Behr's Color of the Year is a paint trend we've seen before – but the majority of us still say it's the best way to elevate a room

a room painted in a dark grey black wall paint

There was a time not too long ago that painting a room black would be unimaginable for most people. Yet, if you've been keeping abreast of trends, you'll know that the popularity of darker, near-black schemes has surged in recent years.

Yes, decorating your walls with black isn't such a shocking idea in 2023, but at this point it's not a new idea, either. That mean it makes for a curious choice for Color of the Year for paint brand Behr for 2024. The brand's pick for the color that's going to define next year is 'Cracked Pepper', something the brand (quite pleasingly) describes as a "soft black".