Paint & Decorating Retailer

The Sherwin-Williams Company recently announced The Loneliest Color 2026, continuing its annual platform challenging convention and celebrating the power of personal choice. The brand’s selection for 2026, Offbeat Green SW 6706, is a vivid lime green reflecting individuality. This year’s program is in collaboration with the LeBron James Family Foundation, including the LeBron James Family Foundation PROMISE Project by Sherwin-Williams.

Sherwin-Williams recently announced the launch of its new high-performance coating, Forte Urethanized Acrylic. Designed for both vertical and horizontal surfaces, the product can be used by both contractors and homeowners to coat a wide range of interior and exterior surfaces.

Exterior stain brand, Cabot, recently announced Acorn as its 2026 color of the year. “Acorn reflects wood in its most natural state,” says Sue Kim, Cabot’s director of color marketing. “Its earthy brown tone offers a rich look in both sunlit and shaded outdoor settings.

Valspar recently announced Warm Eucalyptus as its 2026 Color of the Year. Warm Eucalyptus reflects a naturally restorative and serene feel, offering a calm and grounding design. “Warm Eucalyptus is more than just a beautiful shade of green, it’s a reflection of the comfort we crave in our homes,” says Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar. “Its warm undertones create a grounded, welcoming mood while drawing inspiration from nature and the familiarity of retro design.

Single-family housing starts decreased in June to the lowest rate since July 2024, due to elevated interest rates, rising inventories and ongoing supply issues in the housing sector, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Annual spending for home remodeling is expected to soften in 2026, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. “Weakness in the current housing market is expected to have a dampening effect on home improvement spending,” says Rachel Bogardus Drew, director of the remodeling futures program at the center.

Behr Paint Company recently announced its partnership with Google Cloud to provide a personalized paint shopping experience for customers. Combining Behr’s color data with Google Cloud’s AI capabilities, Behr has built an AI-powered agent named ChatHUE to help homeowners with color decisions. “We are constantly listening to our customers and striving to simplify the home improvement process,” says Andy Lopez, Behr Paint Company senior vice president of marketing.

Summer is a good time for homeowners and professionals to upgrade the exteriors of their homes and businesses. Whether it’s staining a deck, painting a front door or touching up outdoor trim, the warm weather is a popular time to work on outdoor projects. Paint and Decorating Retailer recommends stocking these four exterior paint and stain products for your customers this summer.

Stocking the right paint brushes and applicators can make a big difference in customer satisfaction and sales. From high-quality tools for professional painters to affordable options for DIYers, independent retailers have an opportunity to build trust and boost revenue by offering a well-rounded selection. The Thin Angle Paint Brush from Wooster Brush Company features a composite handle with a rubberized grip, a square ferrule and firm nylon and polyester filaments for use with all paint types.

The Pittsburgh Paints Company (PPC) notified customers that it will implement price increases of 5.8% on its products beginning August 15, citing rising production and distribution costs. Additional higher increases on a smaller group of products were also announced, but not specified. In the letter signed by Brian Carson, PPC president and CEO, the company explained that while it has worked to offset increased operational expenses, it has been unable to absorb all rising costs internally.