Warm brown is the most stylish 'new neutral' for 2025, and Dunn-Edwards' Color of the Year is just that

If there's one color trend that's shone more than most so far this year, it's the shift toward warm and earthy neutrals. Filling our homes with sophistication and depth, warming browns and rich neutrals are amongst the most on-trend hues, and that's only set to continue as we welcome 2025.

Further cementing this need-to-know-about color trend, today, Dunn-Edwards revealed Caramelized as its Color of the Year, a 'warm terracotta brown' paint shade. While decorating with brown can sometimes make too much of a bold statement and true terracottas can lean too pink; Caramelized strikes a liveable balance between the two.

Dubbed the 'new neutral', Caramelized is a relaxed and grounding paint color to use throughout your home, adding far more depth than light neutrals like white or beige, while maintaining a timeless and soft appearance.

While Color of the Year announcements are still ongoing, it's fair to say that Caramelized stands out as unique. So far, we've seen incredibly rich, dark chocolate browns dominate, along with bold shades of blue, as well as purple. Caramelized on the other hand evokes a slightly more pared-back and timeless essence, one that's sure to resonate with those who favor calming, restful colors.

'In the current fast-paced, high-tech age, we find ourselves drawn to more saturated and timeless colors to create personal spaces that feel welcoming, stylish, and grounded,' says Lauren Hoferkamp, Lead Color Expert at Dunn-Edwards.

'When considering the draw to a mindset of ‘old is new,’ Caramelized emerged from our 2025 Color and Design Trends as a clear representation of this new year – the effortlessly versatile hue pairs well with various styles, from vintage-inspired interiors to contemporary spaces.'

If you're somebody who favors decorating with neutrals but wants to enliven your home with a richer approach to color, paint shades like Caramelized are the perfect way to do so. Whether used for kitchen color ideas or bedroom color ideas, the earthy and timeless appeal of this shade will no doubt fill your home with warmth, without going too bold with your room color ideas.

Another reason why these trending earthy browns are so popular right now is for their universal appeal. From modern decor to traditional decorating ideas, warm mid-browns are versatile to incorporate into your home decor ideas, regardless of your design style.

When it comes to decorating with Caramelized, why not lean into trending color-drenching for an all-out approach? This will see the color used liberally across a room, including the ceiling and any trim details in addition to all four walls. For fall, this can be a great way to lean into a cozy and cocooning scheme.

Alternatively, if you want to decorate with this paint color more sparingly, it would work equally well in smaller doses, teamed with other neutrals for a restful look. Dunn-Edwards recommends pairing Caramelized with paint colors such as English Forest, a muted green; Sky Glass, a calming light gray-green; and Pueblo White, a warm white paint.

In addition to its standout Color of the Year, Dunn-Edwards has also released 10 color palettes to inspire decorating next year. Spanning 32 on-trend colors, these palettes can be used to inform your color choices to ensure a stylish look, both inside your home and for home exterior colors too.

To view the new palettes in full, take a look at the Dunn-Edwards 2025 Color and Design Trends.

If you want to combine an equally classic and trending feel through your color schemes, brown room ideas are the way to go. Earthy, warm, and grounding, paint colors like Caramelized are sophisticated and versatile for plenty of decorating styles and rooms.