The best colors to decorate with in January
There are generally two ways to go when it comes to January decorating. You either want to cling to the rich, warming hues associated with the holidays to boost the cozy appeal indoors; or you’re seeking a fresh start inspired by the new year with a much more pared-back color palette.
Whichever camp you fall into, January is one of the best months to get creative with new paint ideas. A revamp of your room color ideas can have your space feeling fresh for the year ahead, whether you’re drawn to neutrals or much richer shades.
And so, we spoke with interior designers who share below the best colors to decorate with in January – read on to gain some winter color trend inspiration.
The best colors to decorate with in January
From cool-toned blues and neutrals that reflect the crisp January weather to warming reds that add drama and depth, there are many stylish color choices for the beginning of the year, depending on your interior design style.
1. Blue
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Decorating with blue feels apt for the winter months. With its calming quality, incorporating blue into your home can be a great way to impart a fresh look and feel, especially with muted shades of blue.
‘In January, my go-to decor color is Hazy by Farrow & Ball,’ explains designer Vyanca Soto of Market Studio Interiors. ‘This beautiful, muted blue with soft gray undertones evokes the calm, reflective mood of the winter season while hinting at renewal and growth. A perfect metaphor for the start of a new year.’
‘Its understated blue tone connects to nature, bringing a sense of freshness and tranquility indoors during the colder months,’ Vyanca adds. ‘The gray undertones make it versatile, allowing it to pair seamlessly with winter whites, soft blues, and warm wood accents.’
That said, darker and more saturated blues can feel just as at home in January. ‘Just about any shade of blue feels really right during January,’ interior designer Kathy Kuo observes. ‘The coolness mirrors the weather, but there are so many directions you can go with blue, so it need not actually feel cold or drab. A nice pop of cobalt, turquoise, or indigo can really brighten a room during what can sometimes be a very long and chilly month.’
2. Red
Dinner Party by Benjamin Moore
(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)
While red can feel reminiscent of the festive season just gone, it’s an effective color choice for January if you’re looking to add warmth to your home.
‘Red brings warmth and sophistication and makes any cold gray day feel a bit brighter,’ says designer Nadia Watts. ‘Red is the perfect complement to blues, purples, and even green. It provides the perfect pop in a neutral room or can transform a space completely when added to walls, ceilings, or flooring.’
Nadia continues to share some of her favorite red paints, guaranteed to add drama to your home this January:
‘I just used Benjamin Moore’s Cherry Wine in a kitchen – it’s a great red with a bit of brown and a bit of pink. It works well with a variety of colors and finishes. Patriot Red, also by Benjamin Moore is a very similar red with a bit less pink if you are wanting a more “true” red. Dinner Party is a sophisticated red with lots of brown and burgundy tones. Riding the brown trend, this red elevates a space and feels special with its richness and depth.’
Charlotte-based designer Alexis Warren also recommends decorating with red in January if your aim is to add warmth and interest: ‘I love reds and browns in January. These are colors that feel warm and cozy to me but are also bright enough to bring cheer to dark winter months. Farrow and Ball’s Radicchio is always a favorite of mine – it is versatile and interesting with a classic feel.’
3. Warm neutrals
(Image credit: Doni Douglas Design, photography Mike Van Tassel)
If you prefer a neutral color scheme, January goes hand in hand with undisturbed, calming neutral paints. For designer Jaclyn Isaac of Doni Douglas Design, decorating with taupe is a go-to for the winter season:
‘The inevitable covering of our landscape in the northeast of ice and snow right after the vibrancy of the holidays just begs for a muted yet happy palette to gear our brains up for the coming warmth and color of spring. I inject it a bit earlier through florals, small bits of art, and the lightest shades of it in pillows and throws to remind myself that the warmth is in fact coming.’
Warm white paints also feel fresh at the beginning of the new year, adding just enough warmth to create an inviting feel. ‘In the colder months, rooms wrapped in a creamy, warm white always help create a sense of warmth and coziness,’ adds designer Hannah Goldberg, founder and principal at Hannah Charlotte Interiors. ‘I love to complement this with deep warm woods, patinated metals, and textural materials like leather or velvet in a brighter color to create a rich, layered space.’
4. Cool neutrals
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
On the other hand, cool neutrals shouldn’t be written off for January decorating. While the risk with colder tones is that they can appear drab, the right cool neutral can feel perfectly aligned with the weather, inspiring a feeling of freshness throughout the home.
Designer Elizabeth Bolognino points to Benjamin Moore’s Sterling, describing it as a ‘silvery gray-blue that works well with winter light.’ If you have a well-lit, south-facing room, paint colors such as this can feel well-balanced, a great choice if you’re after a light and airy feel to kick-start the new year.
Alternatively, you could go for a darker gray paint for your cool color scheme. This is recommended by interior designer Sara Malek Barney of BANDD/DESIGN, who adds: ‘Considering I am always cold, I really lean into the cold month feels. I love using a deep gray around this time of year. It really encapsulates the mood.’
5. Plum tones
(Image credit: Little Greene)
Lastly, if you’re hoping to cling to the cozy feel of the festive season, rich shades such as plum tones can be easily transitioned into the new year. Without all of the festive decor, plum tones feel at home during the post-holiday winter months and are an effective way to create a warm and welcoming scheme.
‘In January, I lean into deep plums with muddy undertones,’ says interior designer Cheryl Clendenon of In Detail Interiors. ‘They feel rich, cozy, and perfect for the transitional winter season. They’re an ideal antidote to the post-holiday blues!’
Plum paint colors such as Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal and Little Greene’s Adventurer are worth exploring: while they’ll certainly feel cozy during the winter, they’re timeless and so can make for a stylish color choice year-long.
If you are going to decorate with a new paint color this January, make sure it’s a color that holds longevity for the months to come. While paint colors aren’t the most permanent fixture of a home, timeless colors won’t feel quickly out of sync with the seasons.
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