28 Paint Colors Buyers Are Asking for Now

Walk into any open house this fall and the walls are telling a different story than they did five years ago. The icy gray that once sold every flip is fading, and warmer, earthier shades are taking its place.

Paint counters report the same shift in the questions people bring with them. Some of these colors are brand-new picks from the major paint companies.

Others are old reliables that never left the fan deck. All of them are names homeowners and buyers keep bringing to the paint desk, swatch in hand.

Sherwin-Williams Universal Khaki SW 6150

Sherwin-Williams named Universal Khaki SW 6150 its 2026 Color of the Year, and the choice surprised people who remember khaki as a 1990s relic. This version reads as a soft, sandy neutral with enough depth to look deliberate rather than beige by default.

It works on living room walls, kitchen cabinets, and exteriors, which explains why HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams folded it into its own 2026 palette. Pair it with crisp white trim and natural wood to keep it fresh.

Test it next to your flooring first, since khaki can turn muddy beside orange-toned oak.

Benjamin Moore Silhouette AF-655

Benjamin Moore chose Silhouette AF-655 as its 2026 Color of the Year, a rich espresso brown with a charcoal undertone. It belongs to the brand’s Affinity collection and behaves like a dark neutral instead of a statement color.

Buyers who once asked for black accent walls now ask for this, because it feels softer in daylight and warmer at night. It looks especially good in dining rooms, libraries, and on lower kitchen cabinets.

Use it in a room with at least one good window, or pair it with warm lamp light so the brown reads clearly.

Behr Hidden Gem N430-6A

Behr picked Hidden Gem N430-6A as its 2026 Color of the Year and describes it as a smoky jade. It sits between blue and green, with enough gray to calm it down, so it rarely feels loud even on four walls.

Homeowners are using it in bedrooms, home offices, and powder rooms where a little mood is welcome. It is sold through The Home Depot, which makes sampling easy on a weekend errand.

Try it on a bathroom vanity first, a small, low-risk way to see whether you want more of it.

Valspar Warm Eucalyptus 8004-28F

Valspar named Warm Eucalyptus 8004-28F its 2026 Color of the Year, a muted green with a gentle yellow warmth. It feels vintage in the best way, like a painted cupboard in an old farmhouse.

Buyers drawn to sage and olive tones tend to land here because it looks lived-in rather than trendy. It suits kitchens, sunrooms, and bedrooms with lots of natural light.

Valspar is sold at Lowe’s, where peel-and-stick samples make testing cheap. Place a sample on each wall for two days, because green shifts noticeably from morning to evening.

Glidden Warm Mahogany PPG1060-7

Glidden chose Warm Mahogany PPG1060-7 as its 2026 Color of the Year, and the name says it plainly. It is a deep red-brown that nods to heirloom furniture and old wood paneling.

People asking for it usually want a room to feel cozy without going full burgundy. It works in dens, dining rooms, and as a front door color that stands out from gray siding.

Dark reds need two or three coats for even coverage, so budget for extra paint and a tinted primer before you commit.

Benjamin Moore Cinnamon Slate 2113-40

Benjamin Moore’s 2025 Color of the Year, Cinnamon Slate 2113-40, blends heathered plum with a velvety brown. A year later, it still comes up at paint counters because it offers warmth without the orange cast of terracotta.

It pairs well with pink, cream, and aged brass, which is why it shows up in bedrooms and moody powder rooms. On a large wall it reads more brown, while on trim or a ceiling it leans purple.

Look at a large sample board rather than a tiny chip before you decide.

Behr Rumors MQ1-15

Behr’s 2025 Color of the Year, Rumors MQ1-15, is a ruby red with a bit of drama built in. It broke from the run of soft neutrals and gave people permission to paint something bold.

Homeowners are putting it on dining room walls, bar cabinets, and front doors where a red can do its job in a small dose. Behr’s Marquee line, which the MQ prefix signals, is built for one-coat coverage on many colors.

Use it where you want energy, not in a bedroom where you want to sleep.

Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray SW 7029

Agreeable Gray SW 7029 has been one of Sherwin-Williams’ most requested neutrals for years, and it keeps showing up in listing photos. It is a greige, a warm gray with a beige base, so it avoids the chilly look of true gray.

Builders and stagers like it because it flatters almost any flooring and furniture a buyer might bring. It is also forgiving on walls with minor imperfections.

If you are painting before a sale, this is one of the safest bets on the fan deck, and it touches up easily between showings.

Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17

White Dove OC-17 is a soft, slightly warm white that designers reach for on walls, trim, and cabinets alike. It has just enough gray to keep it from glowing yellow, and just enough warmth to avoid a hospital look.

Kitchen remodelers often ask for it by name for painted cabinetry. It pairs well with marble, brass hardware, and white oak floors.

Choose a satin or semi-gloss finish on cabinets for easier cleaning, and keep the walls in eggshell so the two surfaces read as intentional layers.

Sherwin-Williams Alabaster SW 7008

Alabaster SW 7008 was Sherwin-Williams’ 2016 Color of the Year, and it never went out of rotation. It is a creamy white that softens rooms with harsh light and makes new construction feel less sterile.

Farmhouse and modern-organic interiors lean on it heavily. It looks excellent next to wood beams, linen upholstery, and black window frames.

In north-facing rooms it can look slightly yellow, so compare it against a cooler white on the same wall before buying gallons for the entire house.

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65

Chantilly Lace OC-65 is one of the cleanest whites Benjamin Moore sells, with very little undertone pulling it warm or cool. That makes it a favorite for trim, ceilings, and gallery-style rooms where art needs a neutral backdrop.

Buyers asking for a bright, crisp look usually end up here. It also makes a sharp companion to deep colors like Hale Navy on cabinets or doors.

Use it on ceilings throughout the house to bounce light, and it will quietly tie every room together.

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45

Swiss Coffee OC-45 is a warm, creamy white that went viral on social media and stayed popular once people saw it in person. It carries a soft yellow-beige undertone that reads cozy rather than stark.

Homeowners moving away from bright white walls often ask for it first. It shines in living rooms with warm lighting and pairs well with wood and woven textures.

Other brands also sell colors called Swiss Coffee, so confirm the OC-45 code at the counter before your paint gets mixed.

Behr Blank Canvas DC-003

Behr’s 2023 Color of the Year, Blank Canvas DC-003, remains one of the more requested warm whites at The Home Depot. It has a gentle cream base that keeps it from looking cold on large walls.

Buyers who want a clean slate without the sterile feel tend to reach for it. It works on walls, trim, and cabinets, which simplifies a full repaint.

Order it in the same sheen across rooms if you want an open floor plan to read as one continuous space, then vary the sheen only on trim.

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172

Revere Pewter HC-172 is part of Benjamin Moore’s Historical Colors collection and has been a real estate favorite for well over a decade. It is a warm, mid-tone greige with more depth than lighter neutrals.

It gives a room presence without competing with furniture or art. Stagers like it because it photographs well and hides scuffs.

In a dim room it can look darker than expected, so pair it with bright trim like Chantilly Lace to keep contrast crisp.

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173

Edgecomb Gray HC-173 sits one step lighter and softer than Revere Pewter in the Historical Colors fan deck. It reads as an airy greige that leans almost beige in warm light.

Buyers asking for a neutral that is barely there, but not white, often end up here. It is especially popular for hallways and open-plan spaces that flow into several rooms.

Try it in a hallway first, because long walls reveal undertones faster than a single swatch ever will.

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak OC-20

Pale Oak OC-20 is a light greige with a subtle pink-violet undertone that keeps it from feeling flat. It sits between white and gray, which is why designers use it for rooms that need warmth without obvious color.

It looks lovely with brass, cream fabrics, and light wood. Many homeowners ask for it after seeing it in a friend’s home and falling for the softness.

Check it beside your countertops and tile, since the pink undertone can clash with strongly green-veined stone.

Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige SW 7036

Accessible Beige SW 7036 is a warm greige with enough beige to feel cozy and enough gray to look current. It has become a go-to for people who find gray too cold but do not want old-school tan.

It works on walls throughout a house, including open living and dining areas. It also pairs well with wood trim, a practical plus in older homes.

For exteriors or basements with little light, sample a lighter step from the same strip, because this shade deepens fast in shadow.

Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray SW 7015

Repose Gray SW 7015 is a light, slightly warm gray that became a builder-grade staple through the 2010s. It is still requested because it reads as a neutral backdrop without tipping into beige. It handles cool and warm decor equally well, which is useful for resale.

Buyers and stagers like it because furniture of almost any color looks fine against it. If your home gets strong northern light, compare it to Agreeable Gray, since Repose can look noticeably cooler in that exposure.

Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt SW 6204

Sea Salt SW 6204 is a soft green-gray with a hint of blue that shifts with the light. It became a bathroom and bedroom classic because it feels calm and clean at the same time.

Homeowners near the coast ask for it often, but it works just as well inland. It pairs nicely with white tile, brushed nickel, and pale wood.

Use it in a bathroom with a satin finish, which handles humidity and wiping better than flat paint and still looks soft.

Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog SW 9130

Evergreen Fog SW 9130 was Sherwin-Williams’ 2022 Color of the Year, a gray-green with a gentle blue undertone. It helped kick off the green wave that still dominates paint requests.

It reads as a sophisticated neutral on walls and a fresh accent on cabinets and islands. Buyers like it because it feels natural without screaming trends.

For a quick refresh, paint only a kitchen island or bathroom vanity in this shade and leave the rest of the room white.

Benjamin Moore October Mist 1495

October Mist 1495 was Benjamin Moore’s 2022 Color of the Year, a gently shaded sage. It remains popular because it adds color without demanding attention. It looks at home in bedrooms, dining rooms, and laundry rooms, and it plays well with both warm and cool metals.

People asking for “a green that is basically a neutral” are often pointed here. Keep accessories natural, like linen, rattan, and clay, and the room will look collected rather than themed.

Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green SW 6208

Pewter Green SW 6208 is a deep, earthy green with gray in the mix. It gives cabinets, doors, and paneled walls a heritage look that suits both old and new houses.

Many homeowners request it for kitchen islands and mudroom lockers. It hides fingerprints better than lighter colors, a real advantage in busy family areas.

Use it on built-ins and trim in the same room for a tonal, enveloped effect that looks custom without custom pricing.

Benjamin Moore Aegean Teal 2136-40

Aegean Teal 2136-40 was Benjamin Moore’s 2021 Color of the Year, a blue-green with a softening gray. It brings personality to a room without overpowering it.

Homeowners use it on accent walls, dining rooms, and front doors, where it signals welcome with a bit of flair. It pairs well with warm whites and wood tones.

Painting a front door in this color is a low-cost update that can make a house stand out in listing photos without scaring off buyers.

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154

Hale Navy HC-154 is a deep, classic navy from the Historical Colors collection. It is one of the most-cited navy paints for cabinets, front doors, and exterior shutters.

It reads almost black in low light and rich blue in daylight, which gives it range. It pairs perfectly with brass hardware and white marble.

For a kitchen, try it on the lower cabinets with a white on the uppers so the room keeps its brightness while still getting a strong, grounding color.

Sherwin-Williams Naval SW 6244

Naval SW 6244 was Sherwin-Williams’ 2020 Color of the Year, and it is still a top request for anyone who wants a confident blue. It is a deep navy with a slightly moody edge.

It works on accent walls, bedrooms, and exterior doors, and it looks sharp on kitchen islands. It pairs well with gold, crisp white, and natural wood.

In a small room, paint the walls and ceiling in Naval together, since a dark, enveloping treatment often looks more polished than a single accent wall.

Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze SW 7048

Urbane Bronze SW 7048 was Sherwin-Williams’ 2021 Color of the Year, a brown-gray with a hint of green. It gives exteriors, front doors, and window trim a rich, modern look.

Inside, it adds depth to studies, bedrooms, and cabinetry. Homeowners like that it reads as a dark neutral rather than black or brown.

On a house exterior, pair it with warm white siding or natural stone for contrast that looks custom-built.

Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black SW 6258

Tricorn Black SW 6258 is a true, clean black that has become the default for doors, window frames, and interior trim accents. Designers favor it because it has almost no visible undertone.

It adds contrast and polish to white rooms and ties in with black hardware and light fixtures. It also works on exterior shutters and garage doors.

Use a satin or semi-gloss finish on doors and trim, since those sheens stand up to hand marks and look richer than flat black.

Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore SW 7069

Iron Ore SW 7069 is a soft black with a charcoal cast that reads slightly warmer than Tricorn Black. It became a favorite for modern farmhouse exteriors and accent walls.

Buyers who want dark drama without harsh contrast often land on it. It also looks strong on kitchen islands and fireplace surrounds.

Pair it with warm whites and wood so the room stays inviting, and sample it outdoors in full sun, since charcoal can wash out to gray in bright light.

The Color Is the Mood

The shift toward warmer neutrals, earthy greens, and deep browns tracks a broader change in how people want their homes to feel. After years of cool gray, the requests now lean toward rooms that feel lived-in and comfortable.

Paint remains the cheapest way to change a room’s personality overnight. Before you commit to any of these shades, sample them on your own walls and watch them through a full day.

The perfect color in a showroom can look very different under your lighting. The right one is the color that still looks good to you at 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

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