Sherwin-Williams’s 2026 Color of the Year Is a Non-Boring Take on a Tried-and-True Neutral

“If you take a minimalistic, pared-back aesthetic and you inject one of these softer colors like Halcyon Green, it instantly elevates that space and brings a dose of life to it.”

Sunbaked Hues

Despite its arid appearance, the Sunbaked Hues palette represents another sort of reaction to blues and greens—or at least their hegemonic rule over the boundaries of “biophilic” color aesthetics. Indicative of influences such as Georgia O’Keefe’s 1930s paintings and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesen, Sunbaked Hues argues that sun, sand, and fire are just as worthy of a place in those design conversations alongside watery blues, floral greens, and grounding earth tones.

Indeed, within the palette itself, warm shades abound: from the terra-cotta of Coral Island to the full-bodied passion of Heartthrob. Lemon Chiffon and Sundew, Classic Yellow and Armagnac—all evoke dusty landscapes and hazy sunlight. Sunbaked Hues encourages us to find more nuance within sunlight throughout the day. That makes these colors a brighter alternative to Frosted Tints, capable of letting light into a cold space.

Restorative Darks

Much less of a radical reconception, Restorative Darks is, Kantz admits, the palette that most closely resembles its Volume One predecessor. But rather than just reaffirming a trend, Volume Two explores the deepest depths of our continued love affair with rich, robust colors.

To do that, Kantz and the Sherwin-Williams team decided to break down one of their most beloved colors, Carnelian, to explore new avenues.

“Carnelian has been in multiple forecasts in the past few years,” Kantz explains. “So we took it and pulled it apart. We made it a little bit more red for Dark Auburn, but then we also made it a little bit more purple in Plum Brown.”

That’s not to say red and purple are the only way to think about Restorative Darks. From the beaming rays of Relic Bronze to Tarragon’s smarter, more stylish take on teal, there’s a deep, time-tested color that can pair with any room’s particular material profile. For those interested in a more timeless (and cautious) way to approach color-drenching, Garden Gate, Limestone, and others can make for a strong but nonetheless welcoming statement.

Foundational Neutrals

This is where Universal Khaki comes in. Since, as Kantz says, “grays are never going away,” the modern classics of Foundational Neutrals balance the need for something dependable with a desire for self-expression. Covering the spectrum from White Snow to the blue-black of Inkwell, these neutrals serve as a solid backdrop, though their subtle shifts in undertone invite closer inspection.

The end result is a set of contemporary colors that evoke a familiar warmth. Shades like Sanctuary and Armory suggest the possibility to create a sense of safety and comfort within our homes. Universal Khaki, the brand’s 2026 Color of the Year, embraces the return of that ubiquitous ’90s shade, offering a way to stand out while taking refuge in the past. Even Clove, with its bronze undertone, finds a way to make black shine a little bit brighter. In short, Foundational Neutrals can elevate your style and keep you on top of color trends without having to throw away all of your neutral-colored furniture. “We’ll [continue to] see more interiors built on versatile neutrals that provide a strong foundation for creativity, layered textures, and meaningful accents,” Wadden predicts. “This direction also reinforces the importance of adaptability, colors, and designs that can evolve as our lives do. I think we’re entering an era where design is less about following fleeting trends and more about cultivating lasting beauty, and Universal Khaki sets the tone for that shift.”