Rumor Has It That Behr’s 2025 Color of the Year Is the Perfect Ruby Red
The trend of neutral home decor is fading as bold colors, like BEHR’s 2025 Color of the Year “Rumors,” a rich ruby shade, gain popularity. This shift reflects a growing desire among homeowners and designers for more expressive and impactful color choices in their spaces.
According to Forbes, in the past, many decor lovers steered clear of rich colors. White walls, beige rugs and neutral decor were de rigueur. It’s safe to say those sad beige days are over, and BEHR’s 2025 Color of the Year, Rumors, is all the proof we need. A rich, ruby-like shade that’s both warm and just a little shocking in the best possible way, Rumors makes a statement. For those who’ve always loved color, that statement is: “Your taste was impeccable all along.” And for those just beginning to delve into a more robust color palette, that statement is: “Welcome to the red side—it’s cozy over here.”
For almost all of 2024, touches of red have been popular, appearing on runways and in homes alike. In fact, the unexpected red theory proved that adding even a hint of the vibrant shade can pull a look together and create cohesion that, for some reason, just works. But Rumors feels even more impactful than a classic cherry red. Whether you add it to a single wall or an entire room, it makes every space feel instantly sophisticated.
We can never completely quit the quiet crispness of all-white decor. Recent fall home trends still favor a serene color scheme composed of seafoam and sage shades. However, there is finally room for more hues in the decor space. Homeowners and renters are interested in branching out. They’re spending more and more time at home and craving invigorating spaces.
In fact, according to a recent BEHR survey, 76% of Americans are interested in giving either an entire room or a single wall a paint job featuring some sort of red shade. Almost 75% of people surveyed think incorporating such a shade will give their dwelling more character. And we can’t help but agree. After you take that first foray into a rich color like Rumors, your home will feel refreshed.
We chatted with BEHR’s VP of Color Services, Erika Woelfel, about this red resurgence. She noted that BEHR confidently selected Rumors as the standout shade of the season after completing a deep dive into global trends as well as what’s happening in music, travel, fashion and more. Woelfel also told Forbes Home that “we’re seeing the shift in bolder color uses among designers and homeowners.” Individuals don’t want safe design choices right now, so “Rumors satisfies that desire for creating expressive color moments that make an impact.”
