10 Ways to Use the 2026 Color of the Year Selections at Home
Jan 13, 2026The 2026 Color of the Year options let you make bold statements with just a coat of paint
With the start of a new year comes a fresh round of Color of the Year inspiration – and this year’s announcements are definitely fresh! From bold hues that beg to be used in trendy color-drenching applications, to reliable neutrals that serve as a backdrop for your favorite fixtures and accessories, our designers have created kitchen and bath mood boards that play of five of the best 2026 Color of the Year options.
GET INSPIRED: Find More Mood Boards on our Design Inspriation Resources Page
What is the 2026 Color of the Year?
Lucky for all of us, there isn’t just one color of the year! For decades, color experts – mostly at major paint manufacturers – have looked at trends in fashion, automotive, home décor, and elsewhere to identify the shade they expect to have the most impact in the coming year. For 2026, a few of the most popular Color of the Year selections are:
- Hidden Gem from Behr
- Silhouette from Benjamin Moore
- Warm Mahogany from Glidden
- Universal Khaki from Sherwin-Williams
- Warm Eucalyptus from Valspar
To help homeowners better understand how these shades will work in their homes, our on-staff designers have come up with 10 mood boards using the 2026 Colors of the Year, including a kitchen and bath design for each shade.
Behr 2026 Color of the Year: Hidden Gem
This shade’s name says it all. Able to pick up green or blue hues depending on how you style your space, Behr’s 2026 Color of the Year shade has countless opportunities hidden in its rich jade tone. Behr designers call Hidden Gem mysterious and sophisticated in a way that helps spaces feel grounded. Perfect for color-drenching, this dynamic tone can easily work with warm or cool colorways and metallic finishes. Pair with natural woods, pops of bright green, or creamy neutrals to create a space that’s your own hidden gem.
Benjamin Moore 2026 Color of the Year: Silhouette
Evoking shadows and stone, Silhouette is a deep earthy shade that can help ground bright spaces, let you lean into moody designs, or create a properly tailored aesthetic for formal space. Benjamin Moore says Silhouette’s shade takes after tailored suiting, offering hints of espresso and charcoal. At home, this smokey gray-brown pairs well with stone-look surrounds and rich natural wood. Soften the edges of your Silhouette design with floral linens, rugs, and throws.
Glidden Color of the Year: Warm Mahogany
Like other 2026 Color of the Year shades, Glidden’s Warm Mahogany is a perfect option for current trends toward color-drenching. Blending shades of red and brown into a brick shade, some designers have noted how well Warm Mahogany fits in historic home settings. Even for modern designs, this shade has a lot of flexibility. Pair it with gold fixtures and warm stone or wood for a stylish kitchen design, or choose florals and pink accents for a feminine space.
Sherwin-Williams 2026 Color of the Year: Universal Khaki
The ultimate neutral, khakis are known for matching everything in the world of casual fashion – and the same is true for your home! S-W’s Universal Khaki is the perfect backdrop for playing with texture and finish, like our designer did in these bathroom and kitchen layouts. While Universal Khaki lends itself best to earth-tone surroundings like warm brown stone countertops, try not to go too tone-on-tone with this shade. White cabinets, light shower surrounds, and pops of color help bring a crisp look to classic khaki.
Valspar 2026 Color of the Year: Warm Eucalyptus
Described as “naturally restorative,” by its creators, Valspar’s Warm Eucalyptus begs to be paired with wood tones of all shades, letting you create some truly relaxing environments. While the calming green shade is designed to give the eye somewhere to rest comfortably, light-colored stone options pair well with this color of the year, reinforcing its earthiness and creating surfaces that contrast without competing. Choose oil-rubbed bronze, brushed nickel, or brushed gold fixtures to add a little shine in your all-natural environment.
How Will You Use Your Favorite 2026 Color of the Year at Home?
No matter the design style you want to use in your home, there’s a 2026 Color of the Year to help you bring it to life! Use the professionally designed mood boards above or on our Design Inspiration page as your starting point, or dream up your own combination with these tips:
- In the Kitchen: Use your favorite Color of the Year as wall paint, in accent décor, or in new cookware like a beautiful enameled Dutch oven, or set of glasses or dinnerware. When a color truly speaks to you, commit to it with painted cabinetry, or a piece of furniture like your dining table or a sideboard.
- In the Bathroom: Bathrooms are wonderful spaces to experiment with color! Drench your bathroom or powder room in your favorite Color of the Year, or make a subtler statement with bath towels, soap dispensers, framed artwork, and other décor.
- Living Spaces: Once again, painting an accent wall or a whole room is an great way to refresh your space with your favorite shade, but home decor is an easy switch you can make whenever you feel up to it. Add colorful accent blankets, throw pillows, rugs, and artwork any time you need a change.
- Home Exteriors: Color of the Year selections should be enjoyed inside, but not hidden there. Try a bold pop of color by painting your front door in your favorite shade, or swapping out your patio cushions. With the natural colors in this year’s Color of the Year collection, planters and new annuals in your flower beds are great ways to bring in new shades. Looking for something more permanent? Improveit works with Sherwin-Williams to let you choose replacement windows in any color of the rainbow. Pick your favorite to punch up your curb appeal!
Create a Space that Works with Any Color, Any Year
Whatever space you have your eye on, Improveit’s design consultants are ready to guide you through a worry-free remodeling process that will help you improve your home with confidence. Click here or use the form below to choose an appointment time, or call 855-637-2999 to get started!
