Color of the Year 2027: How to Light Every New Paint Shade
Jake Woods |
The 2027 Color of the Year picks lean soft and earthy: Sherwin-Williams Celery, Behr Grounded, Valspar Cottage Door, Glidden Artifact, Dutch Boy Deep Rooted, Graham & Brown Rose Earth, and Dulux Soulful Sage. Every one of them will look different under a 2700K bulb than under daylight, and a brass sconce flatters some of them far more than black metal does. This guide covers each color of the year 2027 shade, how light changes it, and which fixtures, finishes, and bulbs make it look its best.
Benjamin Moore had not announced its pick at the time of writing. Its 2027 page lists the reveal as coming in October, and this guide will be updated once it is out.
Every 2027 Color of the Year So Far
The table below lists the brand descriptions, followed by lighting pairings. The pairings are design recommendations from Residence Supply, not brand guidance.
| Brand | 2027 color | How the brand describes it | Bulb to start with | Fixture finishes that flatter it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams (and HGTV Home) | Celery SW 6421 | Airy herbal green with subtle yellow undertones | 2700K to 3000K | Aged brass, natural wood, rattan, white glass |
| Behr | Grounded T27-01 | Mossy olive green with earthy brown undertones (LRV 9) | 2700K, plus good daytime light | Brass, copper, alabaster, warm glass |
| Valspar | Cottage Door 8004-38E | Grayed-out blue with warm undertones | 3000K | Polished nickel, brushed brass, opal glass |
| Glidden / PPG | Artifact PPG10-16 | Calm, fresh aqua with a blue-gray cast | 3000K | Nickel, chrome, clear or ribbed glass, light wood |
| Dutch Boy | Deep Rooted | Mid-toned terracotta with orange undertones | 2700K | Matte black, bronze, ceramic, linen shades |
| Graham & Brown | Rose Earth | Dusty pink with faded terracotta and plaster notes | 2700K to 3000K | Brass, alabaster, ceramic, pleated fabric shades |
| Dulux | Soulful Sage | Pale, brighter take on sage green | 2700K to 3000K | Brass, wood, rattan, white or cream glass |
Sources for brand descriptions: Sherwin-Williams, Behr, Valspar, Glidden, and Homes & Gardens for Dutch Boy, Graham & Brown, and Dulux. Clark+Kensington also named a rich blue, Vantage Point, as its 2027 pick.
Why Lighting Changes How Paint Looks
Paint has no fixed color on the wall. What you see is paint plus the light hitting it, and three things shape that light.
- Bulb color temperature: warm bulbs (around 2700K) push walls toward yellow, red, and brown. Cooler bulbs (3500K to 4000K and up) push them toward blue and gray. A green with yellow undertones like Celery reads sunny under 2700K and cooler, more minty under 4000K. The guide to warm vs. cool white light covers the basics.
- Light Reflectance Value (LRV): LRV measures how much light a color reflects, from 0 (black) to 100 (white). Behr lists Grounded at an LRV of 9, which means it absorbs most light. Dark colors like this need more lamps and sconces to keep a room from feeling dim at night.
- Room direction: north-facing rooms get cooler, indirect daylight that mutes warm colors. South-facing rooms get warmer, stronger light that intensifies them. Plan artificial light to balance what the window gives you.
Behr makes this point about its own pick: Grounded "feels fresh and energizing during the day, then becomes richer and more enveloping in the evening." Your evening lighting decides which version of the color you live with most.
Lighting the 2027 Blues: Cottage Door, Artifact, and Borrowed Light
Valspar's Cottage Door and Glidden's Artifact are both muted blue-grays. Blue-grays can turn cold and flat under cool bulbs, especially in north-facing rooms. A 3000K bulb keeps the warmth Valspar describes in Cottage Door without turning the wall green.
Farrow & Ball's Borrowed Light is not a 2027 Color of the Year, but it was featured by Homes & Gardens on September 29, 2026 as a calming pale blue whose "tone shifts beautifully throughout the day as the natural light changes." It follows the same rules: warmer evening light keeps it soft rather than icy.
Fixture pairings: polished nickel and brushed brass both suit soft blues. Nickel keeps the look crisp, and brass adds warmth. Opal and frosted glass spread light evenly across the wall, which helps muted blues look intentional rather than gray. Glass table lamps are an easy way to add that glow on a side table or dresser.
Lighting the 2027 Greens: Celery, Grounded, and Soulful Sage
Green is the clear story of the year, with three of the major picks in the family.
Celery (Sherwin-Williams)
Celery's yellow undertone makes it sensitive to bulb choice. At 2700K to 3000K it reads warm and herbal. Under cool daylight bulbs it can look sharper and more acidic. Aged or brushed brass, natural wood, and rattan all echo its organic feel. Sherwin-Williams pairs it with colors like Woven Wicker and Plum Brown, which also suit warm metal finishes.
Grounded (Behr)
Grounded is the darkest pick of the year. With an LRV of 9, it works best in rooms with layered light: an overhead fixture for function, plus lamps and sconces that wash the walls. Brass and copper glow against deep olive. Alabaster and warm glass shades add soft light without competing with the color. Behr also lists copper among its natural material pairings.
Soulful Sage (Dulux)
Soulful Sage is a paler, fresher sage, so it can handle a slightly wider bulb range. Wood, rattan, and cream glass keep it calm. Brass adds a classic touch.
For green rooms, brass table lamps and wood table lamps are reliable starting points, and rattan chandeliers suit the organic side of Celery and Soulful Sage.
Lighting the Earthy Pinks and Terracotta: Rose Earth and Deep Rooted
Graham & Brown's Rose Earth is a dusty pink positioned as an alternative to beige. Dutch Boy's Deep Rooted is a mid-toned terracotta. Both have warm undertones that come alive under 2700K light and can look muddy under cool bulbs.
Rose Earth: brass and alabaster keep it soft and elegant. Ceramic lamps and pleated fabric shades add texture without fighting the chalky finish. Alabaster table lamps give the kind of diffused glow this color suits.
Deep Rooted: terracotta can handle contrast. Matte black and bronze fixtures sharpen it, while ceramic wall sconces lean into the sun-baked pottery feel the brand describes. In a dining room, a black chandelier over a terracotta wall makes a strong focal point.
How to Test Paint and Bulbs Together
- Paint large swatches on two walls. Use one wall that gets direct window light and one that does not. Small chips are hard to judge.
- Check them at three times of day. Look in morning light, midday light, and in the evening with only your lamps on. Evening is when most people spend time at home, so weigh that view heavily.
- Swap the bulbs before you commit. Try a 2700K and a 3000K bulb in the same lamp next to the swatch. If the color only looks right under one, use that color temperature for the room's lamps and sconces.
Fixtures matter as much as bulbs. Shades, glass, and finishes all tint and direct light. For more on coordinating details like switch plates with wall color, see matching light switches with wall color.
Planning a repaint this season? Pick the color, then plan the light. Browse table lamps and wall sconces to find finishes that suit your 2027 shade.