Home Decor

Paint Colors for 2026

If you’re thinking about paint colors for 2026, you’ll notice one clear theme right away: homes are getting warmer, calmer, and more personal. Designers are moving away from stark whites and cool grays and leaning into colors that feel comfortable, grounded, and easy to live with. The goal isn’t to impress for a moment — it’s to create spaces that feel good every single day.

One of the biggest shifts designers are embracing is the move toward soft, warm off-whites. Shades like creamy ivories and gentle whites are replacing bright, crisp white walls. These colors still keep a home light and open, but they add a subtle warmth that makes a space feel inviting instead of sterile. Designers love them because they work beautifully with wood floors, natural textures, and layered decor, making rooms feel finished without trying too hard.

This image features a modern, transitional style bathroom with an earth toned colored walls with a sage green vanity, a round gold-framed mirror, and natural wood accents.

Along with warmer whites, earth-toned neutrals are taking center stage. Khakis, soft tans, and warm browns are becoming the new go-to base colors. Designers are drawn to these shades because they feel timeless and familiar, yet fresh. They ground a space and create an easy backdrop for everything from modern furniture to vintage accents. Unlike gray, these colors don’t feel cold or trendy — they feel lived in.

A neutral-toned living room with a light green paneled accent wall. In the foreground is a light wood armchair with white cushions, positioned on a textured white rug. Behind it sits a large, plush grey sofa with multiple taupe and striped cushions. A large, distressed ceramic vase holds green branches in the corner.

Green continues to be a favorite in 2026, but the approach is softer and more natural. Designers are choosing muted, organic greens that feel pulled straight from the landscape. These tones bring a sense of calm and balance into a home, which is why they’re especially popular in bedrooms, bathrooms, and home offices. Green has become a neutral in its own right — one that connects indoor spaces to the outdoors without overwhelming the room.

A dark and moody living room featuring a fireplace mantel painted in a deep, rich purple-black hue, identified as Sherwin-Williams Darkroom. Two striped armchairs with brown accent pillows sit facing a coffee table in front of the fireplace. Above the mantel, an ornate arched mirror reflects the room, flanked by two mid-century modern brass and white wall sconces.

While calm colors dominate, designers are also making space for rich, moody tones. Deep browns and warm mahogany shades are showing up on accent walls, cabinetry, and dining rooms. These colors add depth and coziness, creating spaces that feel intimate and grounded. Designers use them intentionally, often pairing them with lighter walls to add contrast without making a room feel heavy.

A light-filled living room featuring a prominent, muted sage green accent wall. The room is decorated in a modern, minimalist style with natural and neutral tones.

For homeowners who want a little personality without going bold, blue-green shades are a popular choice. These colors add interest and character while still feeling sophisticated and timeless. Designers love using them on kitchen islands, built-ins, or statement walls where they can quietly shine without taking over space.

So why are these colors resonating so strongly right now? It comes down to how people want their homes to feel. In 2026, designers are focused on creating environments that support comfort, well-being, and everyday living. Paint colors aren’t just about style anymore — they’re about mood, warmth, and longevity.

Overall, the designer paint colors of 2026 reflect a return to simplicity and authenticity. They’re warm, nature-inspired, and meant to last. These are colors you won’t get tired of, shades that make a house feel like home.

Starting seeds indoors

Garden Season Hits and Misses

Every garden season has its hits and misses, and this year was no exception. One of the bigger disappointments was the cauliflower. It bolted in August during the heat, which meant it only formed tiny heads and never really matured. That’s actually the same reason I quit planting broccoli. The tail end of summer here just gets too hot for it to thrive.

I also learned a lesson with tomatoes this year. I got free seeds for a tomato variety called “Spoon,” and I really should have looked at the picture first. The tomatoes were literally the size of a pea seed. There were hundreds of them, but they were so tiny they never even got picked. Lesson learned, free seeds aren’t always a win.

The other tomato plants struggled with blight. I stayed on top of it by picking off the diseased leaves, and that made a big difference. The key is consistency, if you do this, you really need to check plants every couple of days to keep them under control.

On the positive side, the vining crops were a big success. Following a spray schedule kept cucumber beetles and squash vine borers away.  The melons produced well, although they weren’t quite as sweet as in other years. I chalk that up to the intense heat during their ripening stage.

The onions were another win. I started them indoors and transplanted them outside in May, and they ended up bigger than the onion sets I planted, which isn’t unusual but always satisfying. The carrots were great. I left them in the garden until late December and stuck with shorter, thicker varieties because they handle our clay soil much better.

Flowers did well across the board, especially the ones in pots. That said, by August, I was pretty tired of watering every other day when I got home. It reminded me why the old-school method worked so well, geraniums in the pots, Bacopa trailing over the edges, and a spike in the center. I think I’m heading back to that tried-and-true, heat-resistant combo.

All of this makes February a great time to start planning the next garden. Pull out last year’s notes—or start fresh—and think about what you really want to grow. Decide where vegetables and flowers will go, rotate crops if you can, and be honest about how much space you actually have. Planning now helps avoid overcrowding, wasted money, and last-minute scrambling in May.

February is also the perfect time to order seeds. Many popular varieties sell out early, especially short-season types that work best in South Dakota. As you flip through catalogs or browse online, pay attention to days to maturity and look for varieties labeled early, cold-tolerant, or northern-grown. Our growing season is around 120 days. Ordering now gives you better choices and time to prepare.

While you’re thinking about seeds, it’s a good idea to check your seed-starting supplies. Clean trays and pots, pick up fresh seed-starting mix, and make sure grow lights are working. If you plan to start peppers, onions, or flowers early, having everything ready makes the process feel simple instead of overwhelming.

Or you can wait until garden centers open in May, just bring a list. Know your must-haves, be open to trying a few new things, and maybe say, “I can probably squeeze this in somewhere.” After all, that’s half the fun of gardening.

Funny Garden Moments

Nothing Happens in a Garden in Winter

Everyone assumes nothing happens in a garden in winter. The plants are asleep, the soil is frozen, and even the birds seem to be on vacation. Everyone, that is… except my dog, Magdelin.

Magdelin firmly believed the garden still held treasures, specifically, invisible summer smells buried beneath the ground. She struts into the garden like an explorer on a mission.

Magdelin began digging with wild determination, sending icy chunks over her back like a malfunctioning snow blower. Her tail wagged so hard it practically powered the operation. Every few seconds, she’d stop, nose deep in the hole, clearly convinced she was seconds away from uncovering something very important. A bone? A vole?

Suddenly—success! Magdelin yanked her head out of the hole with a triumphant look… and a bone in her mouth she buried last summer.

This was no ordinary bone. It was last summer’s forgotten harvest, now preserved like a prehistoric artifact. Magdelin stared at it, confused. Undeterred, Magdelin picked it up and proudly went back to the house with her “prize,” but one step onto the path, she tripped and WHOOSH, she slid sideways like a furry hockey puck. The bone flew one way. The dog flew another.

She popped up immediately, looked around to make sure no one important had witnessed the disaster (just me), grabbed the bone, and casually walked off as if she had totally meant to do that.

To this day, Magdelin still checks the winter garden—just in case more frozen treasure is waiting. The plants may be sleeping… but apparently, the snacks never are.