Lisa's conversation with
SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINE
What are the vintage colors and trends for 2026?
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BEIGE
I’ve been in the Paint Coatings and Color world now for over 26 years, long enough to see the warming the cooling and the warming again of neutrals as far as macro paint color trends.
We went from warm neutrals like Benjamin Moore Putnam Ivory in our early 2000s “mediterranean” obsession -flanked by ochres, Siennas and golds - to grays introduction around the 2010s and now we’re warming up again on that neutral side moving from gray to greige to beige.
Top forecasters will say sheltering in place with Covid was the tipping point when those gray walls got to be …….well just too gray. I absolutely experienced that on my color consultations in 2020. So beige is the big word for neutrals. A favorite warm neutral beige of mine is Benjamin Moore lace handkerchief from their aura color stories collection. It’s layered with pigments and complexity and translates beautifully paired with a warm white trim like BM white down or Vapor. This color family has a shelf life.
Today trends are moving in and out so quickly due to social media influencers there’s almost a trend fatigue and people fall back to neutral because it’s “easy” I hear that a lot from clients.
Can’t say I disagree.
RED
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I don’t think we can have a conversation about this without talking about the red color Family. It’s influencing all other color families, including browns, purples, and blacks. All part of the warming trend.. Some of your readers are going to shiver a bit, Harkening back to all those red dining rooms from the late 80-90s.
I get it.
Stepping further back into early 80s the combination of Hunter Green and burgundy proliferated home decor and fashion. I remember eucalyptus bunches and Ralph Lauren Polo shirts. I fear it may be a hard sell when I suggest “burgundy” or “maroon” to an 80’s kid client for their office or powder room , so I might choose different adjectives like dark carnelian, claret, or a reddened brown. It’s the merging of brown and red and purple. Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore both spoke about this color story emerging in their forecast palletes.
Stay tuned.
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BURGUNDY & HUNTER GREEN: THE NEW VINTAGE PAIRING
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An updated version of the burgundy from the 80s is Benjamin Moores Wenge. I could just drink this color! Full of introspection and color clarity. It’s a little more ruddy and earthy than the 80s burgundy - like those bridesmaids dresses that sat in your closet for 10 years.
We’ve taken a little chroma off the 80s Hunter Green. Muddied it up a little bit. Still full of pigment and complexity, but a little deeper and more sophisticated. Benjamin Moore salamander always gets a standing ovation in a color drenched dining room or office. So this is the updated vintage pairing of burgundy and Hunter green.
Love it!
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Below is the metamorphosis of how these colors have changed over the last 40 years.
From left to right all Benjamin Moore - New London burgundy, wenge, salamander, Hunter Green​​
PINKEY BROWNS, PEACHY-PINKS: THE MERGING OF RED AND BROWNS
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Pantone color of the year - Mocha Mousse.
YES PLEASE!
You’ll start hearing words like pinky beige, blushey brown, rust, terra-cotta and dare I say peach.
I was so excited when Pantone announced peach as their 2024 color of the year.
I've been lobbying for peach for 10 years. But I have to be careful saying that word to clients because they have “PeachTSD” from grandma‘s house in the70s. But without a doubt, it is my favorite color family. Inviting, happy, hi vibe and always up for a joy ride and a gummy.
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Pairs well with deep emerald green, blue blacks (indigo) like BM Polo Blue or even a mid-tone taupe like BM Stonehearth or Shale. Not bubblegum, not peach, just right.
And for the blushy beige paint color fan, I love Farrow and Ball dead salmon. Ground it with a deep bronze like Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain, throw in some ever-present white boucle’ to bring some cozy and you got yourself a trend palette win.
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MAUVE & Benjamin Moore Color of The Year: Cinnamon Slate
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Our grandma’s used to call it “MOHV” as they lit their Virginia slims. But the wavelength is the same.
BMs Cinnamon Slate is a little darker but if you move up the color chip a few shades, you’ll discover that mauve of yore.
This color hits for me.
Full of smokiness and introspection. Deep Mauves do that. Makes you think.
They are all crown chakra and wise and can make a room feel a little like it has hidden secrets. This quite possibly the conversation had around the table when selecting this as color of the year…… how to capture in a color The Consciousness of a planet.
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Lisa J