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Paint Colors of the Year 2026

ByAllisa Jacobs Updated on

You know I’m not a big fan of home design fads in general, but I do love seeing how paint colors trends shift each year. Looking ahead we see some consistent color ideas and some major, even surprising shifts. Here, I’m looking at the paint colors of the year 2026 from major brands including Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr, and others. I’ll include my thoughts and tips for incorporating them. 

dark brown wall with benjamin moore paint color of the year silhouette
Benjamin Moore Silhouette

Major Paint Color Trend: Warmth

When I look at all the colors chosen by paint brands as their color of the year, one trend stands out. Every one of them includes depth and warmth. From light tans to rich, dark, browns all of them are decidedly warm colors with lots of brown. 

I think this decisive shift to warmer, browner shades is a pendulum shift away from the cooler grays that took over the 2010s. Designers and articles have thrown up their arms, rejecting this gray wash that took over walls, floors, and furniture. 

Of course, there has been the millennial beige movement that’s taken over social media. These warmer paint colors seem to align with the beige trends but also add more depth and darker options. 

In 2025, we saw a lot of muted colors, with paints having gray undertones, making them more muddied, deep, and natural. I’m still seeing lots of muted colors, see Behr’s color choice below. 

dark brown paneled wall with benjamin moore paint color of the year silhouette

Benjamin Moore: Silhouette

Benjamin Moore chose Silhouette AF-655 as their top paint color for 2026. It’s a dark, muted, deep brown. It’s rich and chocolaty with gray and violet undertones.

Of all the new colors for 2026, Silhouette for Benjamin Moore is one of my favorites. While I’m not a huge fan of brown colors, this shade is deep and rich enough to read almost like wood or a black color. It does have purple undertones so it will look cooler in some lighting.

Curious to see it on your wall? Grab a Silhouette Peel & Stick Sample – I recommend trying it out on different walls to see how it’s affected by lighting.

Sherwin Williams Universal Khaki

Sherwin Williams: Universal Khaki

For 2026, Sherwin Williams chose Universal Khaki as their paint color of the year. Universal Khaki is a warm earthy tan that reads fairly neutral. It has a slight yellow undertone making it warm but also a little creamy.

Of all the colors released, I think this one is the most controversial. Even though it’s a neutral, I think Universal Khaki is pretty reminiscent of the builder’s beige that seemed to take over new build homes in the early 2000’s. Additionally, while it’s comforting to some people, I think others are looking for trends to reflect more inspiration.

Personally, this is my least favorite color, though it is consistent with the overall shift to warm and cozy.

bedroom with jade green wall and wood bed, nightstand, and bench
Behr: Hidden Gem

Behr: Hidden Gem

Behr’s color of the year for 2026, Hidden Gem, is a direct nod to muted, jewel tones we’ve seen from other brands. It’s a rich, smoky jade with bluish undertones reads as more of a teal. Because it’s more muted with gray undertones, it can work well as a classic but not quite a neutral.

While it’s not my favorite color, Hidden Gem, would work well for accent walls and cabinets. It reminds me of other Muted Earthy Green paint colors – though it’s more of a jewel tone.

Paint Color Trend FAQs

How does Universal Khaki Compare to Accessible Beige

Sherwin Williams Universal Khaki is a warm tan that is at first glance similar to the ever popular Accessible Beige. However, Universal Khaki has more yellow undertones while Accessible Beige is more of a warm gray, or “greige.”

What Are Benjamin Moore Silhouette Undertones?

Benjamin Moore Silhouette has undertones of gray, brown, and purple. It is a complex color that will feel warm in south facing walls and cooler or more violet in north facing walls.

What Are Popular Paint Colors for 2026?

It can be hard to predict but in general, it appears that dark, muted, and warm paint colors are popular for 2026.

Free Paint Color Palette Pdf

Amidst all of the paint color trends, I still stand by some of my tried and true organic modern paint colors. I’ve gathered them up in a free pdf – simply download and grab sources.

Overall, I see the paint colors of the year 2026 being consistent with warm, muted, and darker shades. We’re seeing a consistent thread from the muted colors of 2025 and likely a shift towards cozier, warmer colors than cooler grays earlier in the decade.

If you’re curious about more paint ideas, check out my Favorite Neutral Paint Colors and Tips on Testing Paint Colors for more inspiration and tips.

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Allisa is a home stylist and professional digital creator dedicated to creating authentic spaces. She is passionate about sharing her design perspective to help others create a home they love.

Building on her background in special education and learning about the connection between our surroundings and mental health, Allisa began forging a home design career path in 2019. She is honored to have had her design work and ideas featured in publications including HGTV magazine, Apartment Therapy, Dwell, Spruce, Martha Stewart, and Hunker Home.