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Get in the Mood for 2026 Colors

Get in the Mood for 2026 Colors

Major Paint Companies Release Their “Color of the Year

Pantone’s choice for “Color of the Year” almost seems like a joke. Not for Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute, as quoted in the Pantone Color Institute website

“Similar to a blank canvas, Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a fresh start. Peeling away layers of outmoded thinking, we open the door to new approaches. An airy white hue, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer opens up space for creativity, allowing our imagination to drift so that new insights and bold ideas can emerge and take shape.” ~ Laurie Pressman, Vice President, Pantone Color Institute.

This is a romantic description of Pantone’s bold marketing message for 2026. Interior designers usually custom mix their whites to coordinate with their custom color choices. As a result, there are literally thousands of shades of white. Graphic Design and Product Design (not Interior Design) businesses around the world are the primary users of Pantone Color Charts.

Shown here are color predictions for 2026 from five major paint manufacturers who make the interior paints many interior designers rely on.

2026 Colors of the Year

2026 Colors of the Year
The prevailing mood prediction for the US in 2026 is one of comfort and well-being. And these color predictions from paint companies capture this mood in earth tones, muted neutrals, and nature-inspired greens and browns.

“The prevailing mood prediction for the US in 2026 is one of comfort and well-being.”

“People are looking more than ever for grounding and stability in home design, as people are seeking spaces that feel ‘calm and collected’ says letstalkcolor.com. “Quantumrun” observes that people want a harmonious environment, not stark minimalism but toward more nuanced, nature-inspired palettes.”

This “home and soul connection” is the theme of my new TV show. My partner Lisa Dwoskin and I were feeling this mood for a few years as we observed more of our clients seeking a safe haven in their lives and in their homes. The Paint Color Project https://paintcolorproject.com back in July 2025 reported that “early trends are leaning into comfort. Think: soft greens, cozy neutrals, muddy pastels, and slightly deeper, more grounded hues.”  Some more of their other observations were “comforting, natural colors that bring warmth, stability, and timelessness into our homes.”

To help homeowners and designers use these colors, all of these paint companies include a suggested list of “paired hues” with their 2026 Color of the Year suggestions.

Yours in design,
Perla Lichi

📧 Ready to discuss your project? Email info@perlalichi.com with the subject line “Just Ask Perla.”

 

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