This Farrow & Ball Colour is predicted to be the most popular shade of the summer

Restrain from picking up the paintbrush until you see the trendiest hues of the season – including a shade inspired by Dorset stone

Farrow & Ball’s Purbeck Stone is set to be the color of the summer
(Image credit: Purbeck Stone No.275 Estate Eggshell by Farrow & Ball )

The season of pure kaleidoscopic color is fast approaching – but of all summer's glorious hues, which tone will reign supreme this year? 

New research* has predicted that a Farrow & Ball color will take the crown as the most sought-after shade of the season – and this shade continues to mirror color trends from the previous year.

However, this eternally admired shade isn't the only color we're planning on injecting throughout our interiors – as we're also turning to organic tones in a nostalgic nod to a summer of escapism. 

Here are the five shades expected to be the most popular over the coming months – but beware – you're going to want to bring them into your modern home asap. 

Farrow & Ball’s Purbeck Stone is set to be the color of the summer

(Image credit: Purbeck Stone No.275 Estate Eggshell by Farrow & Ball )

If you don't know about Purbeck Stone already (shown on the wall of the kitchen above), you certainly will by the end of summer. Search demands for this color have increased by 1,292% in the last year, but it's certainly easy to understand why we're all falling for this effortlessly chic and versatile hue. The subtle mid grey resembles the shade of stone on the Dorset Isle of Purbeck, which is only a short hop from the manufacturer's home – so it is unsurprising that they got the color so right. 

Purbeck Stone offers an understated twist on one of the most popular colors of 2021 and is best paired with crisp white soft furnishings which glow when golden hour arrives in a midsummer's evening. It's also best served with an Aperol, naturally. 

2. Jitney by Farrow & Ball 

Farrow & Ball’s Purbeck Stone is set to be the color of the summer

(Image credit: Jitney No.293 Estate Emulsion head by Farrow & Ball )

See: These are the world's most popular paint colours

It seems that 2021 is Farrow & Ball's year, as their soft brown shade Jitney is the second most popular shade to emerge from the study. Jitney is a celebration of The Hamptons, the summertime playground for Manhattan's elite, whose stretch of Atlantic sands mirrors this exquisite shade. It also happens to share a name with the bus that transports the city folk to the shore, just in case you need a reason to love this shade more than you do already. 

3. Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball 

Farrow & Ball’s Purbeck Stone is set to be the color of the summer

(Image credit: Green Smoke No. 47 Modern Emulsion India Yellow No.66 ME by Farrow & Ball)

A hat-trick for the Devon-based color powerhouse, who climb into third place with the timeless tones of Green Smoke. This aptly-named shade has created a certain ambiance since the late 19th century, and today, its allure endures. 

But combining the beauty of both green and grey – undisputed color royalty – it is perhaps only fitting that Green Smoke sits among the top three paints of the season. 

4. Pressed Putty by Dulux 

Farrow & Ball’s Purbeck Stone is set to be the color of the summer

(Image credit: Dulux)

There's a lot to love about the glorious brown tones of Dulux's Pressed Putty. The shade offers an alternative for paint lovers who are keen to experiment with the rich brown interior trend without completely committing to its bold hues. It also pairs effortlessly with monochromatic colors that stand out against its warming backdrop. 

5. Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball 

Farrow & Ball’s Purbeck Stone is set to be the color of the summer

(Image credit: Skimming Stone No.241 Estate Emulsion Wimborne White No.239 EEG&MEG by Farrow & Ball)

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Farrow & Ball have returned to fill the slot for the fifth and final shade of the summer. In a similar way to Green Smoke, Skimming Stone has roots in the Victorian era, mirroring the plaster color used in the 19th century. We have a feeling its warm tones are going to grace the most trendy of walls for many more centuries to come. 

*Study based on UK Google Searches by MattressNextDay

Megan Slack

Megan is the News and Trends Editor at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes. As the News Editor, she often focuses on emerging microtrends, well-being stories, and celebrity-focused pieces.


Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US whilst studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site.