For anyone keeping track at home, the colors of 2026, according to paint companies, are:
Various greens: III
More obvious neutrals: II
The sample size is admittedly small — there are only so many large paint companies — but Dunn-Edwards threw its weight behind green Thursday morning when it named Midnight Garden its color for the coming calendar year after releasing a pastel-heavy color forecast last month.
Inspired by the colors of delicate mosses and lichens, the moody green reflects “a cultural moment that emphasizes restorative spaces connected to the earth,” the company said in a press release.
Midnight Garden does just that, the Los Angeles-headquartered paint company said, calling it “the green that works everywhere.”
Behr and Valspar also selected green hues as their 2026 colors, while Sherwin-Williams and Dutch Boy chose neutrals — khaki and ivory, respectively. It’s worth noting that Sherwin-Williams owns both Valspar and Dutch Boy, so the conglomerate has its trend bases covered.
When it comes to Midnight Garden, Dunn-Edwards calls it a “smart investment” and a “bridge color.” That means it functions as a neutral, pairing gracefully with other earthen tones on cabinetry, walls, accent spaces, and interiors.
Is it another 'Millennial Gray'?
However, as some paint companies double down on greens, shoppers are wondering whether it’s the Gen Z version of “Millennial Gray,” the derisive term coined for the cool-toned neutrals popular in the early 2010s.
“Is green becoming the new Millennial Gray?” a user asked in a Reddit post earlier this year.
A flood of more than 360 comments followed, with some users affirming that green already held mass-market popularity. For many commenters, it seemed like a gleeful admission.
“Yeah, FINALLY. Green has been my favorite color since I was a toddler. I'm here for this renaissance,” wrote one user.
Other users cited the scale of use: Whereas gray shades can run rampant, colors appear more sparingly. Greens are often “limited more to walls, sofas, and at the extreme end, cabinetry,” spelled out another commenter. “Not as overwhelming, and easier to tone down or switch out.”