Today, I’m sharing 13 paint colors that would go beautifully with the Pantone 2026 color of the year to hopefully encourage you that just because the color of the year is white, doesn’t mean we can’t use it to better enhance our COLORS.
The Pantone 2026 Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer, is actually a really beautiful shade—once we get past the fact that it is white, and that was a disappointment. But white does serve its purpose so let’s not abandon it just yet! The perfect white has been a thing of legend, hotly contested in the design community for decades and beyond. So actually, it is a very important member of your color family. Truth!
The right white can accentuate the beauty of every other color in your space. Here me again: it can make everything else more beautiful, vibrant, and standout. It is quite possibly the only color that can be both the leading lady and the background performer in the same space.
White can cover all the walls, having a huge presence, yet still remain subtle and understated, taking a backseat to other decor. No other color is as versatile. None. And in my opinion, Pantone did pick a really nice dreamy creamy white that will pair well with many colors.
Below are close matches from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore:
In my own home, color on the walls can overwhelm me, so I have a warm-leaning neutral white on my walls and I have delightful pops of color everywhere else–a green rug, a gray undertone teal sofa, a cherry blossom chair. My home is not neutral, but it is only because of my white backdrop that I am able to achieve such color balance and cohesion.
I tell you this not to talk you into an all white palette (the opposite!), but to show you that white can help you achieve your color dreams without giving you an overwhelming space. White is your balance.
13 COLORS to Pair with the Pantone 2026 Color of the Year
Use any of the Pantone 2026 Color of the Year dupes above with the colors below. You can use the colors below on trim, cabinets, ceilings, built ins, doors, etc! They would all go well paired with the Color of the Year in the same space.
Example 1: Sherwin Williams French Moire trim and vanity color and Benjamin Moore White Dove wall color.
Example 2: Sherwin Williams French Moire Ceiling color, Benjamin Moore White Dove wall color.
Let your creative juices flow! Think about what you could paint: doors, trim, ceilings, built ins, furniture, bookcases, cabinets, etc.
I hope I’ve inspired you to not rule out white just yet; it’s really what helps everything else shine. It’s the negative space, the break for the eye, the much needed rest and reset. Every color palette needs it! Where there is dark, there must be light; it’s how a layered and dynamic design is achieved.
What will you paint next? Are you using the Pantone 2026 Color of the Year to pair with other colors?
PS: If winter has you down, here’s your reminder that spring is right around the corner and here is a spring blog post to brighten your mood:-) You can also bring spring indoors with these colorful affordable pillows I’ve curated for you.