Consumers are taking a "pallette-cleansing pause" when it comes to automotive paint colors, making white the most popular color in North America for the second straight year, the DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report says.

Silver held the title for seven years before white took over as top color in 2007. White and white pearl hold 20 percent of the North American market. Black and black effect paint have 17 percent, and silver nearly 17 percent, DuPont says.

The company believes white’s growing popularity coincides with changing trends at the more colorful end of the spectrum.

“The popularity of true chromatic colors such as blue and red are on the rise, with blue growing worldwide as consumers look to more environmental themes and lifestyles,” DuPont’s Karen Surcina said.

Blue holds 13 percent of the North American market and is in the top-five most popular colors almost everywhere in the world, according to DuPont.