The 2026 colors of the year, Silhouette from Benjamin Moore and Universal Khaki from Sherwin Williams, will for sure be on trend in 2026, and there are so many ways to incorporate them into your home. The Sherwin Williams Universal Khaki is a warm, earthy neutral color that can lend itself as a backdrop in so many rooms and styles. The Benjamin Moore Silhouette is a moody, darker charcoal with hints of espresso, perfect for adding contrast into your home.

These 2 colors are on opposites of the spectrum with Universal Khaki being a much lighter color, and Silhouette being pretty dark, but still in the brown spectrum. But both colors not only can serve as neutral backdrops, but they both can bring a warm, cozy feeling to a space. Our Design team had some fun with these, and came up with 5 different ways to incorporate the Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams 2026 Colors of the Year into your home.

One: Silhouette or Universal Khaki as Cabinetry

Whether light or dark, neutrals are a great starting point to work with. They’re like a blank canvas allowing you to effortlessly blend your style with any home decor! Our Designer Christina is noticing a trend with neutrals – she says there’s an increasing trend in using neutral cabinet colors rather than simple white cabinets. With this new wave of embracing color in neutrals, the Universal Khaki is a sophisticated color choice for any space whether it be a kitchen, office, or bathroom vanity!

It’s timeless, which is great when you are thinking of resale value. It can also create a warm, calm cozy home essence. – The RTA Store Designer Kyla

Unlike trend-driven cabinet colors that can feel dated as design preferences shift, this khaki remains timeless. It allows you to refresh your space over time—updating wall colors, backsplashes, or countertops—without needing to replace your cabinetry. The result is a space that feels current today, but just as relevant years from now. Whether paired with warm stone, classic subway tile, bold patterned backsplashes, or even cooler paint tones, Universal Khaki adapts effortlessly.

Although a dark color, Silhouette can still act as a neutral yet moody cabinet with its grey base coloring and brown undertones. As cabinetry, pair it with light countersplash for a sophisticated, elegant look. You can also break up the dark with a neutral, light cabinet in the island for a kitchen (Universal Khaki island, anyone??), or using the Silhouette as an island. We can just envision the balance of a Universal Khaki kitchen with upper and lower cabinets, and an island in Silhouette for that two-tone cabinet look!

The best way to apply these colors to your home cabinetry is through an unfinished cabinet door, or custom color cabinets. Our Ready-to-Assemble Unfinished Shaker is also a timeless shaker style that allows you to DIY more than just assembling the cabinets! These come ready to paint, so you can apply the Universal Khaki or Silhouette yourself.

It acts as a grounding neutral—rich enough to feel intentional, yet soft enough to complement virtually any surrounding finish. Whether paired with warm stone, classic subway tile, bold patterned backsplashes, or even cooler paint tones, Universal Khaki adapts effortlessly. – The RTA Store Designer Christina

If painting is not your thing, or you love the custom color idea but don’t want to assemble the cabinets yourself, our Custom Color Cabinets come pre-assembled in several door styles. Plus, the custom colors we use are specifically Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore. It’s almost as if these cabinets were made to be done in Universal Khaki and Silhouette!

Two: Silhouette as Wainscoting

There are often times in designing a room where you want a change in color, but don’t want to drench the walls in a moody dark. Enter wainscoting! This not only gives a break in color but also gives a texture to your otherwise smooth wall.

Silhouette is a beautiful choice for a dining room, particularly when paired with architectural details like a chair rail. Wainscoting is great as the bottom half of the wall, just under the chair rail. Using the darker tone on the walls creates contrast and visual interest while still allowing the space to feel refined and balanced.

Sometimes people are afraid of using a dark color in small spaces, but I think it is really sophisticated. I would love to see this in a small bathroom with a more classic, traditional design. – The RTA Store Designer Virginia

It’s equally stunning in a bathroom, where the depth of the color enhances a spa-like atmosphere—especially when paired with warm metals, soft lighting, and natural textures. The RTA Store Designer Virginia says it would pair well with a white marble floor and vanity top with aged brass fixtures and a statement light fixture! Wainscoting is often used as either the bottom half of the wall, or as an accent wall. If your bathroom has a small nook where the toilet is located, that wall would hold the perfect balance as an accent in Silhouette! Pair this with a light or off-white vanity and light countertop.

Three: Universal Khaki in the Living Room

The Universal Khaki would be a great option to color drench your space to give it a nice warm envelope. It’s such a great foundational neutral! The living room is a top choice to play around with this earthy neutral, says The RTA Store Designer Virginia, where there are more opportunities to layer other colors, textures, textiles, and materials.

This color is bringing back the 90’s “beige” in the best way. I think a lot of people might think this is a bland choice, but I think it’s all about how you use it. – The RTA Store Designer Virginia

When designing a living room with a neutral wall color such as the Universal Khaki, there are a few ways you balance it so the room doesn’t look bland. Try a neutral couch darker than the khaki wall, adding colorful, printed pillows to make it pop. You can also keep the couch and pillows neutral and add a cozy rug in a different textile and color! Balance this with dark wood accent furniture and gold-trimmed lights.

Of course, there’s always the option of adding an accent wall behind the couch, to break up the mundane. This may even be a great opportunity of mixing the two colors of the year together, with Universal Khaki walls in the living room with an accent wall in Silhouette! Best to keep the couch a light neutral as well, close in color to the Universal Khaki.

Four: Silhouette in the Library

One of the biggest misconceptions about darker paint colors is that they make a room feel smaller or too dark. In reality, when used thoughtfully, deeper hues like Silhouette can do the opposite. They create an enveloping effect—adding a sense of coziness and intimacy that lighter colors often can’t achieve. Instead of feeling closed in, the space feels layered, intentional, and inviting.

I’m especially drawn to deeper tones like this when designing rooms meant for focus, conversation, or quiet moments—spaces such as home offices, libraries, dining rooms, and even transitional hallways. – The RTA Store Designer Christina

We’ll admit – we’re biased when it comes to a dark, moody backdrop like Silhouette in an office or library. Its richness creates a calming backdrop that encourages focus and comfort, making it ideal for spaces designed for reading, working, or unwinding. You could really add sophistication by adding picture frame molding on the walls for added detail (see below). Imagine a bold contemporary piece of art on the wall to contrast the other traditional elements! Rather than overpowering the room, Silhouette grounds it—proving that darker colors, when chosen with intention, can feel both timeless and incredibly livable.

Working with The RTA Store

The RTA Store is your online one-stop-shop for all your cabinet needs and accessories. Our ready-to-assemble and pre-assembled kitchen cabinets give the look and durability of custom cabinetry at 30-50% less than big-box stores. With A-grade plywood boxes and MDF/HDF or hardwood door/drawer fronts, our cabinets come with a 20 year limited warranty.

But don’t stop there – we also have all the accessories you would need for your dream kitchen. Work with The RTA Store to complete your kitchen with range hoods, sinks and faucets, countertops, and under-cabinet lighting.

From spice drawers to mixer lifts, The RTA Store has more inside cabinet accessories than you’ll have room for. And it’s not limited to just the kitchen! Think file organizer for the office, laundry room hamper pullout, or bathroom vanity organizer, to customize your space.

Most importantly, you’ll have us in your corner every step of the way. Our Customer Service and Design teams are ready to support your cabinet journey so that you have confidence in your choices, and no surprises or regrets on installation day.

Getting Started

Not ready to commit to a cabinet collection? Ordering fully-refundable cabinet door samples is a great way to see the style and color in your lighting. You’d be surprised how different a finish can look in different lighting! Plus, many of our cabinets have matching collections to mix in one room. Try one collection for upper cabinets and another for lower cabinets, or different cabinets for the kitchen island!

Once you’re ready to start, a member of our free design service will work closely with you from steps A-Z. They’ll let you know exactly what size cabinets you need and double-check to make sure everything lines up perfectly. Our upgraded design service also gives you unlimited design revisions and price quotes. Plus, the cost of the service is taken off your total once you order!

No matter the room or cabinet, we’re here to help make your dream space a reality, and at your budget. Located near the Hudson Valley in New York? Come visit our showroom on Route 52 in Hopewell Junction, NY!

We were named a local expert on Redfin, powered by Rocket. Read the full article here: Remodeling a Kitchen: Increase Home Value and Help Sell Your Home for More