October 11, 2019

“First Light” is Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year 2020

First Light is Benjamin Moore & Co.’s Color of the Year 2020. Photography courtesy of Benjamin Moore & Co.

Benjamin Moore & Co. has revealed its Color of the Year 2020 as a warm, rosy pink named First Light. It’s the company’s first time choosing a pink hue for Color of the Year, and symbolizes an upbeat and hopeful start to the next ten years.

“It’s going to be the new decade, and we knew this was a big moment for us to do something interesting,” says Hannah Yeo, Color & Design Manager at Benjamin Moore & Co. “Today’s changing technology, environmental concerns, and cultural and economic influences are all shaping how we live. More than ever, we expect the home to provide security, comfort, community, self-expression, and optimism. So we said, what are some of the colors that would really help with that?”

Hence the company’s arrival at First Light as well as its Color Trends 2020 Palette, a spectrum comprised largely of pastels including jade-green Crystalline AF-485; sky-blue Windmill Wings 2067-60; and sunny Golden Straw 2152-50, among others. The trend toward expressive, saturated colors signifies a departure from the more subdued Color of the Year 2019, the off-white Metropolitan, which Yeo says is intentional.

First Light by Benjamin Moore & Co. Photography courtesy of Benjamin Moore & Co.

“We’re always looking at years past and evolving,” she says. “Last year’s Metropolitan was neutral and we did that on purpose. We said, let’s a step back, relax, and find the comfort in our own homes. Once we’ve done that, we’re really ready for the next step.”

“Now, let’s use color to express ourselves, be a little more upbeat, and happy,” she concludes. “We all need that optimism in our lives.”

Watch now: See Where Benjamin Moore Tests Over 20,000 Paint Shades

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