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Adventurer is Little Greene’s Color of the Year

The rich plum aubergine shade draws influence from nature and opulent, historic interiors to create a bold, modern interior that's warm and welcoming

By Jill Sieracki
Elegant room with floral wallpaper, marble table, plush stools, and a large window with golden curtains.
An interior by Nancy Evars that’s painted Little Greene’s Color of the Year, Adventurer. Photo: Courtesy of Little Greene

It’s not uncommon to see an interior enveloped in neutral shades of white, taupe, and gray as designers lean into these softer hues with the notion of crafting a “timeless” aesthetic. However, tides may be turning as homeowners embrace richer tones in a variety of living spaces.

“In recent years, we’ve seen a clear movement towards warm, earthy colors that provide soothing, comforting interiors, helping customers connect more with the natural environment,” says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. “We first saw this in the use of calm, earthy neutrals that have an inherent warmth to them, and more recently in the return of brown, with deep, sumptuous chocolate hues being embraced alongside rich caramels and honey tones to create elegant and indulgent spaces that offer real comfort.”

Living room corner with a vintage fireplace, burgundy wall, brass table lamp, and round marble side table with glass carafes.
Walls painted in Little Greene’s Color of the Year, Adventurer. Photo: Courtesy of Little Greene
Elegant living room with floral wallpaper, gold frame art, mustard bench, candles, orchids, and woven vase with green plants.
An interior by Nancy Evars that’s painted Little Greene’s Color of the Year, Adventurer. Photo: Courtesy of Little Greene
Luxurious room with elegant floral arrangement on table, flanked by two plush stools and ornate wooden paneling.
An interior by Nancy Evars that’s painted Little Greene’s Color of the Year, Adventurer. Photo: Courtesy of Little Greene

Further supporting that evolution, Little Greene named Adventurer, a deep plummy brown shade, as their Color of the Year. “Regal, reassuring plum aubergine hues like Adventurer are historically associated with opulence, providing the perfect shades to combine luxury with tranquillity, intimacy, and restfulness in bedrooms, dining rooms, and baths,” says Mottershead. “This sumptuous hue provides a sophisticated alternative to brown for an elevated scheme with a beautiful, charismatic depth of color.”

This sumptuous hue provides a sophisticated alternative to brown for an elevated scheme with a beautiful, charismatic depth of color”

Ruth Mottershead

Little Greene

The chameleon-like formula of Adventurer gives it flexibility to pair with myriad tones, while implementing the shade in matte or high-gloss finishes offer distinct options for its implementation. “In a matte finish, Adventurer emphasizes the color’s sumptuous depth, perfect for creating sophisticated spaces that combine luxury with tranquillity and restfulness,” suggests Mottershead. “Switch to a high-gloss finish, and the reflective surface amplifies Adventurer’s rich red undertones, creating that opulent presence historically associated with wealth and luxury. The way light interacts with different finishes adds beautiful depth—designers can use varying sheen levels with Adventurer to create visual intrigue and dynamic schemes. This charismatic depth of color makes Adventurer perfect for both intimate sanctuaries and bold statement elements.”

Elegant home office with pink walls, floral wallpaper, a white desk, patterned chair, small lamp, and framed black-and-white photo.
An interior by Nancy Evars that’s painted Little Greene’s Color of the Year, Adventurer. Photo: Courtesy of Little Greene

Whether using a little in an intimate room or enveloping a large space, Adventurer is indicative of the larger trend for conjuring sanctuary-like interiors. “More than ever, we’ve seen that there is a greater need to surround ourselves with comforting, soothing colors that are not only easy to live with but provide warmth and serenity within our environments,” states Mottershead. “This has been reflected in the increasing popularity of warmer, natural neutrals. Clients have been opting for earthier shades with warmer undertones that are being pulled through to richer colors—deep caramel, honey, and chocolate hues that have a real sumptuous feel to them.”

Elegant bedroom with pink walls, vintage bed, white nightstand, sleek white lamp, and a white flower on the table.
A bedroom painted Adventurer, Little Greene’s color of the year. Photo: Courtesy of Little Greene

Additionally, the use of Adventurer also represents homeowners’s growing desire to craft original, personality-filled interiors. “The name itself reflects what a bold and adventurous choice this color represents—it’s that striking purple-red that’s both trendy and unique at the same time,” says Mottershead. “While purple tones are having their moment right now, this particular shade is such a distinctive choice that most people wouldn’t dare to pick it, making it perfect for someone looking to create a truly one-of-a-kind color scheme.”