Glidden’s Paint Color of the Year Is Basically Begging to Be in a Brownstone
I live in a neighborhood in Brooklyn that’s almost 200 years old and has lots of brownstone buildings, and I have to say — Glidden’s paint color of the year for 2026 would look right at home there. Glidden chose a history-inspired COTY for its 150th anniversary, and it’s a timeless but dramatic shade called Warm Mahogany.
As Ashley McCollum, Glidden’s in-house color expert puts it, Warm Mahogany “outlasts the moment and owns the mood.” The shade is a red-brown, not unlike a brownstone exterior itself. It’s a great choice for paint, and here’s why I think you’ll be a big fan of it.
Why You’ll Love Warm Mahogany, Glidden’s COTY
While the color is definitely historic home-friendly, I could also see it on a striking piece of furniture or a front door in a more modern space. The versatility is one of the many reasons why I personally love this red-brown, and you might, too.
It’s a more approachable take on last year’s COTY.
I will admit I was humbled when the Glidden team revealed the beautiful brown shade at this year’s announcement dinner. I was predicting a cooler tone (a blue, probably), following suit with some other paint brands this year.
Warm Mahogany is, in my opinion, surprisingly similar to Glidden’s pick from last year, Purple Basil, but it feels a little more neutral and approachable than purple. “It says ‘come on in’ without being too loud,” the press release for the paint color of the year says. I like that it encourages DIYers to try something striking but still safe.
It’s definitely drenchable.
The experts at Glidden offered several inspiration photos of the paint color, and my favorites were examples where the paint color covers the walls, trim, and ceiling. As a home projects editor, I’ve seen red-brown paint become a more popular paint color for drenching in bathrooms, especially (case in point: DIYer Sasha Mills’ bathroom makeover below).
I do think that you’d still have a fairly color-drenched look with this color even if you left the trim and flooring, in, say, a brownstone, untouched and only used the color on the walls, and I also think it makes brand-new (or poorly painted) built-ins look older than they are and make more of an architectural statement, like in DIYer Diana Crutchfield’s bathroom makeover below.
McCollum also says the shade would look nice in kitchens if you’re looking to spruce up plain white cabinets or islands.
Paint Colors to Pair with Warm Mahogany
McCollum recommends pairing Warm Mahogany with cream, blush, or green. What do you think? Will you pick up your paintbrush? Let us know in the comments!