When selecting its annual Color of the Year, Florida Paints’ color team considers many aspects, including the power of color to evoke feelings. With that in mind, Florida Paints’ color experts selected Grape Soda and White Pepper as its 2026 Colors of the Year.

Santiago Quintero, Florida Paints color expert, notes that while Florida Paints often begins by exploring global trends — from fashion runways to interior design forecasts — to see where color is headed, they also believe in the deeper power of color: its ability to stir emotion and awaken memory.

“This year, while we looked toward the future, our inspiration pulled us gently back to the past,” Quintero observes. “Grape Soda and White Pepper are hues that remind us of home — of the plush comfort of velvet seats, long movie marathons, and the warmth of family Sunday mornings. They capture the essence of nostalgia and the simple beauty of feeling at home.”

Quintero describes Grape Soda, a bold violet hue, as “nostalgic yet modern — a moody, soulful hue that exudes bold sophistication and quiet elegance.

“While versatile enough for both interiors and exteriors, Grape Soda truly shines indoors, where its depth and warmth can be fully appreciated,” he adds. “It brings a comforting sense of familiarity to any space — wrapping cozy reading nooks, elevating elegant home offices, adding drama to intimate bars, or infusing soulful charm into hardworking mudrooms. Wherever it’s used, Grape Soda transforms a room into a space that looks and feels like home — rich with memory, comfort, and connection.”

Meanwhile, Quintero sees White Pepper, an elegant creamy white, as timeless, bright, warm, familiar, and elegant, and ideal for the home’s exterior.

“Much like Grape Soda, White Pepper is remarkably versatile, but it truly excels as an exterior hue,” Quintero says. “As a soft, creamy white, it reflects sunlight gently, illuminating the façade and giving the home a fresh, welcoming presence without feeling harsh or sterile. Its warmth softens architectural lines and balances bold accents, from dark shutters to natural stone or wood details, creating a harmonious, polished look. White Pepper enhances curb appeal while evoking the comforting feeling of home — bright Sunday mornings, family gatherings, and simple moments of joy.”

The way the two colors work together helps bring out each other’s beauty. 

“Grape Soda and White Pepper work together to create a perfect pair of colors that celebrate both depth and light, drama and warmth,” Quitero notes. “Grape Soda’s moody, soulful richness provides character and intimacy, while White Pepper’s soft, creamy brightness offers a luminous counterpoint.

“The bold undertones of Grape Soda make White Pepper appear even lighter and more radiant, while White Pepper’s warmth softens and highlights the elegance of Grape Soda,” Quintero adds. “Together, they evoke the feeling of home and family — Grape Soda brings cozy, nostalgic moments, while White Pepper carries the bright, uplifting energy of sunny mornings and joyful gatherings.

“On exteriors, White Pepper can dominate larger surfaces to make a home feel open and inviting, while Grape Soda adds sophistication and personality through accents like doors, shutters, or architectural details,” he points out. “Indoors, White Pepper opens up spaces and maximizes light, while Grape Soda defines areas with mood and character. Combined, they create a palette that is both comforting and sophisticated, radiating warmth, elegance, and the unmistakable feeling of home.”

White Pepper and Grape Soda may not be direct complements to Natural Beauty, Florida Paints’ 2025 Color of the Year, their versatility and range make them ideal for mixing across collections.

“White Pepper brings a bright, warm foundation that opens up spaces and highlights architectural details, while Grape Soda adds depth and soulful character wherever a bolder accent is desired,” Quintero observes. “Because both colors are rich in personality and adaptable in application, they can be combined with a variety of palettes, including last year’s Natural Beauty selection, to create layered, dynamic looks. Whether used together or alongside other tones, these colors allow homeowners and designers to craft spaces that feel warm, inviting, and distinctly personal, proving that thoughtful variation can be just as powerful as direct complementarity palette.”

Quintero adds that the colors Grape Soda and White Pepper definitely continue key trends from recent years in the paint and interior‑design world.

“White Pepper aligns with the shift away from cool, stark whites and greys toward warmer neutrals — creamy whites, soft ivories and off‑whites that bring comfort and approachability into spaces,” he notes. “At the same time, Grape Soda fits into the move toward rich, saturated accent colors — deeper hues that bring mood, character and a sense of place rather than simply acting as flat background neutrals. 

“In combining both a warm, soft neutral (White Pepper) and a bold, expressive accent (Grape Soda), you’re tapping into two strong currents in current design: the desire for spaces that feel welcoming and timeless, and the desire for colors that offer depth, memory and personality,” Quintero concludes.