Oh, the drama of paint companies and their predictions for which colors we’ll be obsessed with next year. Except…the 2026 colors of the year are less about drama and more about soft, soothing shades that invite you to take a load off and sit a spell surrounded by comforting color. What do you think?

HIDDEN GEM BY BEHR

Image: Behr

Behr describes Hidden Gem as “a smoky jade that embodies an air of mystery and sophistication” and promised it will create “spaces that feel both grounded and alive.” It’s a color that speaks in hushed tones—definitely there, but not pushy.

WARM MAHOGANY BY GLIDDEN

Image: Glidden

More outgoing than Hidden Gem, Glidden says Warm Mahogany is “bold enough to draw immediate attention and reserved enough to make a timeless statement” and claims it’s suited for “any style, any space, any mood.” A good option for places where you want to make a statement, but don’t want to shout.

MELODIOUS IVORY BY DUTCH BOY

Image:  Dutch Boy

When you want the attention to be on the items on your wall rather than the wall itself, Melodious Ivory may be just the color to make your heart sing. Dutch Boy calls it “a timeless, creamy shade that makes your space feel effortlessly you” with a “nostalgic, elevated vibe.”

WARM EUCALYPTUS BY VALSPAR 

Image: Valspar

If you feel the need for comfort and reassurance—and these days, who doesn’t?—consider adding Warm Eucalyptus to your home’s color scheme. “This is a color that encourages restoration and resilience,” says Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar. “Its warm undertones create a grounded, welcoming mood while drawing inspiration from nature and the familiarity of retro design.”

ANTHOLOGY: VOLUME TWO BY SHERWIN WILLIAMS 

Image: Sherwin Williams

Not content with choosing just one color (maybe they couldn’t decide?) Sherwin Williams offers up four palettes of colors for 2026 in what they’re calling “Anthology: Volume Two.” Grape Mist (shown) is from the Frosted Tints collection of “icy tinted pastels in whispers of blue, green, and purple.” Other options include Sunbaked Hues (“natural clay, buttery yellow, and intensely enriched red”), Restorative Darks (“deep, nocturnal colors” that “make a quietly compelling impact”) and Foundational Neutrals (“the most essential neutrals of the moment”).

SPECIAL WALNUT BY MINWAX

Image: Minwax

Did you know? That “color of the year” designation is not just for paint. Stain colors go in and out of fashion as well. For 2026, Minwax offers up Special Walnut, which Lisbeth Parada, their Color Marketing Manager, says was “inspired by the comfort of familiar spaces and the charm of reclaimed materials,” and designed to help you “slow down, try something new and create with confidence.”  

There you have it: the 2026 Colors of the Year. Do any of them strike your fancy? If so, make the process of applying it as calm and comforting as the color and leave the painting to us. Contact us for a consultation today.