The annual Color of the Year announcements have started arriving unusually early again. One company has already revealed its pick even though it’s only August 2026, so we made our own predictions this morning. Sherry picked two colors she’s been secretly hoping to see for years. Below you’ll find our choices alongside the industry announcements we’re tracking. As we did for prior years, we’ll update this post whenever new Color of the Year selections are released so you can view every announcement in one convenient place.
While color forecasting is serious business for these brands, one of the most enjoyable parts is the guessing game and watching how people respond to the choices. Reactions can get surprisingly strong—last year’s Pantone announcement sparked a lot of debate. Our own predictions for this year are included at the end of the post.
What is the 2027 Color of the Year?
Each year, multiple paint and color authorities announce their Color of the Year to reflect and influence design trends. There isn’t one single official color; instead brands such as Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Pantone, and others each make their own selection. Some companies also release palettes or curated collections to show how their pick can be used across interiors and lifestyle settings. These announcements offer designers and homeowners guidance on trending hues, while also serving as marketing statements about cultural moods and aesthetics.
What Were Last Year’s Colors?
Below is a quick snapshot of the Color of the Year choices from recent seasons. Viewing several years’ picks side by side helps reveal broader shifts in taste and mood. In general, 2025 leaned darker and more muted than 2024, with deeper browns and purples commonly chosen. The 2026 selections showed a bit more variety in hue but remained fairly subdued and neutral overall. Many of us are still hoping for a brighter, more colorful wave in coming announcements.
Looking at these picks together gives a clearer picture of how trends ebb and flow—sometimes toward moodier, introspective tones and sometimes toward brighter, more optimistic shades. It will be interesting to see whether 2027 marks a return to stronger color or a continued preference for calm, muted palettes.
Every 2027 Color of the Year
We’re tracking announcements from a range of paint and color authorities this year. As of August 14, 2026, only one brand has released its 2027 Color of the Year. We’ll add new entries here as more companies reveal their choices.
- Valspar: Cottage Door
Below is a closer look at the color Valspar selected and what it communicates.
Valspar’s 2027 Color of the Year
Valspar opened the season by naming a steely blue called Cottage Door as its 2027 Color of the Year. The brand describes this shade as trans-seasonal and suited to thoughtful, introspective spaces, framing it as a response to a growing cultural emphasis on intentional, authentic living. Valspar suggests pairing Cottage Door with warm neutrals like creamy pinks and soft grays, along with natural textures and playful patterns to create cozy, layered interiors.
This is Valspar’s fourth year naming a Color of the Year, and the brand has shown a consistent fondness for blues. Their past selections have been steady and dependable choices that lean toward calming, versatile tones. Whether future picks will maintain that pattern or shift in a new direction remains to be seen.
Our 2027 Color of the Year Predictions
Each year we like to make three guesses about which colors will appear on COTY lists. It’s a lighthearted exercise and a way to pay attention to subtle shifts in trends. For transparency, I had seen Valspar’s announcement before choosing my predictions, but Sherry’s picks were made completely blind. We both hope the industry leans toward more vibrant, expressive hues after a couple of muted years.
We’ll update the image above if any of our guesses look particularly close to the official selections as they’re announced.
More Paint Posts
If you enjoy exploring paint colors and color theory, check out our other posts where we compare past Color of the Year choices, review classic neutrals, and recommend favorite whites and greiges. These articles dig into undertones, pairing suggestions, and how different lighting conditions affect color appearance—handy information for anyone planning a paint project.
- Every 2026 Color of the Year
- Every 2025 Color of the Year
- Every 2024 Color of the Year
- The 12 Best White Paint Colors
- The Best Greige Paint Colors
- Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Sherwin-Williams Pure White
- Sherwin-Williams Extra White
- The 12 Best “Haint Blue” Paint Colors