The Late Summer Palette: How Color And Scent Shape The Season’s Mood

Written By The Stanwich Painting Team
Late Summer Color Palette

Photo by Irina Iriser

There’s a shift that happens in August.

The light changes, the air thickens, and the garden begins to fade at the edges. It’s still summer, but with a different energy: slower, quieter, more reflective. This late-season feeling is beginning to show up in interior design in a powerful way. In 2025, we’re seeing homeowners move toward warmer, grounded tones that feel connected to nature, memory, and comfort.

Paint is part of that shift. Colors like Benjamin Moore’s Cinnamon Slate or Farrow & Ball’s Book Room Red aren’t just trendy…they feel right for the season. They reflect the richer, more relaxed mood of August and beyond.

At Stanwich Painting, we believe paint does more than decorate. It sets a tone. It creates atmosphere. And sometimes, it evokes memory in a way that feels personal. In this blog, we’re exploring how late summer’s sensory world—especially scent and light—can shape your home’s color palette and mood.

How Scent Can Shape a Space

Designers have long understood that scent plays a role in how a room feels. Late summer has its own fragrance profile: warm herbs, ripening fruit, pine needles, hay. These smells evoke specific feelings…and color can reflect them.

Think about a kitchen that carries the aroma of basil or tomato vines. It might feel natural to paint it in a soft olive green or warm terra cotta. A bedroom with hints of lavender in the air pairs beautifully with muted purples or earthy browns. These aren’t literal matches. They’re emotional translations—ways to create spaces that feel right for the season.

Science backs this up. Scent and memory are closely linked, and color can help amplify that connection. When you start with how a space feels, choosing a palette becomes less about trends and more about intuition.

Paint Colors Inspired by Late Summer

Here’s a selection of 2025-friendly shades that capture the tone of late summer. These are Stanwich-approved for their depth, elegance, and seasonal relevance.

Warm & Grounded Tones

  • Benjamin Moore – Cinnamon Slate
    Rich, plum-toned brown. Deep and elegant. Works well in living rooms or entryways that need warmth without feeling too dark.

  • Sherwin-Williams – Caramelized (SW 9186)
    A golden-brown tone with warmth and sophistication. Ideal for dining rooms, hallways, or trim details that need depth.

  • Farrow & Ball – Book Room Red
    Muted, classic red with a soft patina. Feels timeless in studies or formal dining areas, especially when paired with warm neutrals or wood.

Herbal & Botanical Greens

Muted Fruity & Earthy Hues

  • Little Greene – Mochi
    A peach-pink shade with earthy warmth. Works well in small bedrooms or accent walls.

  • Behr – Rumors
    Burgundy with soft brown undertones. Rich and dramatic, perfect for front doors or moody powder rooms.

  • Dunn-Edwards – Caramelized
    A terra cotta-like shade with classic warmth. Great in sunrooms, kitchens, or paired with limewash for depth.

Fresh, Light Accents

Color + Scent Pairings: An Unexpected Guide

Pairing paint with scent might sound abstract—but it works. Here are a few combinations that tap into the emotional atmosphere of August:

  • Tomato vines + Farrow & Ball Lichen
    Perfect for kitchens or garden rooms with natural textures like wood, stone, or linen.

  • Lavender + Benjamin Moore Cinnamon Slate
    A cozy bedroom palette. Add natural fibers and low lighting for a full sensory retreat.

  • Salt air + Benjamin Moore White Opulence
    Great in bathrooms or hallways. Use alongside breezy textiles and neutral accessories.

  • Clay + Dunn-Edwards Caramelized
    Beautiful in entryways or patios with ceramic or terracotta elements.

  • Fresh herbs + Sherwin-Williams Quietude
    Ideal for studies or breakfast nooks with open shelving and natural light.

These pairings help you build spaces that feel lived-in and atmospheric—not just decorated.

How Light and Finish Shift the Mood

Late summer’s changing light plays a big role in how color appears. What looked crisp and bright in July might now feel too stark. That’s why it’s smart to reassess both color and finish during this seasonal shift.

Designers in 2025 are favoring low-sheen or matte finishes. They absorb light and offer a soft, elegant look that flatters moody or earthy hues. Limewash finishes continue to gain popularity for their natural texture and subtle movement.

Here’s how to think about finish this season:

  • Matte or Flat – Best in bedrooms, dens, or rooms meant for rest. Offers depth without shine.

  • Eggshell or Soft Satin – Ideal in high-traffic spaces like hallways or kitchens where you still want a glow, not a glare.

  • Limewash or Mineral Paint – Best used as an accent or feature wall. Brings out the best in browns, greens, and soft reds.

And always test swatches in late afternoon light—it’s the best way to see how the paint will really live in your space.

How to Bring the Look Home

You don’t need a full makeover to embrace the mood of late summer. Try one room or even one wall. Refresh a guest room in Little Greene’s Mochi, a soft peachy-pink with brown undertones, or update your entryway with a bold front door in Behr’s Rumors, a muted burgundy that feels both grounded and dramatic. Layer natural materials, reduce visual clutter, and let the paint do the talking.

For a smaller step, consider painting a single piece of furniture or built-in shelving in one of the green or plum tones listed above. The impact is immediate, and the commitment is low.

Late summer isn’t just a season—it’s a shift in mood. And your home can reflect that shift beautifully.

Final Thoughts From Stanwich

At Stanwich Painting, we understand that a home is more than walls and trim…it’s a mood. Our color consultations go beyond trend and into atmosphere, using light, architecture, and your personal tastes to guide every decision.

As August begins, take a moment to notice how your space feels. Does it still reflect you? Does it reflect the season? If not, we’re here to help you reconnect—through color, through craft, and through finishes that last.

Because great paint doesn’t just cover—it transforms.

Call 475‑252‑9500 or request a quote to begin your color consultation today.

Stanwich Painting proudly provides top-quality residential painting services throughout Fairfield County, including: Greenwich, Cos Cob, Riverside, Old Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Westport, Fairfield, Wilton, and Weston

Updated Citation & Further Reading List
  1. How Scent Influences Color Perception – Frontiers in Psychology
     A scientific deep dive into how olfactory cues affect visual color judgment.
     https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2023/10/06/frontiers-psychology-cross-modulation-sense-of-smell-color-vision
  2. Odors Modulate Color Appearance – National Library of Medicine (PMC)
     Experimental research confirming scent-color associations in perception and mood.
     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10587423/
  3. 2025 Interior Design and Color Trends for Hospitality – Shaw Contract
     A breakdown of the move toward layered neutrals, texture, and sensory immersion in hospitality design.
     https://www.shawcontract.com/en-us/details/blog/commercial-interior-design-color-trends-2025-hospitality
  4. Color Trends in 2025 – PCI Magazine
     Forecast report on the dominance of warm tones, including cinnamon and clay, in residential and commercial spaces.
     https://www.pcimag.com/blogs/14-pci-blog/post/113196-2025-interior-design-and-color-trends-report
  5. Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2025: Cinnamon Slate
     The brand’s official feature on how this richly grounded hue captures 2025’s emotional and visual tone.
     https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-colors/color-of-the-year-2025
  6. The Return of Warm Colors: Why 2025’s Hottest Interior Design Trend Isn’t Going Anywhere – Sacksteder’s Interiors
     A beautifully written article highlighting the growing popularity of caramel, plum, terra-cotta, and cinnamon in modern home palettes.
     https://sackstedersinteriors.com/blog/the-return-of-warm-colors-why-2025s-hottest-interior-design-trend-isnt-going-anywhere/
  7. 5 Paint Colors Designers Love For Creating A Relaxing Space – Southern Living
     A designer-backed look at calming hues such as olive, powder blue, and chalky neutrals.
     https://www.southernliving.com/relaxing-paint-colors-designers-love-11779438
The Stanwich Painting Team
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