Best Paint Colors
Behr’s 2024 Color Of The Year Is…Cracked Pepper
Updated on November 16, 2023
H&H Deputy Editor Emma Reddington visits Behr’s Color Of The Year launch event in Napa, California.
A versatile, shape-shifting neutral, the Behr Color of the Year for 2024 is Cracked Pepper. This soft, sooty black with undertones of charcoal grey continues Behr’s trend of choosing livable neutrals. Last year’s Blank Canvas, a warm off-white shade, was about a fresh start after a challenging few years. For Erika Woelfel, vice president of Color and Creative Services at Behr, Cracked Pepper is “the perfect combination of understated luxury, new optimism, confidence, and it still has a connection to nature.”
Scroll down for a closer look at this versatile hue!
Similar to last year’s off-white shade, Cracked Pepper has the ability to work in multiple areas of the home and across different styles and trends. Sarah Fishburne, Director of Trend and Design at the Home Depot, noted “it has great flexibility and versatility in rooms both inside and out. We love that it’s not room specific. You can use it anywhere. You can go big or go small.”
The color was chosen to help give homeowners the confidence to make bolder, more dramatic decisions in their homes. “We did a survey with homeowners and more than half of them said they’re leaning into this darker aesthetic because they see it being used in the design community — so the translation is coming over,” says Erica.
The shade was chosen along with a palette of other 2024 colors to work across different design styles and trends. “No one wants to be in one specific style. They want the flexibility to have elements from multiple looks. That’s why it was so important for us to choose a color that could seamlessly move back and forth,” she says.
You can dip your toes into the trend by adding a soft black accent to an interior wall, door or ceiling, or for an edgier vibe, painting all four walls of a room or the exterior of a house. “We spoke to homeowners who said their home was their biggest investment and want longevity. We know people aren’t repainting their homes every year. This year’s Color of The Year Cracked Pepper will continue to work with other colors as other trends come without having to go in and do a full remodel,” she says.
“It can pair with colors in an Arts and Crafts Home or a Traditional home or a Modern Organic Home,” Sarah adds. The Color Trend palette includes a range of soft neutrals, warm terracottas, along with more historical colors like a deep rich burgundy red and olive green which they are starting to see make a comeback. “It’s definitely being embraced,” she says. “It’s also the nod towards Art Deco and the return of the traditionalist bringing those dramatic colors back in.”
Cracked Pepper is a truly versatile shade that will instantly add a little drama and sophistication to your home whether you make a big statement or use it as an accent color to highlight smaller features. Will you be giving it a try?
Keep scrolling for a behind-the-scene look at this year’s Behr Color Of The Year launch event in Napa, California!
Sarah Fishburne of Home Depot and Erika Woelfel of Behr, presenting the Color of the Year: Cracked Pepper.
Behr’s Color Of The Year, Cracked Pepper.
Cracked Pepper adds some drama to this Organic Modern look.
Cracked Pepper is a perfect choice for cabinetry and walls.
The rooms at Stanly Ranch painted in a shade very similar to Cracked Pepper.
Farm-to-table food at Stanly Ranch in Napa.