Every 2026 Paint Color of the Year: Plus How to Use Them in Your Home
Sharing the 2026 Paint Color of the Year (so far). Plus helping you decide which colors you should use at your house and the ones to avoid all together.
Each fall, paint brands across the industry announce their Color of the Year. That one shade they believe captures the mood of the moment and will inspire design for the year ahead.
Others have joined in to stake their color claim from interior design magazines to wood stain brands.
I’ve rounded up every major brand’s announcement so far from Behr, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, and Valspar, to Dutch Boy, PPG, Farrow & Ball, Graham & Brown, Krylon, Minwax, C2 Paint, and even Veranda Magazine.
If you are new here, I’m Tracey a paint color trend expert and self proclaimed paint nerd! Waiting for the new paint colors each year is my thing.
This is my 8th year tracking the annual paint color of the year. Every year I update this article as they are released, so bookmark it! If you’ve ever wondered how these colors translate into real life (and which are my personal favorites), keep reading.
Contains hand selected products, with affiliate marketing links where I may earn a small commission if a purchase is made. {full disclosure here}
EVERY 2026 Paint Color Announced
Here’s a quick look at the 2026 Colors of the Year that have been announced.
What I can tell you is how much prettier the colors are this year versus 2025 (review at the end). I even threw in Minwax’s 2026 Stain Color of the Year and Krylon’s 2026 Spray Paint Color of the Year.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
What’s the hot paint color trend in 2026?
WARM undertone paint colors. Colors inspired by nature and support botanical comfort based interior design. For 2026, we’re seeing a mix of earthy neutrals, warm reds, botanical greens, and even a little terracotta.
Every 2026 Color of the Year: Paint, Spray Paint and Stain
One trend is very clear: comfort and grounding. After years of cool grays and icy tones dominating, we’ve fully swung into warm, nature-inspired hues. I predicted in 2025 that RED was going to be HOT especially for cabinets and furniture (I was right).
Think earthy browns, clay-like neutrals, verdant greens, and a revival of red tones. The other big theme? Complexity. Many of these shades sit somewhere “in-between” in undertone and not one-note colors.
Benjamin Moore 2026 Color of the Year: Silhouette
Benjamin Moore chose Silhouette AF-655 as their 2026 color of the year. It’s a deep, muted charcoal-plum. A blend of gray, brown, and violet that reads differently depending on lighting.
Description: A deep, sophisticated charcoal with plum and brown undertones that strikes a balance between dramatic and comforting. Its velvety depth creates instant warmth and dimension, making it ideal for adding cozy elegance to any room.
Best use: Perfect for living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms where you want to create an intimate, enveloping atmosphere. It also makes a stunning statement on accent walls, cabinetry, or fireplace surrounds when paired with creamy whites and natural textures.
READ my FULL review: Skip Benjamin Moore Silhouette on Your Walls (use it here instead)
How it looks in different lighting: In north-facing rooms, Silhouette takes on a cooler, more mysterious tone with its violet-gray undertones becoming more prominent. In south-facing light, it feels richer and warmer, with the brown hues emerging to create a soft, luxurious cocoon effect.
Benjamin Moore Silhouette: Buy Peel and Stick Sample
Sherwin-Williams 2026 Color of the Year: Universal-Khaki
Sherwin-Williams chose Universal Khaki (SW 6150) as their 2026 color of the year. This earthy neutral sits right between beige and taupe, with a subtle green undertone.
READ: Why Universal Khaki Is the Must-Use Neutral of 2026
Description: A warm, sandy neutral with subtle green undertones that bridges the gap between beige and taupe.
Best use: Works beautifully on living room and bedroom walls, but it’s also a versatile choice for dining rooms, kitchens, and even exteriors thanks to its mid-tone depth.
How it looks in different lighting: In north-facing rooms, the green undertones become more pronounced, giving the color a slightly muted, earthy quality. In south-facing light, it leans warmer and more golden, creating a soft, inviting glow.
Sherwin-Williams Universal Khaki: Buy Peel and Stick Sample
Behr 2026 Color of the Year: Hidden Gem
Behr chose Hidden Gem, a smoky jade green with a hint of mystery. It’s bold without being overwhelming. It’s a jewel tone that feels timeless.
- Description: Deep teal-green with gray undertones.
- Best use: I love this on cabinetry in a kitchen, or even as a moody dining room wall color.
- How it looks in different lighting: In north-facing rooms, the gray undertones will feel stronger and moodier. In south-facing light, you’ll see more of the green richness come forward.
Behr Hidden Gem: Buy at Home Depot
Valspar 2026 Color of the Year: Warm Eucalyptus
Valspar went in a calmer direction with Warm Eucalyptus an earthy gray-green that feels soothing and versatile.
- Description: Mid-tone gray-green with warmth.
- Best use: Perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms where you want serenity.
- How it looks in different lighting: In north-facing rooms, this will lean more gray. In southern exposure, expect it to glow with more green warmth.
Valspar Warm Eucalyptus Paint Sample: Buy at Lowe’s Home Improvement
Get the Look
Glidden 2026 Color of the Year: Warm Mahogany
This is one of my favorites for its drama! Warm Mahogany is a rich, red-brown that makes a statement.
- Description: Deep, earthy red with brown undertones.
- Best use: I’d use this on a front door, a large hutch, or even on kitchen cabinets.
- How it looks in different lighting: Warm southern light makes it feel richer and more red. In cool light, the brown base comes forward.
Glidden Warm Mahogany Paint Sample: Buy at Home Depot
Get the Look
Dutch Boy 2026 Color of the Year: Melodious Ivory
Dutch Boy gave us a soft, creamy neutral with Melodious Ivory. It’s warm, in the yellow family, more like the color of antique linen.
- Description: Cream with peach and beige undertones.
- Best use: This is a safe choice for open-concept homes where you need one consistent neutral. Soothig in a bedroom or as a whole-house color.
Krylon 2026 Spray Paint Color of the Year: Coffee Bean
Krylon always thinks of the DIYer, and their 2026 choice is Coffee Bean, a dark brown spray paint.
- Description: Nearly black brown with a soft warmth.
- Best use: Perfect for outdoor metal furniture refreshes or updating drawer pulls.
Krylon Coffee Bean Spray Paint: Buy at Lowe’s Home Improvement
C2 Paint 2026 Color of the Year: Épernay
C2 chose Épernay, a soft champagne beige named after the French wine region.
- Description: Champagne-neutral with soft ochre warmth.
- Best use: Lovely in bedrooms and open-plan spaces where you need a refined but flexible neutral.
- How it looks in different lighting: In cooler light it looks sandy; in warm light it glows golden.
Get the Look
Farrow & Ball 2026 Color of the Year: Naperon
Naperon is a peachy terracotta that feels sun-baked and cheerful.
- Description: Warm peach-terracotta with earthy undertones.
- Best use: Entryways, kitchens, or a cozy sunroom.
- How it looks in different lighting: In north-facing rooms, it feels grounded and clay-like; in south-facing rooms it glows peachy and uplifting.
Let me help you (for free)
- In 5 minutes, you’ll know how to avoid 4 common mistakes
- It’s not just about the color (I’ll show you why)
- How-to test paint colors the right way
Graham & Brown 2026 Color of the Year: Divine Damson
If you want a jewel-box room, Divine Damson is your color.
- Description: Luxurious plum-purple with red undertones.
- Best use: Statement walls, powder rooms, or dining rooms with candlelight.
- How it looks in different lighting: Works beautifully in low-light spaces and it feels cocooning and sophisticated.
Veranda Magazine Silk Road Red 2026 Color Trend
Veranda took inspiration from history with Silk Road Red, a vermilion red rooted in ancient pigments. Inspired by the “Red Princess” tomb along the Silk Road, this color is dramatic, cultural, and full of intrigue.
- Description: Vermilion red, bold and story-filled.
- Best use: Fabulous for a dramatic front door or a moody powder room.
Get the Look
RED PAINT COLORS TO EXPLORE
To capture its warmth and depth, Veranda recommends three paints from the leading paint brands:
- Farrow & Ball Rectory Red a classic crimson perfect for cozy rooms and front doors.
- Benjamin Moore Cherry Burst a lively cherry red ideal for accents and furniture.
- Sherwin-Williams Radish a playful, pink-red that shines in powder rooms with gold accents.
Looking for the best red kitchen cabinet paint colors? I’ve pulled together my favorites here.
Minwax 2026 Stain Color of the Year: Special Walnut
If you love wood tones, Minwax’s pick isn’t a wall color but a stain: Special Walnut.
- How it looks in different lighting: In cool, north-facing light it can look more beige; in warm light it glows almost like candlelight.
- Description: Mid-tone brown wood stain with golden warmth.
- Best use: Hardwood floors, furniture, beams anywhere you want natural warmth.
This is the color I chose for my own hardwood floors. It’s timeless with neutral undertones, so it works with a wide variety of paint colors and interior finishes.
Minwax Special Walnut Stain: Buy at Lowe’s Home Improvement
Full 2026 Color of the Year List by Brand
- Benjamin Moore Silhouette (AF-655): a deep, muted charcoal-plum
- Sherwin-Williams Universal Khaki (SW6150): Read the full 2026 SW Trend Report
- Behr Hidden Gem (N430-6A): a smoky jade blue-green.
- Valspar Warm Eucalyptus (8004-28F): an earthy gray-green.
- Dutch Boy Melodious Ivory (313-2DB): a soft warm cream.
- PPG / Glidden Warm Mahogany (PPG1060-7): a rich red-brown.
- Farrow & Ball – Naperon (No. 315): a peachy terracotta.
- C2 Paint Épernay (#639): a champagne neutral.
- Graham & Brown Divine Damson: a regal plum-purple.
- Krylon Coffee Bean: a dark brown spray paint shade.
- Minwax Special Walnut (224): a timeless mid-tone wood stain.
My Personal 2026 Paint Color Favorites
If I had to narrow this long list down to three favorites for 2026, they’d be:
Sherwin Williams Universal Khaki
You’ll see how to pair this easy to use mid-tone neutral, with a wide variety of other colors, in my YouTube video ALL about this Universal Khaki. Yes, beige is back but it feels new and fresh!
C2 Paint Épernay
I love how refined this champagne neutral feels. It has just enough warmth to keep a room cozy, while still reading sophisticated.
PPG / Glidden Warm Mahogany
I can’t resist the depth of a good red-brown. Warm Mahogany feels grounded, dramatic, and creative all at once.
Valspar Warm Eucalyptus
This is the kind of earthy green that never goes out of style. It’s soothing, nature-inspired, and easy to live with in light filled rooms.
The 2026 Colors I’d Skip (and Why)
Not every Color of the Year is one I’d personally recommend for most homes. While they’re all beautiful in their own way, some are simply harder to decorate with for most.
Benjamin Moore Silhoutte
This DARK color is going to consume all the light in a room with an LRV of 10. It feels dated after all of the the dark blacks, browns and plums the past 2 years.
Farrow & Ball Naperon
This peachy terracotta has warmth and charm, but it’s not easy to pull off in the average home.
Unless you live in a desert, southwestern, or Mediterranean-style space, Naperon can feel out of place. It works in sun-drenched entryways or adobe-inspired homes, but for most interiors, it’s a tough match.
Graham & Brown Divine Damson
A regal plum-purple that’s undeniably dramatic. The problem? It’s simply too dark for most walls.
While it can be stunning as an accent, I wouldn’t recommend using it for full rooms unless you want a cocoon-like, moody atmosphere.
Dutch Boy Melodious Ivory
A soft peach-leaning cream that’s meant to feel nostalgic. But here’s the issue, it leans too peach for today’s interiors. On walls, it can read a little dated.
I see this working in vintage-inspired spaces or maybe a nursery, but for a whole home neutral, it’s not the most versatile choice.
Choosing the Right Color for Your Room
One of the most common questions I get is: “Will this color look good in my space?” The secret is to always consider your lighting direction:
- North-facing rooms: Light is cooler and bluish. Warm colors like Melodious Ivory or Warm Mahogany will balance it beautifully.
- South-facing rooms: Light is warm and golden. Greens and cool neutrals like Warm Eucalyptus or Épernay will hold their balance.
- East-facing rooms: Morning light is warm, afternoon is cool. Colors will shift, so go with something versatile like Hidden Gem.
- West-facing rooms: Afternoon light is golden and strong. Colors will glow it’s perfect for deep dramatic shades like Warm Mahogany or Divine Damson.
Where I can help you is by sharing the good and the bad of the annual color picks. Just because a paint color is “the color of the year” doesn’t mean you should put it on your walls.
Tracey is the founder and CEO of Porch Daydreamer® est. 2017 and creator of Porch Daydreamer® Home a line of home decor that makes decorating easier.
She’s an expert in analyzing and predicting home decor color trends. A skill she developed over her 25+ year home improvement career.
2025 Paint Color of the Year Review
Curious what the 2025 paint colors were? Here is a quick review for comparison.
Benjamin Moore 2025 Color of the Year: Cinnamon Slate
Cinnamon Slate, 2113-40
The perfect plum with a hint of brown. It’s soft and easy to use as a rich neutral. LRV 19.7 so it will absorb light for a cozy vibe. Buy Sample
Sherwin Williams 2025 Color of the Year: Mauve Finery
Say what? No “color of the year” from Sherwin Williams? This is annoying and I am a paint color expert, so I’ve decided to pick one for us.
Mauve Finery, SW 6282
A sophisticated mauve with a hint of red that doubles as a subtle violet. Use it as a soft neutral. LRV 51 is acts as a mid-tone. Buy sample.
Behr 2025 Color of the Year: Rumors
Rumors, MQ1-15
A deeply saturated warm ruby red. With a LRV of 8, it reflects very little light.
So the number one paint color regret I have from the late 90’s is painting a room red. Beige and Red rooms were all the rage at that time (um yes it’s back 25 years later).
So be careful choosing this rich red paint color my friend. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! It really is a beautiful burgundy color, but I think just for cabinets, furniture or an accent wall…ok?
Glidden (PPG) 2025 Paint Color of the Year
Purple Basil, 1046-7
Purple Basil a warm deep toned purple with hint of red. It’s rich and elegant just like the plant it is named after.
Not sure if I can get on board with a Purple Basil kitchen or cabinets, can you? It’s a pretty color, but more difficult to use than some of the other softer mauves and plums announced as the color of the year 2025.
Valspar 2025 Paint Color of the Year
Encore, 8002-45G
A deeply saturated cool bright “ultramarine” blue. With a LRV of 6, it reflects very little light.
Again I’m concerned about this paint color for most home owners. It’s SO dark that it will suck up all the light in a room.
HGTV Sherwin Williams 2025 Paint Color of the Year
Quietude, HGSW6212
A soft sage green with blue undertones. With and LRV 46, it’s a nice mid-value color.
PLEASE look at Quietude here to get a true sense of the color. These renderings don’t do it justice (buy peel and stick sample).
Dutch Boy 2025 Paint Color of the Year
Mapped Blue, 429-5DB
A mid-toned blue green with slight yellow undertones. A chameleon color looking more blue against cool colors and more green against warm colors. LRV 27.
The brand Dutch Boy is sold at Menard’s stores, so if you don’t live in the middle part of the US it may be a new brand to you.
What Will Be the Most Popular Paint Colors in 2026?
Beyond the paint color of the year announcements, I also review the trends for the new year.
Annual Paint Color Trends by Year
2019 Trends
2020 Trends
2021 Trends
2022 Trends
2023 Trends
2024 Trends
2025 Trends
Let me help you (for free)
- In 5 minutes, you’ll know how to avoid 4 common mistakes
- It’s not just about the color (I’ll show you why)
- How-to test paint colors the right way
Still need paint color help? Here are some additional resources to help you find and buy the perfect paint color:
Hi, Tracey.
Thanks for hitting on this subject. I am now and always have been a light and brite gal. I usually choose to bring in bolder colors with fabric (because I love fabric) so your pillow selections got my attention. I tend to fall in and out of love with color combos, so I am unwilling to commit to anything that will eat up my time after I grow tired of it – colorwise. In the end I think we choose what we like and dismiss what the authorities suggest. All that said I can see any one of these colors as an anchor for one of todays wild wallpapers. Tho, wallpaper is a whole new ballgame. I love your idea of repainting after 10 years. Inspiration is contagious when sparked by fresh paint.
Thanks so much Vicki for that perspective!Yes, I grow tired and love to update too 🙂
Tracey thank you for keeping us up to date on paint trends. I’m curious what Benjamin Moore will release! Not a fan of any of these but if I had to pick one it would be the offwhite. Why are vendors not talking to survey groups to get their aspirations?
Hi Tracey,
Always enjoy your posts, but I , like you, was so very disappointed in the colors chosen for this year. I do like Behr’s white (as a blank canvas) and love Sherwin Williams Silvermist, Evergreen, basically the bottom left corner of the palette card.
The dark color they choose for HGTV, is very close to a color I used on our beachouse bedroom accent wall in 2014, and still love… Thunder something or other. So, maybe I was really ahead of my time.😂
Otherwise, thumbs down to the so called colors of the year. Don’t care who uses them, I’m know it won’t be me. Haha!
Hi, Linda! You were definitely ahead of your time and how cool. I love that idea for a beach house bedroom (says nap time on a rainy day to me!).
Totally agree with all you wrote! The adobe color has to be the worst one of all! Not sure what they were thinking but I don’t feel the least bit inspired or motivated to use any of them!
Glad I am not alone Betzie!
In a word……Ugly. What were they thinking? I wouldn’t pick any of these for my home. I agree with Deb on the calamine lotion color, lol. That made me laugh too.
Thank you for all the info you provide.
Right! Redend Point is a tough color to use for most. Ugh.
It’s almost like they are trying to not sell paint. But alas, maybe there is some truth to that. It instantly brought to mind the color pallette of cars these days. Basic and uninviting. The whole pallette makes me feel sad and disappointed, a truly visceral but lackadaisical response. It feels so utalitarian. On the plus side, I know I won’t be picking any trendy colors this year. 🙂
Hi, Erica! Agree on the cars…like what is that gray/khaki color now? Don’t get it, but I do have a black car ha ha. I definitely am not a trend follower with paint colors and end up choosing colors I love for my home. The only thing I will do is change to a similar color for an updated look that has a little different undertone 🙂
I would say I agree 100% with your “yuck” analysis. The Behr choice is great in large part because it contrasts against the muddiness almost of the others, but the fresh start isn’t bad either. PPG isn’t too bad – reminds me of the color I have in my office – Aegean Sea – which was Benjamin Moore’s 2021 color of the year. I do like mine better though 😉 Overall, definitely an odd mix of colors and several that I would never ever use, not even as a “pop” (really no pop in some of these!) of color.
Hi, Heather! Yes agree with all that you said too. I loved Aegean Sea too and that general color type of color. Guess we all have to pick our own trending colors this year 🙂
In a word, I think the SW color of the year is hideous and one I would never, ever consider using in my home. Don’t like any of them, actually…..Black??? really???…. except for Blank Canvas, which is not much to shout about with so many white/cream colors available already. Just my opinion, for what it’s worth.
I enjoy all of your posts so much, look forward to them and always learn a lot! Thanks for what you do!
I’m glad that you share my feelings on this! Also, I appreciate your thank you 🙂
I think Sherwin Williams paint picker must have been on vacation and someone else chose their colors. I like color so I was disappointed with Behr’s choice but I do understand as the majority of my walls are painted a white color but I also have three accent walls painted various shades of blue. Therefore I do like vining ivy but I would only use it in a room that had lots of natural light. Sherwin Williams color reminded me of an old bottle of calamine lotion. I just don’t get it.
Looking forward to your reviews after you see what Benjamin Moore has to offer. Thanks for your opinion on these paint colors. Looking forward to seeing your bathroom!
Ha, ha! Thanks for this Deb, you made me laugh 🙂