20 Coordinating Hues To Pair With Sherwin-Williams' Gorgeous Color Of The Year

The news that home decor nerds await is here — Sherwin-Williams has announced its color of the year. Each year, the paint giant picks a shade that tips us off to the design trends we can expect in the coming months. Universal Khaki, the Sherwin-Williams' 2026 color of the year, is an ode to comfort, simplicity, and style. It's an earthy beige that's warmer than a white but not quite as dark as a taupe or a stone. Sherwin-Williams announced that much like "the enveloping warmth of a well-worn jacket, our 2026 Color of the Year, Universal Khaki SW 6150, embodies the beauty of life's bare essentials."

With the big reveal out of the way, just one question remains: How are you going to coordinate this color into your home? Thankfully, the answer is easy. Like its name suggests, Universal Khaki really is, well, universal. You can pair it with other neutrals for a light and airy reading room, contrast it with dark accents for an upscale master bedroom, or use it to infuse warmth into a bold half bath. Whatever your design goal, you can leverage its versatility, pairing it with one of these showstopping hues.

When you want to bring the beige but also make it a little more bold, pair khaki with mustard yellow. The beige in khaki would contrast too deeply with a super saturated yellow like canary, but mustard has a more muted tone. It brings the cheery vibrance of yellow, but with some added depth. Universal Khaki and mustard yellow make a great duo for a kitchen, creating an atmosphere that's energizing but still peaceful and warm.

Beige and navy is a timeless combo for good reason. Khaki's earthiness and the richness of deep navy create a balanced warmth. More than anything, it's a versatile pairing, fitting in anywhere from a cozy cottage to a sophisticated home office. It would also be fun for a coastal home. Nautical decor tends towards lots of blues and whites; a navy and khaki pairing is less stark, and gives the place a bit more warmth.

Chartreuse had its heyday in the 1960s, but it's enjoying a much-deserved comeback — and why not let Universal Khaki come along for the ride? The two are a bit like kindred color spirits. Chartreuse is the friend who's a little zany while khaki is a bit more of a toned-down rule-follower. Somehow, though, they're never at odds. Together they bring out the best and brightest in each other, creating spaces that feel buoyant and lived-in.

Think khaki is a little too beige or bland for your tastes? See what happens when you pair it with dark auburn. We bet you'll find it plays up the earthiness of khaki, adding natural dimension to any space. Using khaki walls and beige fixtures is a great way to breathe new life into dark auburn bedding. Or, try soft beige walls or table settings to complement heavy wooden furniture that's a rich auburn stain. 

Black and white have had enough fun together — now it's time to pair black with its more refined cousin, khaki. Together, they strike a balance, never giving into black's heaviness or beige's predictability. The combo is both timeless and modern, offering depth without austerity. Break it out when you want a space to shine with understated luxury, like pairing soft beige linen upholstery with sleek black accents in a moody guest bathroom.

Khaki and pale pink — think a rose or a blush — complement each other well, evoking sand that hits the light so right that the whole beach looks pink. Using the two together is an excellent way for pink-lovers to incorporate the color into their home design without it becoming overly juvenile or precious. Khaki walls and linens, for instance, would pair well against subtle accents like light pink area rugs and oversized throws.

It doesn't get earthier than Universal Khaki paired with a clean olive green. Together, they move the beauty and grounding calm of the great outdoors to your interiors. And since both colors are already popular in home design, it's easy to start pairing them together today. Try adding olive green pillows to a beige couch to help it feel a little less stuffy and stale, or try olive green bedding with khaki walls to infuse some serenity into a master bedroom.

Wish your place could feel a bit more Mediterranean? Terracotta and khaki is your answer. Rich terracotta is a classic color that dates back to the earliest civilizations, but pairing it with a beige gives the combo a modern touch. It's a way to marry the rustic and the contemporary, and keep your place looking sun-kissed even on the dreariest of days.

Want all the sophistication of a black without some of the moodiness? Put chocolate brown and khaki in a room together. It's rich and decadent, but like a real slice of chocolate cake, it's not so fussy that it can't be enjoyed by just about anyone. It's an especially gorgeous look when you play around with textures — think statement furniture pieces in mahogany or ebony, chocolate brown fur accents, and light khaki walls or curtains.

This list proves that khaki coordinates with quite a few shades of green, but seafoam is the most playful and lush one of the bunch. It softens the beige, and calls to mind fresh and uplifting earthy scenes, like ocean water or jungle canopies. Since it's so inviting and tranquil, it'd make a great color scheme for an entryway or breakfast nook.

Want khaki to feel as luxurious as possible? Partner it up with burgundy. There's just enough contrast between the two to be visually arresting, but since both have warm undertones, you get all the richness of luxury without it feeling brassy or tacky. The pairing works especially well in dining rooms or bedrooms where you want to feel refined but grounded. Try throwing in some textured fabrics or brushed metallic accents for even more visual layering.

In the fashion world, you're often forced to choose between jeans and khaki pants. But in the home design world, the two icons make a stunning pair. Khaki's soft beige and indigo's edgy tone make cozy and modern spaces. Incorporating a textured fabric, like denim, is a fun way to match these colors. There really are ways to tastefully embrace the denim decor trend, like using it in a tween bedroom. Khaki walls and beige furniture would look stylish against indigo-colored denim bedding, bean bag chairs, or poster frames. You could also simply add indigo accents to your walls.

Want to make khaki look its sleekest? Pair it with charcoal. It will sharpen khaki's softness for a modern edge, while still giving off grounding vibes thanks to charcoal's stony earthiness. It's a classic combo for a kitchen that you want to exude understated elegance, or for a backyard patio that you want to make feel like an elevated extension of the outdoor world that surrounds it.

Paging everyone who thinks khaki is too boring – just pair it with coral. The vibrant pink and orange hues of coral are bright without being too sharp and harsh, making beige seem more energetic and playful. It's especially stunning with a pop of green in the mix. You could design a coral and khaki living room overflowing with fresh green potted plants. Or who wouldn't love a kitchen with khaki walls, olive green cabinets, and a fun coral backsplash?

Khaki and burnt orange is a classic fall fashion combo, but you don't have to relegate the pair to the closet. The duo translates to home design all year round, too. Burnt orange's earthiness draws the warmth out of khaki, creating a space that manages to feel both full of energy and still grounded. The pairing is especially powerful in a contemplative space, like a home office or study.

When you want to stay in the neutral family but feel like bright whites and slate grays are too clinical, coordinate ivory with Universal Khaki. It has more depth than starker neutrals, making it an ideal pairing for areas like sun-filled reading rooms or a space where you want one bold piece of artwork or furniture to get all the attention. Since ivory and beige are similar in tone, add dimension and richness by playing around with texture — think breezy ivory curtains, cozy khaki throws, or fuzzy patterned rugs that feature hints of both shades.

The beige in khaki balances the richness of plum, creating a refined, just-bold-enough vibe. It's a fun duo to play around with in a place like a bathroom where you can take a few design risks. Vibrant plum shower curtains, decorative sconces, or lush fake florals would all be exciting accents to enliven khaki walls or fluffy beige bath towels.

Why not lean into khaki with...more khaki? Khaki green keeps it in the family, but invites even more depth and cohesion when the two are coordinated together. It's a great way to try out color layering. For instance, draping khaki green throws over a beige couch. Or, paint one khaki green accent wall against Universal Khaki to enhance the earthy beauty of each and bring tons of dimension to your space.

Sherwin Williams has shade of blue that's super complementary to Universal Khaki. They call it rain cloud, others call it dusty blue — no matter the name, it's a cozy and peaceful pairing. If you're on a mission to follow the booming sleep sanctuary trend, use dusty blue and Universal Khaki in your bedroom. It'll evoke the relaxation that comes from drifting off to sleep under a smattering of rooftop raindrops or aboard a gently rocking boat.

In this playful combo, khaki works as the versatile neutral that allows mauve to be the star — not the brassy showman of a royal purple, but the subtle standoutthat leaves an impression that deepens over time. Together, they're excellent in a child's room, since the pairing is lively enough for youthful energy but calm enough to mature into an elegant space.