Behr’s 2026 Color of the Year Is Stunning, Unexpected, and Totally Living-Room-Worthy

Over the past few years, color has definitely gotten moodier but also more dimensional — muted but also strong in saturation. Today, Behr Paint has announced Hidden Gem (N430-6A) as the pick for its 2026 Color of the Year (COTY), and it’s a versatile smoky jade that ticks those exact boxes — a gem-inspired shade that’s not too precious, dynamic but also quiet in its intensity. It’s nostalgic but also new and fresh.

As a blue green paint lover, Behr’s pick is right on the money for me. The thing about hues in the teal family is that they’re super soothing, but they also don’t shy away from intensity. There are just so many sides to a color like Hidden Gem. 

Maybe that’s why 2 in 3 Americans said Hidden Gem would “make a space feel unique,” according to a recent survey commissioned by Behr. People are looking for interiors that feel more personal, and the nice thing about a hue like Hidden Gem is that depending on what you surround it with, this shade can go eclectic, traditional, modern — it’s a color chameleon that plays well with just about any interior design style, as shown here. 

Personally, I could see Hidden Gem being used to color drench a living room, turning the space into a bold jewel box of jade. Or you could try it on the walls in a bedroom to create a relaxing retreat. “There’s a dreamy side to Hidden Gem,” says designer Manuella Moreira, who Behr tapped as a partner to create the first-ever “Color of the Year House” for 2026, which showcases the color in a handful of real homelike applications. 

Moreira envisioned the shade on walls, of course, but she also made the case for it being an accent color in a kitchen (think: on an island, lower cabinets, or both). The color also makes for a beautiful backdrop in an entry, dining space, or bathroom. 

Hidden Gem is part of Behr’s larger 2026 Color Trends Palette, which has something for everyone. The 20-shade assortment mixes warm neutrals with bold pops of color, rounding itself out with a handful of soft pastels and cool mid-tones. The palette includes COTYs of years past, too, including Rumors (MQ1-15), 2025’s COTY.

Behr products are sold exclusively at The Home Depot. You can find Hidden Gem and the rest of the 2026 Color Trends Palette there. If you’re looking for inspiration for DIY projects or a room redo, this color and collection are definitely a good place to start.