Valspar’s Color of the Year 2025 Is Striking, Timeless Encore

Every year, paint brands gather around the great decorating crystal ball and ask one dramatic question: what color are we emotionally ready to live with next? For 2025, Valspar answered with Encore 8002-45G, a deep, atmospheric blue that feels confident, polished, and just moody enough to make beige nervously adjust its cardigan.

Valspar’s Color of the Year 2025, Encore, is not a shy whisper of blue. It is a saturated, cool-toned shade with a violet undertone, a low-light richness, and the kind of visual presence that can turn a plain room into a “wait, did you hire a designer?” moment. Valspar describes Encore as an approachable ultramarine that bridges classic design and modern living, and that is exactly where its appeal begins.

Unlike trend colors that look exciting for three months and then mysteriously migrate to the donation pile, Encore has staying power. It nods to navy, royal blue, denim, twilight, and old-world interiors, but it does not feel trapped in any one era. It can go traditional, coastal, maximalist, modern, cottage, or dramatic. In other words, it is versatile enough to behave at a dinner party but bold enough to tell a good story afterward.

What Is Valspar Encore 8002-45G?

Encore 8002-45G is a deep blue paint color in the Valspar family. It has a cool undertone and a measured Light Reflectance Value of 6.0, meaning it absorbs far more light than it reflects. Translation: this is a dark, dramatic color, not a pale spa blue that politely fades into the background.

The shade also carries a subtle violet influence, which is part of what makes it feel more layered than a standard navy. In bright daylight, Encore can read as a rich, energetic blue. In low lighting, the violet undertone becomes more noticeable, giving the color a softer, moodier edge. That chameleon quality is one reason decorators and DIY homeowners are paying attention.

Why Valspar Chose Encore for 2025

Valspar’s 2025 Color of the Year reflects a broader movement in home design: people want spaces that feel stable, personal, and expressive. After years of soft neutrals, nature-inspired greens, and pale restorative blues, homeowners are showing more appetite for saturated color. Not chaotic color. Not “my hallway is now a circus tent” color. Rather, color with confidence.

Encore fits that mood beautifully. It offers the comfort of a familiar blue while delivering the drama of a jewel tone. It is strong without being harsh, timeless without being boring, and playful without requiring a personality transplant from your living room. Valspar positioned the shade as a blue that works both indoors and outdoors, across walls, trim, furniture, siding, concrete, decks, and more.

That cross-application flexibility matters. A color of the year is more useful when it can do more than appear in one carefully staged press photo next to a vase that costs more than your dishwasher. Encore can be used in small doses or big gestures, which makes it practical for renters, homeowners, weekend painters, and ambitious people who own three paint rollers and believe they are now contractors.

Why Encore Feels Timeless Instead of Trendy

The phrase “timeless color” gets used so often in design writing that it has started to sound like a throw pillow slogan. But Encore earns the label because blue has a long history in interiors. Deep blues have appeared in libraries, dining rooms, historic homes, coastal cottages, painted furniture, ceramics, textiles, and front doors for generations.

What makes Encore feel current is its saturation and undertone. It is not a flat, severe navy. It has enough vibrancy to feel fresh and enough depth to feel grounded. That balance allows it to move between old and new aesthetics. Pair it with brass hardware and dark wood, and it leans heritage. Pair it with white walls, curved furniture, and modern art, and it becomes crisp and contemporary. Pair it with rattan and linen, and suddenly your breakfast nook looks like it knows where the good vacation rentals are.

Best Rooms for Valspar Encore

Living Rooms

In a living room, Encore can create a cozy, polished backdrop. Because it is dark, it works especially well in spaces where you want intimacy rather than maximum brightness. A single accent wall behind a sofa can add depth without making the room feel enclosed. For a bolder look, use Encore on all four walls and balance it with light upholstery, natural wood, warm metals, and layered lighting.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms are a natural fit for deep blue paint colors because blue often reads as calm and restful. Encore can make a bedroom feel cocoon-like, especially when used behind a bed or across the entire room. White bedding gives it a classic hotel feel, while caramel leather, walnut furniture, or oatmeal linen adds warmth. The result is restful, but not sleepy in the boring sense. More like “I read hardcover books and own matching nightstands” restful.

Kitchens and Cabinets

Encore is excellent for kitchen cabinets, particularly when paired with light countertops, white tile, brushed brass, matte black, or natural wood. It gives cabinets personality while remaining more enduring than trendier candy-colored finishes. If painting all cabinets blue feels like a long-term relationship you are not ready for, try Encore on a kitchen island first.

Bathrooms and Powder Rooms

Small bathrooms and powder rooms are ideal places to experiment with dramatic color. Encore can make a compact room feel intentional rather than cramped. Add a round mirror, warm sconces, polished nickel, or marble-look tile, and the room becomes elegant fast. Powder rooms are basically the cocktail dresses of home design: small, memorable, and allowed to be a little extra.

Home Offices

In a home office, Encore can provide focus and visual structure. It looks strong behind bookshelves, built-ins, desks, and video-call backgrounds. That last point matters more than ever. A deep blue backdrop can look composed and professional on camera, which is helpful when your desk surface is secretly a migration route for coffee mugs.

Creative Ways to Use Encore Without Overcommitting

If painting an entire room in a low-LRV blue feels intimidating, start smaller. Encore works beautifully on interior doors, trim, built-ins, furniture, stair risers, mudroom lockers, and fireplace surrounds. It can also refresh a tired dresser, console table, or bathroom vanity. These smaller applications deliver the drama without requiring you to explain to every guest why the ceiling is blue.

For exterior projects, Encore can bring sophistication to shutters, front doors, porch ceilings, siding accents, garden structures, or even a backyard shed. Because the color is strong, it pairs well with crisp whites, stone, brick, cedar, and medium-toned woods. A front door in Encore can make a house feel more finished instantly, like the architectural equivalent of adding a good belt.

What Colors Pair Well With Valspar Encore?

Valspar has highlighted coordinating colors such as Lavender Escape and Sprig of Sage, and those pairings make sense. Lavender brings out Encore’s violet side, while sage softens the look with an earthy, botanical note. Graceful gray-style neutrals, creamy whites, and warm off-whites can also help Encore breathe.

For a classic palette, combine Encore with soft white, warm wood, and brass. For a modern palette, use Encore with pale gray, black accents, and clean-lined furniture. For a cottage-inspired look, pair it with sage green, faded florals, woven baskets, and antique wood. For maximalism, bring in ochre, coral, emerald, plum, or patterned wallpaper. Encore can handle supporting actors with flair, provided the room has enough visual balance.

How Lighting Changes Encore

Lighting is the secret plot twist in every paint project. Encore’s cool undertone and violet influence mean it can shift depending on the room. In bright natural light, it may appear more vivid and blue. In shaded rooms or evening light, it can feel deeper, moodier, and more violet. This is why sampling is not optional. Paint a large swatch, look at it morning, afternoon, and night, then make your decision like a responsible adult who has been burned by “it looked different online” before.

Because Encore has a low LRV, it will not bounce much light around a room. That does not mean you should avoid it in small spaces. It simply means you should plan the supporting cast: lamps, sconces, reflective surfaces, lighter textiles, mirrors, and contrast trim can all help the color feel rich rather than heavy.

Design Styles That Work With Encore

Traditional and Heritage

Encore looks right at home with paneled walls, antique furniture, patterned rugs, brass picture lights, and oil-painting-style artwork. It can give a room the feeling of a classic library without requiring a rolling ladder or a mysterious family crest.

Modern and Minimal

Used sparingly, Encore can sharpen a modern space. A blue built-in, floating vanity, or single accent wall can add depth to a mostly neutral room. Keep the lines clean and the decor edited so the color becomes the statement.

Coastal Without the Cliché

Encore offers a more sophisticated take on coastal blue. Instead of pale aqua and seashell overload, think deep water, white linen, weathered wood, woven textures, and matte black or brass accents. The beach is invited, but it has been asked to dress nicely.

Maximalist

Encore is bold enough to support layered patterns, jewel tones, gallery walls, and expressive decor. It provides a strong base that keeps colorful rooms from looking random. If maximalism is a party, Encore is the host who remembered to label the cheese board.

Practical Painting Tips for Using a Deep Blue

Dark paint colors demand slightly more preparation than lighter shades. Start with clean, smooth walls and patch imperfections before painting. Use a quality primer if you are covering a very light, glossy, or uneven surface. Choose the right finish for the job: matte or eggshell can look velvety on walls, satin works well for trim and furniture, and more durable finishes are better for doors, cabinets, and high-touch areas.

Cut in carefully around trim and ceilings because deep blue makes wobbly edges easier to notice. Apply two coats for even coverage, and give the paint proper drying time. Also, buy a little extra for future touch-ups. Dark colors can be less forgiving when patched later, especially if the wall has collected sunlight, dust, or mysterious household fingerprints.

Why Encore Works for 2025 Homes

The best thing about Encore is that it gives homeowners permission to use color with confidence. It is not merely decorative; it changes the feeling of a room. In a year when design trends are leaning toward richer, more personal interiors, Encore lands in a sweet spot. It is expressive but livable. It is stylish but not disposable. It is bold but not ridiculous.

And perhaps most importantly, Encore understands that people want homes that feel like themselves. Not showroom-perfect. Not algorithm-perfect. Real homes need color that can handle morning coffee, evening lamps, family photos, old furniture, new furniture, and that one chair nobody likes but everyone keeps because it is “still useful.” Encore has enough character to pull those pieces together.

Experience-Based Ideas for Living With Valspar Encore

From a practical decorating perspective, the easiest way to enjoy Valspar Encore is to treat it like a tailored blazer: it can dress up almost anything, but it works best when the rest of the outfit has some breathing room. In real homes, deep blue often succeeds when paired with texture. Smooth blue walls beside linen curtains, cane chairs, wool rugs, ceramic lamps, or raw wood shelves create contrast that feels warm instead of flat.

One of the most satisfying uses for Encore is on built-ins. Imagine a living room with white or warm neutral walls and a wall of bookcases painted in this striking blue. The shelves suddenly feel custom, even if they started life as budget-friendly units with big dreams. Books, framed art, baskets, and small sculptures pop against the dark background. The color adds depth without taking over the whole room.

Another smart approach is using Encore in an entryway. A deep blue console table, painted door, or stair rail gives guests an immediate sense of style. Entryways are transitional spaces, so they can handle stronger color without overwhelming daily life. You get impact in a small area, and your home gets to make a first impression that says, “Yes, people with taste live here, and yes, they probably own a label maker.”

For renters or cautious decorators, furniture is the safest playground. A thrifted dresser painted in Encore can become a bedroom focal point. A tired sideboard can turn into a dining room statement. Even a small bench or pair of nightstands can introduce the color without touching the walls. This is especially helpful for anyone who wants the drama of the 2025 color trend without negotiating with a landlord or a spouse who believes every wall should remain “builder oatmeal.”

In kitchens, Encore works best when balanced with brightness. Blue lower cabinets with white uppers can feel fresh and grounded. A blue island can make a neutral kitchen feel intentional. If the kitchen already has dark counters or limited natural light, consider using Encore only on an island, pantry door, or hutch. The goal is depth, not a room that makes you wonder if the sun has resigned.

Outdoors, Encore can be surprisingly cheerful. On a front door, it feels welcoming and established. On shutters, it can sharpen curb appeal. On a garden shed, it turns a utility structure into a feature. Pair it with creamy exterior trim, brick paths, green landscaping, or cedar planters, and the blue feels connected to nature rather than pasted on. It is dramatic, but it still plays nicely with leaves, stone, and sky.

The biggest lesson with Encore is simple: sample before committing. Dark blues are sensitive to light, sheen, and surrounding colors. A shade that looks crisp beside white trim may look nearly navy beside charcoal furniture. A satin finish may feel livelier than matte. A north-facing room may pull out the cooler notes, while warm lamplight may reveal more softness. Testing a large swatch is not a delay; it is the part where you avoid repainting while muttering things unfit for a home decor blog.

Ultimately, living with Encore is about confidence. It rewards thoughtful placement, layered lighting, and good contrast. It can be grand or casual, polished or playful. That is why Valspar’s 2025 Color of the Year feels like more than a trend announcement. It is an invitation to stop treating color as a risky final exam and start using it as a tool for personality, comfort, and joy.

Conclusion

Valspar’s Color of the Year 2025, Encore 8002-45G, is a striking deep blue that manages to be dramatic, livable, and timeless all at once. Its cool undertone, violet depth, and versatile application make it a strong choice for walls, trim, cabinets, furniture, doors, exteriors, and creative DIY projects. Whether used as a full-room statement or a small accent, Encore brings confidence and character into the home without feeling like a passing fad.

For homeowners craving a richer palette, Encore is a refreshing reminder that timeless design does not have to be timid. Sometimes the right blue can ground a room, lift a mood, and make everything around it look more considered. Not bad for a paint color with stage presence.