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Behr is leaning into the type of serenity that can only be found in nature. The paint company created the brand-new earthy hue Grounded to crown as its 2027 Color of the Year. Aptly named, the olive green with subtle brown undertones reflects a collective yearning for homes that feel calm, lived-in, and rooted in reality.
“There’s really this shift in the definition of what comfort means,” says Kayla Kratz, head of color at Behr. “For a few years, we were talking about whites and beiges feeling like that’s where comfort resides. We see that deepening and a draw towards these earthen hues.”
Grounded builds upon last year’s smoky jade, Hidden Gem, by leaning into a shade that nurtures tranquility. According to Behr’s research, more than three quarters (77 percent) of Americans rely on the outdoors to soothe them when life gets overwhelming. Grounded “feels like that embrace of nature, if you think about being surrounded by the foliage,” adds Kratz. The dynamic shade can present as olive or mossy green depending on the light.
Grounded is as versatile as it is nature-inspired, and the verdict is in from designers: They’re into it. Here are their thoughts on the color, including how they’d recommend using the shade at home.
Isabel Ladd Says It Complements Vivid Interiors
“Though I’m an outspoken enthusiast of color, color, color, I’m always looking for grounding colors to balance my (did I say color?) colorful interiors,” says designer Isabel Ladd. “Funny that this color is called Grounded, because grounding is precisely what I seek for balance in my lively interiors.”
For Ladd, the shade offers exactly what it touts: a soothing anchor. “I appreciate that this neutral has an olive foundation, as deep olives complement colorful interiors so well,” she adds. “It’s all about this mix for me, and Grounded is the perfect juxtaposition with vivid colors.”
Rayman Boozer Is Imagining Moody Millwork
“This calming shade of mossy green is the perfect color to use as a base for a library or home office,” says designer Ramyan Boozer of Apartment 48. “I imagine millwork painted in this super saturated tone. It’s a perfect backdrop for colorful books and accessories.”
Betsy Wentz Would Love It in a Study
Designer Betsy Wentz calls Grounded “a sophisticated and chic shade of green-brown” that falls into her favorite neutral category. “Green, in my opinion, is the ultimate neutral as it is found in nature and plays well with most other colors,” she says.
She appreciates how the shade is “dark but not heavy” and “has a levity to it but is full enough to anchor a room.” Thanks to those qualities, “Grounded would be fabulous in a study where you could paint out all of the trim and the ceilings in this rich neutral,” says Wentz.
Emilie Munroe Pictures It on Facades
Grounded is destined to coat home exteriors, according to Emilie Munroe. “Saturated neutrals with undertones of green are quite common on home exteriors in northern California,” says the San Francisco–based designer. “They both blend well with nature and are forgiving in the dust and dirt inherent in urban living.”
Carrie Senft Suggests It’s a Solid Choice for Cozy Rooms
“Olive green is as much of a neutral as beige,” says designer Carrie Senft of Studio August. “It’s endlessly versatile and so often provides the depth a color scheme needs to feel, well, grounded!”
Senft points out there are many olive green paints to choose from, but “the brown undertones of Grounded make it a true ‘Goldilocks’ olive—not too yellow, not too blue—and give the color the richness we continually look for,” she says. She’d love to see the paint in libraries, mudrooms, and on millwork, too.