In perhaps a sign of the times, Benjamin Moore & Co. has named a shade of dark grey as its colour of the year for 2026 as more designers lean to “the brown colour family” when decorating.

The colour, named Silhouette AF-655, blends “an alluring mix of rich espresso hues with subtle notes of charcoal,” according to the paint company, and is one of seven colours named to its Colour Trends 2026 palette, including “Raindance 1572,” “First Crush CSP-310,” “Southwest Pottery 048” and “Sherwood Tan 1054.”

“This year in particular, we’ve noticed a renewed interest in suiting and classic silhouettes; the resurgence of timeless pieces; and the growing interest in the brown colour family,” Andrea Magno, director of colour marketing & design at Benjamin Moore,

said in a release.

 

“Silhouette embodies these qualities with its depth and luxurious blend of burnt umber and delicate charcoal undertones. Like a perfectly tailored suit, this hue has the versatility and softness to bring a space from expected to exceptional.”

Laura Stein, founder of Laura Stein Interiors, said Silhouette and the other colours are meant for the growing trend of staying at home more often.

“Sometimes colour trends or design trends reflect what’s going on in the world,” she said in a phone interview. “I think this shift started with (COVID-19), and it’s still going on where people are looking for things that make them comfortable and cozy.”

“These colours … feel very welcoming and really bring you in.”

Stein said she agrees with Magno that the current trend is toward more brown shades.

“I actually was a little bit surprised to see that it was a grey, because there’s a lot of talk about moving away from all the grey that we saw in the past decade,” she said.

“I think what this colour does really well is that it creates a bridge between where we’re going and where we’ve been.”

Still, Stein said designers should not be afraid of darker colours when designing a room.

“As long as you balance it with everything else that’s going on in the room and bring in some light and some textures, it can really create a beautiful, even soft effect,” she said.

Silhouette follows “Cinnamon Slate 2113-40,” a shade of brown that was the colour of 2025, and “Blue Nova CC-860,” a “sumptuous hue” of violet and blue, which held the distinction in 2024.

“I think we are probably going to be spending a lot of time in this warmer colour palette,” Stein said. “I think it’s going to stay around for a long time.”

  • 87% of world trade still up for grabs if U.S. walks away from CUSMA, says former NAFTA negotiator
  • Bank of Canada governor expects ‘soft’ growth in second half of 2025

• Email: bcousins@postmedia.com