Every year, the big three paint brands release their Color of the Year picks, and every year our phones at Cooper Services start ringing with the same question: “What’s actually going to look good in my house?” 2026 is a great year to ask, because all three brands landed in very different places — from calm neutrals to moody jewel tones — giving Sarasota homeowners real range to work with, whether you’re refreshing a lanai, updating a kitchen, or repainting your home’s exterior before the summer humidity sets in.
Here’s our breakdown of the top picks for 2026, and how we’d use each one in a Gulf Coast home.
Sherwin-Williams: Universal Khaki SW 6150
Sherwin-Williams named Universal Khaki SW 6150 its 2026 Color of the Year, and for the first time, Sherwin-Williams and HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams released it as a joint pick rather than two separate colors. It’s a warm, midtone neutral pulled from the brand’s Anthology Volume Two forecast, built around the idea of “the beauty of life’s bare essentials.”
Color strategist Sue Wadden described the shade as a bridge between eras, noting it feels both grounded in the past and forward-looking at the same time. The brand is styling it two ways for 2026: paired with clean, minimalist whites for a pared-back look, or layered with bold patterns and mixed textures for a more maximalist take.
Why it works in Sarasota: Universal Khaki is a genuinely flexible neutral — it plays well with the natural light, stucco, and coastal-modern architecture common throughout our area. It’s an easy call for main living areas, whole-house interiors, or as a base you can build an accent wall around. Sherwin-Williams recommends their Emerald line for applying it, and it also pairs nicely with darker companion shades like Tarragon or Dark Auburn if you want more drama in a dining room or study.
Benjamin Moore: Silhouette AF-655
Benjamin Moore went in a richer direction with Silhouette AF-655, a deep espresso-brown with subtle charcoal undertones. Andrea Magno, the brand’s director of color marketing, tied the pick to a broader shift toward tailored, fashion-inspired interiors, pointing to renewed interest in classic silhouettes and a growing pull toward the brown color family.
It’s a moodier, more sophisticated follow-up to last year’s Cinnamon Slate, and Benjamin Moore is positioning it as an anchor color rather than an all-over wall color — think accent walls, cabinetry, and trim rather than every surface in a room.
Why it works in Sarasota: Silhouette is a strong pick for spaces that don’t get harsh direct sun, like a primary suite, home office, or a dining room you want to feel more formal and enveloping. It also reads beautifully on a front door or kitchen island against our area’s bright white and light stucco exteriors — a small, high-impact dose of color rather than a full commitment. Pair it with warm whites, brass or matte black hardware, and natural wood tones for the “tailored suit” look Benjamin Moore is going for.
Behr: Hidden Gem N430-6A
Behr’s 2026 Color of the Year is Hidden Gem N430-6A, a smoky jade that sits right at the intersection of blue and green. Behr’s VP of color and creative services, Erika Woelfel, described it as subtle but striking, capturing a color trend that’s been building in homes for years — the overlap between blue and green tones finally distilled into one shade.
It’s the boldest of the three picks this year, and design opinion is genuinely split on it: some designers love its jewel-tone depth, while others caution it’s too intense for whole-room use. The consensus recommendation is to treat it as a statement color rather than a background one — an accent wall, a powder room, a kitchen island, or cabinetry in a well-lit space.
Why it works in Sarasota: Hidden Gem is a fantastic option for exterior accents down here — think a front door, shutters, or a lanai ceiling — where it can pick up the blues and greens already present in our coastal landscaping and water views. Indoors, it’s especially striking in a powder bath or as a kitchen island color paired with warm white uppers and natural stone counters. We’d steer away from using it on every wall of a small room, since it can feel heavy without enough contrast.
Our Take: How to Use All Three Together
You don’t have to pick just one. A lot of the best 2026 projects we’re seeing combine these colors by role rather than by brand:
- Universal Khaki as your neutral foundation on main walls
- Silhouette as a deeper accent for trim, an island, or a single statement wall
- Hidden Gem as a pop of color on a front door, powder room, or exterior accent
That combination gives you a home that feels current without chasing a single trend too hard — which is exactly the kind of paint job that still looks good in five years.
Ready to Refresh Your Space for 2026?
Whether you’re drawn to a warm neutral, a moody espresso, or a bold jewel tone, the team at Cooper Services of Sarasota can help you choose the right color, sheen, and product line for your home’s light, exposure, and style. Reach out today to schedule a color consultation and get your project on the calendar before our busy season fills up.
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