Benjamin Moore Reveals Fashion-Inspired Color of the Year for 2026—and It’s the Epitome of Quiet Luxury

It takes a lot to turn a house into a home, but in 2026, paint company Benjamin Moore wants to turn your abode into a high-fashion statement courtesy of its newly announced Color of the Year 2026, the aptly named Silhouette.

The paint giant on Thursday announced its highly anticipated pick for the trendiest hue of 2026, describing the shade as "an alluring mix of rich espresso hues with subtle notes of charcoal.

"Balancing refinement and distinction, Silhouette AF-655 weaves a narrative of enduring style and grace, inspired by the modern take on classical suiting," the company said in a statement.

"The connection between fashion and interiors has always been a source of inspiration, but this year in particular, we’ve noticed a renewed interest in suiting and classic silhouettes; the resurgence of timeless pieces; and the growing interest in the brown color family," Andrea Magno, Benjamin Moore's director of color and marketing design, said.

"Silhouette embodies these qualities with its depth and luxurious blend of burnt umber and delicate charcoal undertones. Like a perfectly tailored suit, this hue has the versatility and softness to bring a space from expected to exceptional."

Alongside Silhouette, the brand has revealed seven other complementary colors—Raindance, Swiss Coffee, First Crush, Batik, Narragansett Green, Southwest Pottery, and Sherwood Tan—that have been "artfully curated" for their ability to "layer effortlessly for a sophisticated feel."

"With a focus on attention to detail, craftsmanship and refinement, the Color Trends 2026 palette reflects a graceful balance of enchanting pales and handsome midtones," the brand added.

In an interview with Realtor.com®, Benjamin Moore's color and design expert Hannah Yeo explains that the collection of colors took nearly a year to curate, revealing that the team begins having conversations about the upcoming Color of the Year more than 11 months before it is announced.

"It is a yearlong process for us," she reveals. "As soon as [the Color of the Year] is announced, we give ourselves about two weeks to have a little bit of rest, and typically by November, we're back in the room talking about what's next."

While this year's Color of the Year pick was inspired by what Yeo describes as the connection between fashion and interior design—with an emphasis on "the return of suiting"—she notes that the Benjamin Moore team seeks inspiration from a wide range of industries and cultural moments throughout the selection process.

"We're not just looking at interiors. We're looking at design disciplines all across [different areas]," she says. "Whether it be fashion, automotive, graphic design, we're looking at cultural influences, economic influences, global influences, everything, and we really distill it down to paint.

"At the end of the day, we need to translate what we look at and make it into a color that makes sense for the walls, for architecture."

Unlike fashion fads and overnight trends, Yeo notes that, while the Color of the Year is a celebrated hue for 12 months, the team takes into consideration its lasting impact within the home—that the paint will likely remain on the walls for years after its moment in the spotlight has passed.

"We know the reality," she says. "We know that it needs to live for about five to seven years into the future. So we're looking at that, too."

The evolution of the Color of the Year also tells a story about how society has changed, she adds, particularly when you trace the shades to 2020, when the world was in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, a moment that had a huge influence on the subsequent color picks.

In the wake of the pandemic, the chosen annual colors focused on vibrancy and joy, with Raspberry Blush, a "vivacious shade of coral tinged with pink," in 2023 and Blue Nova in 2024.

By 2025, however, things had calmed and the world had settled back into a more neutral space, a shift that was reflecting in Benjamin Moore's color pick for that year, Cinnamon Slate.

Silhouette, Yeo says, is about embracing quiet luxury—with a more modern interpretation that questions fashion traditions, in the same way that the traditional tuxedo has been reinvented to serve as an everyday style piece.

The intriguing mix of brown and charcoal hues in the shade can be used in a variety of ways, whether on an entire wall, or as an elegant accent, almost changing in color as the sun moves throughout the day.

"It really brings in that sophisticated touch to a space," Yeo explains. "Whether it be a smaller dose or really going onto the ceiling and into an adjacent room, it's really limitless. There's so many things you can do with it.

"Depending on the light, you can really form it in the way that fits you and dress the room to your style."

Benjamin Moore is the 10th paint company to announce its Color of the Year for 2026, with Behr becoming the first to reveal its chosen hue in July.