ZOOMED IN · PAINT & DESIGN TRENDS
The 2026 Colors of the Year are out — here's the short version, and how to actually use these colors in a Hudson Valley home without repainting the whole house twice.
If you've been tracking color trends, the direction for 2026 is clear, and Houzz put it plainly in its roundup of the colors poised to dominate in 2026: the cool, icy tones of recent years have melted away. Grays are giving way to taupes, khakis, and beiges, and blues and greens have gone earthier — touched with yellow or brown. The pattern across the major brands is cozy greens, creamy neutrals, and a few moody darks for contrast.
The warm neutral that works almost anywhere
Sherwin-Williams named Universal Khaki (SW 6150) its 2026 Color of the Year. Houzz describes it as a soft tan with gentle yellow and brown undertones that creates casual warmth. As a wall color it pairs well with crisp white trim and warm wood, and it makes a calm backdrop if you want bolder accents — rust, terra cotta, graphite, or deep green — elsewhere in the room. If you're thinking about selling in the next year or two, this is the kind of neutral that photographs warm instead of cold.
The greens everyone is reaching for
Behr's pick, Hidden Gem (N430-6A), is a richly saturated blue-green with a touch of smoke. Houzz notes it works wrapped around a bedroom, dining room, or library for a cocooning feel, and it also shines on smaller moves — interior doors, built-ins, a kitchen island, or a front door. Valspar went quieter with Warm Eucalyptus, a softly muted gray-green that Houzz calls soothing and grounded — a good fit for kitchen cabinets, bookcases, or a bath vanity when you want color that doesn't dominate the room.
The moody dark, used on purpose
Benjamin Moore chose Silhouette (AF-655), a deep, smoky espresso brown with a hint of gray. That's not a whole-house color for most people — it's an accent with intention. Think a dining room, a study, built-ins, or one wall where you want depth, balanced with light warm grays or creamy whites. Glidden's Warm Mahogany lands in the same family: a red-brown softened with earthy undertones, made for rooms that are supposed to feel cozy.
How to try a trend without committing to it
Start small and live with it. Paint one room, an island, a vanity, or a front door before you decide on more. Buy the sample, put it on the wall in two spots, and look at it in morning light and at night — Hudson Valley light changes a color more than any swatch card will. And keep the big picture in mind: floors, counters, and trim you already have matter more than what's trending.
Phil's Take
Here's my honest take after walking through a lot of Hudson Valley homes: the best thing about the 2026 palette is that it's livable. Warm neutrals and earthy greens don't fight with the wood, stone, and older architecture we have around here — they settle in. If you're staying, paint what you love and don't chase every announcement. If you're selling soon, lean neutral on the big walls, save the moody colors for one intentional accent, and let buyers picture their own life in the house. Paint is the cheapest refresh there is — when it's the right color.
Thinking about a move in the Hudson Valley?
- Get a free estimate of your home's value: https://consumer.hifello.com/lp/673626ebd007a7002dd8fb6a
- Browse homes for sale: https://realtyzoomhomes.com
- Or call Phil Szumlaski, Keller Williams, at (845) 913-5936.
Phil Szumlaski is a Keller Williams Luxury agent serving the Hudson Valley — KW Luxury, Top 2% in Orange County, Hudson Valley Magazine Top Realtor 2025/2026, 90+ five-star Google reviews.
