Glidden’s 2025 Color of the Year, Purple Basil, Proves It’s “Time to Go Bold”

For years, home decor trends have leaned into grays, neutral colors, and minimalism—but in 2025, paint brand Glidden thinks that will all change.

They selected a bold shade as their 2025 Color of the Year, Purple Basil, which is a deep jewel-toned purple that proves impactful colors are back in a substantial way.

“2025 is the era of creativity and change—and finally, consumers becoming comfortable with color,” Ashley McCollum, PPG’s and Glidden’s color expert, tells The Spruce.

“It’s time to go bold.”

Goodbye, Gray

Over the last decade, interiors have leaned into cooler colors, with shades of gray overtaking seemingly every aspect of design: floors, walls, furniture, and more. But with warmer colors appearing in home decor throughout 2024, those days seem to be over—and McCollum agrees.

“You don’t need those grays and those basic neutrals on all your walls anymore,” she says. “For 2025, purple is not just permitted—it’s encouraged.”

McCollum says choosing Purple Basil for the Color of the Year came out of this trend toward warmer colors. She thinks homeowners and renters are looking for ways to bring more color into their homes.

“It speaks to the continuation of consumers unapologetically selecting colors that bring them joy, not worrying about the resale value of their home, creating the space because you want that space and making it tailored for you and your family,” she says.

She also noted that jewel tones are becoming more popular in home decor, which Purple Basil is a perfect fit for.

A Bold Yet Versatile Shade

Purple Basil might seem like an intimidating color, but McCollum says actually an incredibly versatile choice.

This shade of purple is unique because it has both sultry and cold undertones, so it can be used in combination with almost any color palette. And it can be used almost anywhere.

“The real test of a versatile color is if it works in interior, exterior, commercial,” McCollum says. While you may not want to utilize Purple Basil as your main home exterior color, it works well on accents like the front door, shutters, or even trim.

So if you’re not sure you want to embrace the color drenching trend that has been taking root in 2024 and into 2025—covering all of your walls, and possibly even your ceiling, in a single color—you don’t have to.

McCollum says Purple Basil, like their past Colors of the Year, doesn’t fit just one design style, but can lean Art Deco, state-of-the-art, craftsman, and more.

Glidden Paint is available at Home Depot, Walmart, and independent retailers.