KBIS: skip tired paint trends
Interior coverage out of KBIS season urged homeowners to avoid an overused paint trend and noted that a practical, cozy Scandinavian feel is currently in fashion. (The Mirror advised against certain paint and décor choices and highlighted Scandi‑style picks for spring). (mirror.co.uk) (mirror.co.uk)
Homeowners coming out of Kitchen and Bath Industry Show season are hearing a simple update: skip all-over cool gray walls and lean warmer, softer, and more Scandinavian. (kbis.com) The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show said its 2026 event drew design professionals to a show with more than 600 exhibiting brands, and the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 2026 Kitchen Trends Report said 96% of respondents still favored neutrals, with green at 86% and blue at 78%. (kbis.com) (nkba.org) That same National Kitchen and Bath Association report said bright orange, bright red and millennial pink ranked near the bottom, while 72% of respondents picked transitional or timeless kitchens as the leading style for the next three years. (nkba.org) The shift is showing up beyond trade-show floors. HGTV’s roundup of Kitchen and Bath Industry Show trends highlighted colorful appliances and tubs as targeted accents, not a return to loud room-wide palettes. (hgtv.com) Paint brands are moving the same way. Behr’s 2026 trend palette is built around “comfort, creativity, and modern style,” and Benjamin Moore’s 2026 palette centers on earthy midtones and soft pales instead of icy grays. (behr.com) (benjaminmoore.com) Scandinavian style fits that brief because it pairs pale woods, simple storage, matte finishes and layered textiles with practical layouts. The National Kitchen and Bath Association report said open layouts, hybrid products, wellness-focused spaces and minimal details are all growth areas through 2028. (nkba.org) That leaves gray in a narrower role: stone, metal, or a supporting neutral, rather than the default color for every wall and cabinet. The same trade report said new statement color is now more likely to land on backsplashes, wallpaper, islands and accessories than across an entire room. (nkba.org) For anyone repainting this spring, the current formula is less showroom gloss and more lived-in restraint: warm neutrals, muted greens, natural materials and one or two accents that can be changed without repainting the whole house. (behr.com) (nkba.org)
