Color Trends 2026: Your Guide to the New Colors of the Year

Jennifer Janeway
Oct 2
3 min read

It's that time of year again! Every year, the top names in paint and design unveil their highly anticipated Color of the Year selections, setting the tone for trends in interiors, fashion, and beyond. These shades reflect the cultural mood, consumer desires, and societal shifts that are shaping our world. For 2026, the top paint companies have spoken, and their choices reveal conversations about the collective craving for versatile and timeless design and the ongoing trend of replacing the "millennial gray."

Hidden Gem by Behr

This year's colors invite us to create spaces that are deeply personal, universally comforting, and bolder than ever! Let's dive into the top picks and explore the stories behind the colors poised to define the year ahead.

Sherwin-Williams: Universal Khaki

Sherwin-Williams chose its color of the year with a focus on simplicity and versatility: Universal Khaki, a mid-tone neutral shade that can be used with a wide range of styles. This selection reflects a trend towards consumers seeking modern classic design in their homes. Director of Color Marketing, Sue Wadden, says Universal Khaki's "warm, earthy tone works with natural finishes, crisp whites, or bold pops of color". Universal Khaki embodies simplicity and longevity as it creates a foundation for everlasting design.

Universal Khaki by Sherwin-Williams

Behr: Hidden Gem

Behr’s color of the year is Hidden Gem, a dynamic smoky jade that beautifully balances blue and green. This selection reflects a growing trend in colors that are expressive and sophisticated. Hidden Gem works as a versatile hue that can be both a subtle statement and a rich, enveloping shade, making it suitable for everything from a bold accent wall to an entire room. Behr's color of the year encourages consumers to embrace color with confidence and use it as a tool for personal expression and creating spaces that feel both timeless and meaningful.

Hidden Gem by Behr

Dutch Boy Paints: Melodious Ivory

Dutch Boy Paints is looking towards warm simplicity with their color of the year, Melodious Ivory, a yellow-based beige. Dutch Boy Paints drew inspiration from trends of intentional living. Color Marketing Manager, Lisbeth Parada, says this shade "invites homeowners to embrace what matters most - comfort, quality, and connection." Melodious Ivory works well with a variety of finishes and materials, from deep plum shades to rustic wood tables. This hue creates a warm and classic design and looks towards the future of mindful consumption in design.

Melodious Ivory by Dutch Boy Paints

PPG Paints: Warm Mahogany

PPG Paints is drawing inspiration for its color of the year from trends in fashion, lighting, and product design. Warm Mahogany is a bold, earthy spice tone that brings depth and sophistication to a room. PPG is calling Warm Mahogany "a fresh neutral for a grounded and upscale look." As we move away from the trends of gray, we see a shift towards more saturated and bolder colors as a replacement. Warm Mahogany evokes classic and timeless designs with its versatility. It brings life and warmth to homes with its inviting undertones, and can be used to create elegant dining rooms or cozy bedrooms.

Warm Mahogany by PPG

Graham & Brown: Divine Damson

A tart-tasting fruit inspires Graham & Brown’s color of the year. Divine Damson is a deep, moody red shade, drawn from the rich tones of ripe damson plums. This dramatic hue was chosen for its perennial allure. Graham & Brown's senior stylist, Paula Taylor, says "jewel tones like this often transcend categories...which speaks to their timeless and universal appeal." Divine Damson can color-drench a room for a bold and dramatic design, and work well with other shades as a complementary color, like an alternative to the once-trending gray.