The Sherwin-Williams bi-annual color report is out, so it's time to read up and find out what 2026 paint trends are coming.
Much like the heavily anticipated colors of the year, the Sherwin-Williams bi-annual color report is a great way to get a feel for the upcoming color trends. Whether you’re a designer or a DIYer with an upcoming painting project, this report is a great way to get some inspiration for your next redesign. The predicted color trends for 2026 came out recently; find out what color families are likely going to take the spotlight next year.
What Is the Sherwin-Williams Bi-Annual Color Report?
In short, the Sherwin-Williams bi-annual color report is the brand’s announcement regarding color trends. The Trendsight Team looks at trends in design and puts together a packet detailing the hues that are getting traction. The brief also includes several shades in each color family to get you started.
What Are the Predicted Color Trends for 2026?
Sherwin-Williams identified four color families that it says are going to be big in 2026: frosted tints, sunbaked hues, restorative darks, and foundational neutrals. Across these four families, there are a lot of similar hues, but each family has its own colors as well.
Frosted tints
First on Sherwin-Williams’ list is frosted tints. The company describes this color family as “cool, analogous tones of icy tinted pastels in whispers of blue, green, and purple—a palette of weightless and wondrous colors destined to complement each other in any combination.” It’s certainly the coolest-toned of the four families. The hues bring to mind a winter wonderland setting and cozy nights curled up under a blanket.
Sunbaked hues
If the frosted tints felt like winter, the sunbaked hues sprint to the other end of the calendar. These warm tones evoke the feeling of warm summer days in a desert. Sherwin-Williams says that “the warmth of natural clay, buttery yellow, and intensely enriched red…ignites a nostalgic reverie, dramatic potential, and the confidence to play with color.”
Restorative darks
The restorative darks feel almost academic in nature. The official description of this palette explains that you can “find sanctuary within a sophisticated palette of deep, nocturnal colors chosen to inspire restfulness, release, and a harmonious richness that makes a quietly compelling impact.”
Foundational neutrals
Last but not least are the foundational neutrals. These feel like the lighthearted younger sister of the restorative darks. While there are common colors across the palettes, the foundational neutrals tend to the lighter end of the spectrum. Sherwin-Williams describes them as “the most essential neutrals of the moment [which] expand on the concept of black and white with a gradient of strongly saturated near-black, silvery gray, extraordinary tans and taupes, and sparkling white.”
Source
2026 COLORMIX® Forecast, Anthology: Volume Two, Sherwin-Williams.
