen serves as the intersection for nourishment, craft, and community. "The home is a place of comfort, restoration, and rejuvenation, and therefore the need to reset and find simple, small moments of joy inside them is paramount," she explains.

And as we prepare to spend even more time indoors this fall and winter, Magno says there's no better time to integrate Aegean Teal (or any of the other casually elegant hues from the palette) into your home. "It's warm and enveloping, which makes it a great color for a living room or powder room," she explains.

However, if you're not ready to commit to an entire room painted in teal, she says there are also smaller steps you can take. For an easy fall project, she suggests upgrading your kitchen cabinets with a fresh coat of Aegean Teal paint. She also recommends painting the front door of your home in the elegant, but intriguing hue, so you can welcome guests in style when it is safe to gather again. "More than ever, people are craving color right now," she says. "This palette is a reminder that there's beauty all around us and that we have renewed thinking to look forward to."