How gorgeous is this green! Now, in all transparency, green is my favorite color and my bedroom color is close to this green.

If you are into stunning accent walls or furniture, or if you are into a moodier look, this could work for you.

What would you do with it?

Hidden Gem, the 2026 Behr Color of the Year, Is a Grounding Green Hue That Shines In Any Setting

When selecting the color, Behr sought a shade that was at once calming and boldly atmospheric

By Kelly Dawson

July 30, 2025

When selecting the 2026 Behr Color of the Year, the team behind the paint company challenged themselves with a task most pros would find near impossible: to choose a shade that not only appeals to a wide range of tastes, but also predicts where trends will be in the future. In other words, the selector has to be a crowd-pleasing psychic.

Last year, the choice of Rumors—a rich crimson—was a bold departure from prior neutrals of 2024’s Cracked Pepper black and 2023’s Blank Canvas cream. The change from black-and-white to red all over highlighted the team’s understanding of what consumers were feeling at the time: the need to be more daring, more unexpected, and more carefree. Erika Woelfel, the vice president of color and creative services at Behr Paint Company describes the selection process as surprisingly exploratory, since one color attempts to express a convergence of culture and design.

So what do people seem to be craving for the year ahead? Woelfel says that consumers want rooms that foster “comfort, clarity, and a strong sense of place.” That’s why the 2026 Behr Color of the Year is Hidden Gem, a calming blue-green built off a grounding gray undertone.

How to use the 2026 Color of the Year

Katie Cunningham, principal designer at Light & Dwell, thinks of nature when she looks at Hidden Gem, and considers it to be a timeless choice. “There’s something classic and fresh about it, and as a designer who gravitates toward nature-inspired palettes, this announcement has me genuinely excited about the possibilities,” she says. Cunningham recently used similar shades of blue-green in two different projects, a mountain dwelling’s speakeasy and a California lounge, and notes that the color cultivates a feeling of intimacy.

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“Across the board, we’re seeing a demand for color that creates atmosphere—something that enhances the function of a space while also evoking feeling,” she tells AD. “We selected Hidden Gem as the 2026 Color of the Year because it embodies the grounded sophistication and quiet confidence that today’s homeowners and clients are seeking.”

This color pumps the brakes on the more divisive choice of Rumors without drifting into the more palatable selections of Cracked Pepper and Blank Canvas. It’s an assertive team player, the kind of color that can stand on its own just as easily as it can work with its predecessors. “Its smoky jade tone is an ideal companion for both warm and cool tones,” Woelfel continues. Below, two AD PRO Directory members share how they would use the shade in the year ahead.

Cunningham would paint Hidden Gem specifically on kitchen cabinets in a satin finish, or as an accent throughout a home. “We’ve paired similar shades with brass hardware and fixtures, though polished nickel would create such an elegant contrast too,” she says. “I love seeing it with warm whites and rich wood tones—there’s something about that combination that just feels effortlessly sophisticated.”

Anne McDonald, principal designer of Anne McDonald Design, agrees that Hidden Gem complements wood tones well, particularly in Craftsman homes. “This would make a beautiful color for painting trim and built-in cabinetry in a dining room or bathroom,” she says. “I’d pair it with an antique table and chairs or a parchment-and-ochre-striped wallpaper. I’d also consider color-drenching a room using a flat finish on the walls and a semi-gloss on the trim!”

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For her part, Woelfel has her own ideas of how she’d use the 2026 Behr Color of the Year alongside its accompanying Color Trends Palette. “It works seamlessly with earthy neutrals like Smoked Tan and Baronial Brown for a serene atmosphere,” she says. “Lighter, soothing hues like Watery or Urban Nature bring a refreshing contrast, but for a more dramatic look, deep jewel tones like Curtain Call or Rumors create a bold, luxurious space. Additionally, soft pastels like Dainty Lace or Beehive add lightness.” Whatever shades or finishes you choose, opting for Hidden Gem now puts you ahead of the crowd later.