BEYOND THE PALETTE

2026 Color Trends for Interior Design

Explore 2026 color trends in interior design, and why they matter for your space. See the latest paint colors and palettes, plus easy color theory tips.

Why 2026 Color Trends Matter

Major paint brands and color institutes release annual color and palette forecasts that influence interior design, decor, and even product design. These choices are not just about setting a fleeting trend; they are shaped by culture, shifting lifestyles, and what people are longing for in their everyday spaces—more calm, grounding, and a sense of renewal.

beyond the color palette

Using Colors for Wellness-Inspired Design

These 2026 palettes are designed as responses to what many people are craving in their lives—soothing neutrals, nature-rooted greens, and gentle whites that feel like a visual deep breath.

When you’re considering these colors for your own home, start by asking how you want each room to feel: restored and quiet, warm and connected, or fresh and energizing?

Once you’re clear on the mood, use the trend colors as a toolkit, not a rulebook

Big Picture Themes You Can Expect to See This Year

Grounding neutrals, nature-inspired greens and lues, sunbaked earth tones, and richer jewel accents described by designers and editors with colors primarily driven by mood

SPOTLIGHT

Sherwin Williams + HGTV Home

Universal Khaki Is the unified 2026 Color of the Year for Sherwin-Williams and HGTV Home, described it as a warm, grounded neutral tied to simplicity and intention.

Their palette this year is called the “Honest Essentials” collection featuring colors of warm tans and browns, soft off-whites, stucco-like neutrals, and deeper wine, terracotta, greens, and blues as accent notes.

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SPOTLIGHT

Behr's Color Story

Hidden Gem is Behr’s 2026 Color of the Year, described as a smoky jade—a blue‑green hue that brings grounded serenity and subtle energy to a space. It was chosen to reflect a growing desire for colors that feel comforting, sophisticated, and a bit unexpected, offering a “new neutral” that supports wellness and personal expression at home.

Behr’s 2026 Color Trends Palette was built with relaxed pastels, grounding earth tones, and deep jewel tones, creating combinations that balance warmth, comfort, and playful richness. Together, these colors are designed to help people create interiors that feel intentional and lived‑in—spaces that are calm yet alive.

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SPOTLIGHT

Benjamin Moore

Silhouette is Benjamin Moore’s 2026 Color of the Year, a deep, warm brown with soft charcoal undertones that feels cozy, rich, and surprisingly versatile—like a softer, more livable alternative to black.

The 2026 Color Trends palette pairs Silhouette with a mix of gentle light shades (creamy whites, soft pinks, and a relaxed blue‑green) and a few earthy midtones, so you can create rooms that feel calm, grounded, and pulled-together without feeling too formal.

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Pantone

Pantone is a global color authority that creates standardized color systems and trend forecasts—like the Color of the Year—that designers and brands use to keep color consistent and meaningful across products, fashion, and interiors.

Cloud Dancer is Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year, a soft, airy white chosen to feel like a calm reset—more like a fresh blank canvas than a stark, gallery white.

It was selected by the Pantone Color Institute after looking at how overwhelmed and overstimulated daily life feels for many people, and is meant to symbolize clarity, quiet, and a fresh start rather than another loud trend color.

Pantone’s directors describe Cloud Dancer as a “billowy,” balanced white that brings a sense of peace, reflection, and contentment, offering a soothing backdrop where other colors, textures, and personal stories can stand out.

Across the 2026 forecasts, the shared theme is that color is being used to support how people want to feel in their homes—calm, grounded, restored, and connected to nature—rather than to push a short-lived trend

"Color is a visual dance that evokes emotion, tells a story and serves as more than simple decor

-TRISHA

Emotional Color Theory

HOW TO CHOOSE COLORS TO CREATE THE MOOD OF YOUR SPACE

What do you want your home to feel like when you walk in the door—rested, energized, cozy, or inspired?

Think of the emotional color wheel as your “mood map”:

Start by choosing the feeling you want for a room, find that emotion on the wheel (calm, grounded, joyful, etc.), and let that guide you toward a family of colors rather than a single swatch.
The 2026 palettes from Sherwin-Williams, Behr, Benjamin Moore, and Pantone were all developed with this same idea in mind—grounded greens, soft whites, and neutrals chosen to support well-being

Use the wheel together with these trend palettes

First pick the mood that fits your lifestyle in that space, then pull from the corresponding trend colors for your walls, wallpaper, and accents so the room feels both current and emotionally aligned with how you want to live.

Guiding Your Home by Hue : Recommended Colors, Room by Room

WARM HEARTH
Emotion: safety, comfort, coziness; good for living rooms and family spaces.
Hue family: khaki, taupe, warm greige, soft browns

GARDEN QUIET
Emotion: balance, renewal, connection to nature; ideal for kitchens, dining, and multipurpose rooms.
Hue family: sage, olive, soft leafy greens

SUNLIT GLOW
Emotion: optimism, lightness, sociability; best as accents in kitchens, entries, creative spaces.
Hue family: buttery yellow, muted marigold, straw.

CLAY EMBER
Emotion: warmth, hospitality, energy; good in dining rooms and gathering spaces when used thoughtfully
Hue family: terracotta, clay, soft amber.

WINE NIGHT
Emotion: intimacy, drama, focus; best in small doses or specific zones
Hue family: wine, mulberry, deep rose

MIDNIGHT INK
Emotion: depth, contemplation, coziness; nice for offices, dining rooms, or accent walls.
Hue family: inky navy, charcoal, soot.

LAVENDER HAZE
Emotion: imagination, quiet creativity, and a hint of luxury; works in bedrooms, studios, or small retreats
Hue family: dusty lavender, muted violet, mauve

SOFT SKY
Emotion: calm, peaceful, clear-headed; great for bedrooms, baths, reading nooks
Hue family: soft sky blues, blue-greens, misty aquas.

Bringing Your Colors to Life

FINDING THE PERFECT PATTERN

Now that you’re feeling confident about color and you know which hues are calling to you, pour a cup of your favorite warm drink, get cozy, and dive into the next blog. In it, you’ll learn step-by-step how to choose patterns that feel just right for your space—without the stress, no matter your experience level with interior design.

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