The soft black transcends design styles and pairs seamlessly with other colors, finishes, and patterns.
These days, more and more homeowners are making over their all-white spaces and embracing dramatic and eclectic design aesthetics —and Behr Paint Company is leaning into that sentiment with it’s just-released 2024 color of the year, Cracked Pepper. A versatile, soft black, the shade just might encourage you to make bolder, darker choices with paint.
The color, which is part of Behr’s designer collection palette, was selected to give homeowners the confidence to embrace darker hues in their home. “The moment now is about optimism, awakening the senses, and elevating how you feel—and a room with a soft black really checks the box on all of those things,” says Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr Paint.
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The shade is a moody contrast to the brand’s 2023 color of the year, Blank Canvas. The neutral, off-white color provided homeowners with a clean background that was easy to personalize. Cracked Pepper carries that same versatility, but with an edgier vibe.
While the two hues weren’t intentionally designed to be complementary, they do work effortlessly together. “We had a light color last year that is now balanced by a dark color this year,” says Woelfel, noting that the dark hue can be paired with the light neutral colors people already have in their homes—Blank Canvas, included.
Beyond white-and-cream neutrals, Cracked Pepper also works with everything from dusty pastels and metallic accents to rich, earthy shades and bold patterns and textures—and you can use it successfully in a wide range of areas, both inside and outside your home. Whether you want to create an accent wall, coat an entire room, or paint your roof and shutters, Cracked Pepper is a dynamic shade that will instantly add depth and intrigue to your space.
Madeline Buiano
