Incorporate the 2026 Colors of the Year into your decor

Key Insights

• Neutrals dominated this year’s choices for Colors of the Year.
• Colors of the Year often show up in designer trends, fashion, cosmetics and more.
• Sellers should keep a potential buyer’s taste in mind when decorating.
• Many designers, retailers, builders and homeowners look forward to the Colors of the Year announcements to see how they might incorporate those hues into art, spaces and fashion. You’ll likely see these colors in home design magazines and blogs, social media lifestyle photos, fashion runways and new construction homes in the coming months, and you may even be inspired to add the colors to your surroundings.
• While many major paint companies selected colors with similar undertones, this year, some are bolder than others. Read on to see the picks, and consider how you might incorporate them into your home — and beyond.

The 2026 Colors of the Year

Purples were the hues of choice in 2025, but 2026’s picks focus on neutrals that allow relaxation and harmony to shine. While most companies chose just one color, some, like Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore, also put forth a selection of shades and hues that work with their selected color. So whether you prefer browns or blues, you’re sure to find something you love in this year’s Colors of the Year.

Pantone: Cloud Dancer

Described by Pantone as “a billowy white imbued with serenity,” Cloud Dancer was chosen for its calming presence in a chaotic, always-on world. Lofty and vast, Pantone’s color of the year encourages rest and creativity by allowing you to get your head lost in the clouds. Whether you pull Cloud Dancer in as a pop of peace or flood a space with this neutral hue, you’ll notice it belongs in just about any place you call home.

Sherwin Williams: Universal Khaki

Elevated as an “essential neutral,” Universal Khaki is marketed as a step beyond the white-greys and taupes of yesteryear. It pairs well with a variety of hues across the color wheel, allowing for personality to shine without overwhelming the senses. Try using Universal Khaki in places that could use a unifying element to pull everything together, like a multi-purpose room or busy family area.

Benjamin Moore: Silhouette

Benjamin Moore also selected a more neutral tone for 2026, going with a sophisticated grey that dips into decadence. Silhouette is part of the larger Color Trends 2026 palette from Benjamin Moore, which hosts a slew of airy pales and earthy midtones that straddle between poetic and traditional. In the mix is Silhouette, the grounding neutral that bridges the gap between the two.

Glidden: Warm Mahogany

Warm Mahogany from Glidden is exactly as it sounds: a deep, earthy red that is both lofty and familiar. As stated by Glidden, “Warm Mahogany is a rich, grounded red that’s bold enough to draw immediate attention and reserved enough to make a timeless statement.” It’s the kind of color that is at once shocking and grounding, and can be used as easily in large swaths as it can be for an eye-capturing accent.

Behr: Hidden Gem

One of the boldest colors chosen as a leading hue for 2026 was selected by Behr. Their 2026 Color of the Year, Hidden Gem, is a “smoky jade with an air of mystery and sophistication.” It’s the kind of color you fall into with its twist on a jeweled tone. While perfectly striking, it’s also grounding enough to work in any home. Behr’s online tools make it easy to see how the shade fairs in different lights and paired with different accents in a variety of spaces, so try playing with Hidden Gem to see how it would look in your space.

Want more colors?

Elle Decor has a guide to every color of the year announced so far, and it includes everything from a patina blue to a walnut wood grain, and even includes hues from Dutch Boy Paints and Valspar.

Using the 2026 Colors of the Year in your home staging and decor when selling

If you’ve got your sights set on selling your home in 2026, you might be in the process of decluttering, staging and revitalizing your home for sale. While we don’t mean to throw shade at current trends, there are things you should keep in mind when planning your updates.

Everyone knows a fresh coat of paint can go a long way when staging your home for sale, but while it might be tempting to douse the walls with the most current trends, providing a neutral canvas for buyers is often the better approach. That doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate the bolder Colors of the Year in other ways (think textiles), but you’ll want to provide a backdrop where buyers can picture themselves in the space, and a striking shade of red may be more distracting than enticing.

Set the right tone for your homeownership goals

Finding the right partner to help you buy or sell can set the tone for your entire experience — and your future in your home. An Edina Realty expert can help you determine how much your current home is worth, whether you should make renovations before selling and what color paint is most appealing to buyers. And if you’re buying, having an advocate to help you see beyond the paint color can make all the difference.

From insights about your local neighborhood to advice about home renovations, decor and staging, Edina Realty agents are the experts you need to keep moving forward. Reach out to Edina Realty or your REALTORⓇ today!