Cabot Names 'Acorn' Color of the Year

The selection of Acorn aligns with a broader industry shift towards warm, earthy colors for 2026. Benjamin Moore chose "Silhouette," a deep burnt umber, while Glidden selected "Warm Mahogany," signaling a collective move toward grounded, nature-inspired neutrals and away from cooler grays. This marks the second consecutive year Cabot has chosen a shade of brown. The brand's 2025 Color of the Year was "Burnt Hickory," a deeper brown with charcoal undertones inspired by the traditional Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban, or charring wood to preserve it. According to Cabot's Director of Color Marketing, Sue Kim, the choice of Acorn reflects a "desire for permanence" and speaks to the modern homestead movement. The color is meant to evoke a sense of nostalgia and enduring craftsmanship, creating environments for gathering and making memories. The embrace of such earthy tones is rooted in color psychology, which associates brown with stability, warmth, and reliability. In design, these hues are used to create a calming, grounded atmosphere that feels safe and authentic. This color trend directly supports the boom in outdoor living. The inclusion of patios in new single-family homes reached a post-2004 high of 63.7% in 2023, marking eight consecutive years of growth. A 2021 survey found that 90% of Americans with outdoor areas were using them more than ever before. Homeowners are increasingly treating outdoor areas as extensions of their indoor living space, with 78% of industry experts identifying seamless indoor-outdoor transitions as the biggest trend in 2024. The top motivations for upgrading these spaces are to improve aesthetics (51%) and enhance them for entertainment (37%). Acorn is available in solid, semi-solid, and semi-transparent opacities as part of Cabot's Exterior Wood Stain + Sealer line. This allows for a range of finishes, from an opaque color that hides imperfections to a transparent stain that highlights the natural wood grain.