Bye-Bye True Blue: These are the New Coastal Colors for 2026

Sherwin-Williams’ 2026 Colormix Forecast positions Frosted Tints as coastal’s next chapter—where navy once stood, lilac and silvery aquas now rise. “Subtle, watery finishes and delicate lilacs emerged as sophisticated alternatives to dominant blues,” says Kantz, noting the palette’s ties to European design shows. Instead of crisp stripes and anchor motifs, these shades read like sea glass at dusk or lavender fog rolling off the shoreline—fluid, translucent and brushed with memory.

“It’s interesting because this year’s palettes really lean into the idea of anemoia, or the feeling of nostalgia for a time you’ve never known,” she explains. “Frosted Tints speak to this, with hints of a rococo revival.” That sense of dreamlike memory is also echoed by Dunn-Edwards’ 2026 picks: Country Air, a misty aqua that feels almost weightless, and Eagle’s View, a mauve-lilac that nods to Old World interiors. The hues pull from centuries-old, French seaside reverie rather than decades-old Hamptons yacht club. “It feels more curated and enduring, rooted not just in visual trends but in how color shapes mood, memory and space over time.”

Not every coastal neutral has to be pale or pastel. The latest introductions lean into hues that feel eroded, burnished or aged in salt air: mahogany browns, putty grays, and smoky jewel tones like plum or jade that settle into a space the way tide pools settle into rock. Sherwin-Williams tucks these shades into Restorative Darks and Foundational Neutrals in its forecast. “Restorative Darks can deliver a grounding response to uncertainty, with rich plums, oxblood reds and nocturnal blacks,” says Kantz. “Similarly, Foundational Neutrals remain essential, but they’re shifting from stark minimalism to layered complexity—tones like greige, toasted khaki and deep near-blacks that feel modern yet timeless.”

That instinct to anchor a space runs across the industry—it’s showing up in several paint brands’ 2026 Color of the Year. Glidden chose Warm Mahogany, a chestnut red-brown that radiates warmth and structure. Behr introduced Hidden Gem, a smoky jade that hovers between mineral green and ocean patina. And Krylon went with Coffee Bean, a velvety espresso brown that instantly deepens a palette. Together, they frame a version of coastal that’s less breezy and more enduring—think driftwood polished smooth, or sun-worn beams in an old boathouse. The effect is cocooning, grounded and unmistakably lived-in, a shift from the pristine whites and navies of the early 2020s toward something sturdier and more storied.

If Frosted Tints are a French seaside morning, Sunbaked Hues are an afternoon in the Mediterranean. Sherwin-Williams’ forecast leans less on the glossy, contemporary polish of 2010s coastal interiors and more toward the dusty patina of terracotta walls and faded textiles of today. “These hues build on continued interest in reds, pinks and golds, but reinterpret them through chalky textures and matte finishes,” explains Kantz. “Think buttery yellows, earthen mauves and pink adobe applied in limewash or matte finishes that add depth and rawness to a space.” The effect is warmth that feels lived-in, weathered by time and sun, closer to a Provençal farmhouse or an adobe courtyard than to the crisp stripes of a Hamptons beach house.

That instinct to soften and personalize warmth runs across the industry. C2 Paint chose Epernay as its Color of the Year—a refined ochre with mineral undertones that channels French limestone and vintage textiles. Dutch Boy went golden with Melodious Ivory, a sandy beige threaded with warmth. Dunn-Edwards doubled down on earthen romance with Gypsum Rose, a rosy adobe, and Cedar Grove, a grounded clay red. It’s a clear signal that coastal longer has to mean cool. Now, it’s just as likely to mean a Provençal wall washed in ochre, a sunbaked courtyard in Spain or the kind of buttery glow you only get from stone left out in the Mediterranean heat.