In the past five years, brave, lively colors have been shaped, the homeowners encourage to personalize their space – one who reflects their style and offers the opportunity to take a risk. However, color experts notice a shift to the basics when we enter in the second half of the decade. For Sherwin-Williams and HGTV Home of Sherwin-Williams, this meant a cozy, familiar color for 2026: Universal Khaki.
Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, finds that the choice for a classic, warm neutral comes from a discussion about essentialism. This philosophy emphasizes intentionality and mindfulness alone about aesthetics alone. “We haven't seen for almost 20 years that Khaki is not popular,” she notes in relation to a social return to the elderly. “A more practical lifestyle comes to the fore for many younger target groups. People even absorb hobbies such as agriculture and gardening.”
Find out where you can use Universal Khaki in your home, which is best to complement it and colors it, and everything about HGTV Home of Sherwin-Williams' 2026 Color collection of the year.
Use at home with a universal khaki
Beige Paint is often a selection that people grab when they want something simple and adaptable to every room. However, Universal Khaki is more than a traditional neutral and black or white, says Wadden. “Universal Khaki is not Wimpy; it has saturation. It is not necessarily a mid -tone and it is not dark, but it is very usable.”
While this color works well with a minimalist style, Wadden assures that it combines with every aesthetics, including maximum maximumism. “Layer neutral can really influence a room. Even if you are a maximalist and love things everywhere, this color can work for you because you can lead calmer colors over each other for a really sophisticated but maximum maximum look.”
Wadden's top place to use the color is located on kitchen cabinets and islands, as more warm cupboards celebrate a comeback. Ashley Banbury, Color Marketing Manager from HGTV Home of Sherwin-Williams, says that although she is a good choice for every room in the house, she is used as a transition or accent color, especially in a house with an open concept. “For example, it is an excellent color to combine a room like a foyer with a living room,” she says.
Sherwin-Williams
To use colors and materials with universal khaki
In order to know exactly which colors fit with Universal Khaki, HGTV Home of Sherwin-Williams also announced honest essentials as his 2026 color collection of the year. “The honesty collection reflects a consumer request for clear lines, minimalist decor and a deliberate approach to design and life,” says Banbury. “Honest essentials are a new era in which the purpose and simplicity of the ultimate luxury are.”
The collection is based on Universal Khaki and Griffin. These ground colors are accompanied by creamy, neutral soil, cordovan, reddened soil, secret garden, still water, hazelnut and lemon chiffon as well as a semi -transparent spot, special walnut from Minwax.
When it comes to materials and surfaces, Wadden suggests everything with a natural and raw feeling. Black stainless steel, warm wood, leather worktops, natural tiles and even more industrial touches all fall into this category.