Cabot Names 'Acorn' Color of the Year
What happened
Exterior stain brand Cabot has announced 'Acorn' as its 2026 Color of the Year. The company describes the golden-brown tone as being inspired by heritage craftsmanship and a trend toward embracing outdoor living spaces.
Why it matters
The selection of 'Acorn' is influenced by the modern homestead movement, which emphasizes natural materials and responsible living. Cabot's Director of Color Marketing, Sue Kim, notes that the color speaks to a desire for permanence and creating environments for gathering and making memories. This reflects a broader trend in 2026 towards calm, grounded colors inspired by nature, stone, and clay as homeowners move away from louder shades. 'Acorn' is described as a color that "reflects wood in its most natural state," designed to look rich in both sunny and shaded outdoor settings. It is available in solid, semi-solid, and semi-transparent finishes, allowing for varying levels of wood grain to show through. This versatility allows it to complement other natural materials commonly found in outdoor spaces, such as stone and greenery. This choice follows Cabot's 2025 Color of the Year, 'Burnt Hickory', a deep, earthy hue with charcoal undertones. That selection was inspired by the Japanese art of Shou Sugi Ban, indicating a consistent theme of drawing from traditional craftsmanship and natural wood aesthetics. Other paint and stain companies have also leaned into warm, natural, and earthy tones for their 2026 Colors of the Year. Sherwin-Williams and HGTV Home selected 'Universal Khaki', while Glidden chose 'Warm Mahogany'. This contrasts with Pantone's choice of 'Cloud Dancer', a shade of white that sparked online debate.
Key numbers
- Exterior stain brand Cabot has announced 'Acorn' as its 2026 Color of the Year.
- This reflects a broader trend in 2026 towards calm, grounded colors inspired by nature, stone, and clay as homeowners move away from louder shades.
- This choice follows Cabot's 2025 Color of the Year, 'Burnt Hickory', a deep, earthy hue with charcoal undertones.
- Other paint and stain companies have also leaned into warm, natural, and earthy tones for their 2026 Colors of the Year.
Quick answers
What happened in Cabot Names 'Acorn' Color of the Year?
Exterior stain brand Cabot has announced 'Acorn' as its 2026 Color of the Year. The company describes the golden-brown tone as being inspired by heritage craftsmanship and a trend toward embracing outdoor living spaces.
Why does Cabot Names 'Acorn' Color of the Year matter?
The selection of 'Acorn' is influenced by the modern homestead movement, which emphasizes natural materials and responsible living. Cabot's Director of Color Marketing, Sue Kim, notes that the color speaks to a desire for permanence and creating environments for gathering and making memories. This reflects a broader trend in 2026 towards calm, grounded colors inspired by nature, stone, and clay as homeowners move away from louder shades. 'Acorn' is described as a color that "reflects wood in its most natural state," designed to look rich in both sunny and shaded outdoor settings. It is available in solid, semi-solid, and semi-transparent finishes, allowing for varying levels of wood grain to show through. This versatility allows it to complement other natural materials commonly found in outdoor spaces, such as stone and greenery. This choice follows Cabot's 2025 Color of the Year, 'Burnt Hickory', a deep, earthy hue with charcoal undertones. That selection was inspired by the Japanese art of Shou Sugi Ban, indicating a consistent theme of drawing from traditional craftsmanship and natural wood aesthetics. Other paint and stain companies have also leaned into warm, natural, and earthy tones for their 2026 Colors of the Year. Sherwin-Williams and HGTV Home selected 'Universal Khaki', while Glidden chose 'Warm Mahogany'. This contrasts with Pantone's choice of 'Cloud Dancer', a shade of white that sparked online debate.
