CLEVELAND, Ohio — Valspar, a paint and coatings company, announced its predictions for the most popular exterior paint colors and stains for the upcoming 2026 painting season. Based on proprietary tint data, these trending hues reflect a consumer desire for joy, elegance and nature-inspired warmth at home.

"Every spring, homeowners look for ways to refresh their exteriors through color, whether for their own enjoyment or to increase real estate value," said Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar. "While classic white and other neutrals remain exterior staples, our data shows some surprising hues gaining significant popularity, including sunny yellow paints and modern black stains."

Classic white, soft neutrals and black (such as Ultra White 7006-24, Swiss Coffee 7002-16 and Dark Kettle Black 4011-2) continue to dominate by tint volume, but current data reveals a significant surge in blues, greens and even a radiant yellow within the top 100 tints. 

Whether for whole home siding or as a vibrant pop of color on front doors and shutters, Kim predicts these colors will be increasingly prominent on home exteriors for added curb appeal:

• Neutrals: Elephant Gray 4006-2A and Cream in My Coffee 3003-10C.
• Blues and greens: atmospheric blue Encore 8002-45G and mid-tone soft green Warm Eucalyptus 8004-28F.
• Joyful yellow: Sunglow 3003-2B.

"Blues and greens have been gaining popularity among consumers over the past few years as DIYers increasingly lean into biophilic hues to inspire a sense of calm and restoration in their spaces, but the increase in requests for yellow has been a surprise," Kim said. "Bright yellows bring a joyful mood with a playful attitude. When used on the front door, Sunglow instantly turns a house into a warm and welcoming home."

Exterior paint projects require paint prep and specific products based on the type of siding or other material. For DIYers interested in taking on this type of project, Valspar has information on exterior painting basics, including signs it's time for an update, how to prepare for painting and what products are needed.

The top five stain colors by tint volume point to a warmer and darker future for wood materials on home exteriors, enhancing architectural features and curb appeal. Kim predicts an increase in projects featuring these stain hues on decks, fences, pergolas, outdoor furniture and more:

• Simply Cedar.
• Potato Skin.
• October Brown.
• Darkest Night.
• Badlands Red.

"Black has been a consistently popular color for house siding, but Darkest Night is a surprising presence in the top five exterior stain colors. Stains are typically used to enhance wood grain, but we're seeing consumers use dark stains on wood projects as a way to complement other exterior colors and lend a modern design touch to boost curb appeal," Kim said.

Exterior updates with these top five stain colors take just a few easy steps, making projects like staining a fence easier than expected. DIYers can also apply these hues to concrete accents like flowerpots and steppingstones to tie together their overall exterior color scheme. Exterior stain products that can be tinted to these colors include Valspar One-Coat Solid Exterior Wood Stain & Sealer and Valspar Solid Color Concrete Stain.

For more information on Valspar paints, stains and tools, visit valspar.com.