Graham & Brown's 2025 Color and Design of the Year pays homage to the natural world – a rich, timeless shade proving brown is here to stay

If one color trend has shone more than most this year, it's the move toward dark and earthy neutrals. Rich, alluring, and timeless, dark neutrals provide our homes with every ounce of depth and sophistication, and the latest brand to prove this is Graham & Brown.

Today, the British interior brand unveiled Elderton as its 2025 Color of the Year, a rich brown paint color that couldn't be more fitting for fall. Boasting classic appeal with a moody twist, this on-trend hue is a timely nod to the cozy interior spaces we all seek to create.

In addition to its Color of the Year, the brand has unveiled its much-anticipated Design of the Year: Rivington Folly. Paying homage to the brand's British roots, this new design is an impressive, hand-drawn artwork that evokes whimsical charm, doubling as the perfect accompaniment to Elderton.

If, like us, you're intrigued by the sound of these alluring new designs, read on to learn all about the 2025 Color and Design of the Year, where we explore the inspirations behind each and suggest how to incorporate them into your home for a timeless scheme that's full of character.

Color of the Year 2025: Elderton

Described as a 'perfect neutral toned brown', there's much to love about Graham & Brown's Color of the Year for 2025. Rich and elegant, this paint color trend epitomizes how to decorate with neutrals right now. With its chocolate tones, this shade is guaranteed to bring warmth to our homes in time for fall, while its timelessness gives it endurance year-long, in modern and traditional spaces alike.

What's more, the inspiration for the aptly named Elderton is derived from the natural world, specifically from the color of the leaves found on certain varieties of elder trees, commonly found in the UK.

'When choosing our Color of the Year 2025, we wanted to mimic the natural elements with a grounding shade,' explains Paula Taylor, Head Stylist and Trend Specialist at Graham & Brown. 'Elderton has a huge amount of depth, reconnecting us with nature and enhancing our relation to the earth.'

Since this color falls into the neutral realm, it's versatile and can be used in many different ways and rooms. Whether used in a cozy living room or as a front door color, this hue is certain to boost cozy appeal and make a sophisticated statement.

'Considered a dark neutral, Graham & Brown's earthy Elderton is grounding but also has an elegance that is truly sophisticated,' adds Jennifer Ebert, Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens who had a chance to view the color before the launch date. 'Versatile, it can be striking on its own or allow other hues to stand proud. This subtly confident hue looks delicious as an all-over color yet it's equally perfect for pairing with brights and pastels. I cannot wait to use it in my own home's snug room.'

Design of the Year 2025: Rivington Folly

Beyond paint ideas, Graham & Brown's 2025 offering extends to a brand-new wallpaper design, Rivington Folly. Designed to pair with Elderton, this heritage-inspired print gives rooms a whimsical feel with its intricate design and earthy color palette.

Taking its inspiration from historic British sites – including the 13th century Liverpool Castle and the village of Rivington – the design is incredibly detailed, reflecting ancient trees as well as building archways and columns that provide an architectural element amid the artwork's prominent nature motifs.

'When creating our Design of the Year 2025 we wanted to draw inspiration from things close to home and close to our hearts,' explains Paula Taylor. 'Time spent walking around a local landmark in Rivington really makes you appreciate the beauty that might often be overlooked, enhanced by the natural surroundings reclaiming the ancient architecture.'

'For the Rivington Folly design, we wanted to create a one-off bespoke work of art that has been hand-drawn piece by piece in our studio,' continues Paula. 'We found beauty in the imperfections and took our time creating a snapshot and breathing life into an ever-changing scene. Rivington Folly was created as a piece of the puzzle – it’s designed to create a backdrop to display cherished items and partner with our Color of the Year to envelop a space, creating a cocoon of creativity.'

To bring this artful design to life, the print comes in wallpaper form as well as custom wall murals, curtains, and roman blinds. And while the 'Dusk' colorway matches effortlessly with the Color of the Year, there are four other colorways available, including 'Firework', a calming dark blue pictured above in this traditional bathroom.

Whether you're looking to refresh your wall colors with Elderton or want to add interest through decorating with wallpaper, these new designs are endlessly timeless and are a great way to add depth to rooms this fall. You can shop the collection online now at the Graham & Brown website.