Universal Khaki Crowned 2026 Color of the Year by Sherwin-Williams and HGTV Home

Sherwin-Williams and HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, following the trail of neutral color trend seen among other paint brands have elected Universal Khaki, a shade epitomizing practicality and appeal, as the Color of the Year for 2026 - a first-ever collaboration for such a denomination between the two brands.

Speaking about this unique, earthy tan hue, Ashley Banbury, the color marketing manager at HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams (an exclusive Lowe's store offering) describes it as one that "truly mirrors equilibrium. It offers a sense of neutrality but also carries an inherent warmth and richness that sets it apart as an animated base color."

The proclivity of consumers towards earthier tones and subdued shades has been well-noted, and Universal Khaki seizes that longing for colors exuding a feel of naturalness and timelessness. As explained by Banbury, the color comes with a grounding presence that is not too heavy, providing ample flexibility for it to serve as a home's core color palette or even as a subtle backdrop facilitating other hues to take prominence.

Generally related to hefty canvas materials, outdoor apparatus, and uniforms, the color has a subtle yellow undertone, suggesting a feeling of practicality and function.

Sue Wadden, the director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, who spearheads the brand's Global Trendsights team involved in researching key trends for the annual Colormix Forecast, Color of the Year, and its associated color story, explicitly states that the nominated color symbolizes "the elegance of life's raw necessities and the forthrightness at the heart of modern comfort." According to her, it's a shade providing a sense of reliability, and approachability and comes with timeless attributes while simultaneously offering vast design versatility. Her team's decision for 2026 reflected the hue's embodiment of resilience and sophistication in equal parts - a shade people can keep revisiting and always find relevance in.

When thinking of complimenting home décor with the Universal Khaki, Wadden advises considering the color as a "quiet anchor" in the palette. She believes that it can help bring together a room without overshadowing other elements, recommending partnering it with layered natural textures like stone, wood, and linen for a cosy yet timeless vibe.

She also encourages homeowners to use it with warm and cool tones such as warm neutrals like Limestone (SW 9599) or Cream and Sugar (SW 9507), crisp whites like White Snow (SW 9541), and earth tones like Dark Auburn (SW 6034) or Henna Shade (SW 6326).

Banbury adds that it's a "hue that can be incorporated almost everywhere in the home, subtly creating a fluid and warm appeal in larger, shared spaces." Culminating the announcement, Banbury said, "This collaboration allows us to project the effect of Universal Khaki and its design versatility in the coming years. By consolidating on a single Color of the Year, we can emphasize the pervasive shift toward natural, restorative colors reflecting today’s living ethos - clean, simple, and intentional."