BEHR 2026 Exterior Stain Colour of the Year: Taupe

A modern backyard patio featuring a taupe-stained wood deck and matching taupe roof trim. The deck includes two lounge chairs, a white umbrella, and a small table beside a pool, all surrounded by lush greenery. The fence is stained in Baronial Brown, a previous Colour of the Year — **house body: Sp**anish Sand, wood deck: Taupe (solid wood stain), roof trim: Baronial Brown, fence: Taupe
(semi-transparent wood stain)

There’s a colour that shows up everywhere in nature without demanding attention. You’ll see it in the sun-faded boards of a seaside deck, the weathered siding of an old barn, or the soft grain of wood shaped by years of sunlight and fresh air. It’s the look wood takes on over time – natural, effortless, and quietly beautiful. That understated character is the inspiration behind BEHR’s 2026 Exterior Stain Colour of the Year, Taupe (SC-153/ST-153), a refined and versatile shade designed to bring balance and harmony to your home’s exterior.

If you’ve been craving a home exterior refresh that feels calm, modern, and effortlessly timeless, this might just be your year.

Taupe brings versatility and quiet sophistication to exterior wood surfaces. In a solid finish, it creates a grounded, cohesive look across decks, fences, and siding, offering a clean, architectural statement that anchors your home’s exterior within its natural surroundings. In a semi-transparent finish, the wood grain shows through a soft veil of warm grey-brown, adding texture and depth that shift subtly with the light throughout the day.

Whether used on a deck, porch, fence, or siding, Taupe acts as a refined backdrop that highlights architectural details while complementing natural surroundings, landscaping, and greenery. The result is an outdoor space that feels calm, balanced, and inviting. It’s the kind of colour that transforms outdoor living areas into peaceful retreats, perfect for everything, from a quiet morning coffee to lively backyard gatherings that stretch past sunset.

A covered outdoor deck with two different wood stain colours. Taupe is the wood stain colour of the floor and wood ceiling is a colour called Chocolate. The deck is furnished with two lounge chairs and a small table, overlooking a grassy landscape with trees. — house body: Taupe, wood deck: Taupe, ceiling: Chocolate (Semi-transparent Wood Stain), railing: BLACK (Also available in BEHR Spray Paint)

One of the easiest ways to elevate your outdoor space is by introducing contrast. Pairing two complementary BEHR® stain colours can create beautiful visual depth and highlight architectural features without adding significant time or cost to your project. With

Taupe as your foundation, a second stain colour becomes an opportunity for personal expression.

For a warm, layered palette, pair Taupe with Cordovan Brown. The deeper richness of Cordovan Brown on elements like railings and decks creates natural contrast against Taupe on a pergola, adding dimension that feels both intentional and architectural. You can also explore pairing Taupe with other previous BEHR Stain Colour of the Year selections to create continuity across your exterior while bringing depth and personality to your outdoor spaces.

A backyard patio with a wood pergola stained with Taupe, outdoor seating around a fire pit, and a grill area beside a modern home with large windows and landscaped yard. — ouse body: Boreal, trim: ULTRA PURE WHITE®, deck: Cordovan Brown, railings & pergola: Taupe (Solid Wood Stain)

Another beautiful pairing is Taupe with Cedar, a combination that creates subtle dimension while preserving the natural character of the wood.

As BEHR’s previous Stain Colour of the Year, Cedar brings a warm golden-brown hue that sits naturally alongside Taupe. The pairing reflects the balance found in nature, where wood tones layer and complement one another with ease. Using Cedar on ceilings or trim and Taupe on a deck adds warmth and depth, creating an outdoor space that feels thoughtfully collected rather than overly coordinated.

A covered porch with stained wood ceiling and matching stained deck boards, furnished with outdoor seating, a dining table, and a ceiling fan, overlooking a green landscape. — house body: Dash Ash, trim: ULTRA PURE WHITE®, ceiling: Cedar ST-146(Semi-transparent Wood Stain), deck: Taupe SC-153 (Solid Wood Stain), railing: BLACK

This year, Taupe is launching alongside BEHR’s Outdoor Accent Colour Collection, making it easier than ever to refresh your entire exterior with confidence.

The digital chart of the BEHR Outdoor Accent Colour Collection showing multiple “paint drops” with labels. Neutral tones on the left include ULTRA PURE WHITE®, Spanish Sand, Muted Sage, Lunar Surface, Perfect Taupe, Boreal, Dark Ash, Baronial Brown, and Adirondack Blue. Brighter accent colours on the right include Rumors, Unmellow Yellow, Ocean Abyss, Flirt Alert, Park Picnic, Beacon Blue, Tart Orange, Hidden Sea Glass, and Black.

Think of Taupe as your foundation colour, ideal for larger surfaces like wood siding, shingles, decks, porches, fences and railing. From there, layer in personality with curated accent shades for front doors, shutters, trim, planters, patio furniture, and more.

A Craftsman-style home exterior with Taupe siding, white trim accents, stone details, and a landscaped front yard leading to a covered entry and garage. — house body & columns: Taupe SC-153, trim: ULTRA PURE WHITE®, wood shingles: Taupe ST-153 (Semi-transparent), garage door: Baronial Brown (Also available in BEHR Spray Paint) , gutters: BLACK (Spray Paint), door: Rumors

While Taupe brings calm and cohesion. The Outdoor Accent Colour Collection adds those personalized pops that make your home uniquely yours. Together they strike the perfect balance between subtle sophistication and expressive character.

A front porch with a Taupe wood colour entry door, blue siding, and stacked stone columns, featuring a wood-stained ceiling under the covered entry. — house body: Adirondack Blue, trim: ULTRA PURE WHITE®, wood accents & door: Taupe ST-153 (Semi-transparent wood stain)

Select colours in the collection are also available in spray paint, making smaller updates like refreshing patio furniture or reviving planters quick and easy ways to make real impact without a full renovation.

A front porch with white columns and railing, green porch swing with beige cushion and navy blue pillow, light wood flooring, and muted green colour house siding overlooking a grassy neighbourhood. The porch wood stain colour is Taupe and the finish a semi-trasparecent opacity. — house body: Muted Sage, floor: Taupe SC-153, trim: ULTRA PURE WHITE®, swing: Park Picnic

A front porch with light grey siding and white columns, featuring a bright blue front door centered between two narrow windows. Potted green plants sit on either side of the door, and a woven doormat rests on the grey floorboards. — house body: Lunar Surface, trim: ULTRA PURE WHITE®, Door: Beacon Blue, solid planter: Flirt Alert (Also available in BEHR Spray Paint)

A front entry of a house with a deep sophisticated teal front door beneath a small, covered porch supported by white columns and stone bases. Stone steps lead up to the door, with a large grey planter on the left and landscaped shrubs and pink flowers in the foreground. Large windows with dark trim frame the entrance. — house body: Muted Sage, trim: ULTRA PURE WHITE®, windows: Baronial Brown, door: Ocean Abyss (Also available in BEHR Spray Paint), ceiling: Taupe ST-153

A new construction two-story grey house with a bright yellow front door, white trim, and a covered entry supported by square columns. The home features large windows, a stone-accent base, and an attached white garage under a clear blue sky. The wood fence has been finished with the 2026 BEHR wood stain colour of the year, Taupe, in a semi-transparent finish. — body: Dark Ash, trim: ULTRA PURE WHITE®, door: Unmellow Yellow (Also available in BEHR Spray Paint), fence: Taupe ST-153

Ready to welcome the season with a fresh perspective? Make 2026 the year you transform your outdoor space with the timeless versatility of Taupe (SC-153/ST-153). Explore the Outdoor Accent Colour Collection, find your perfect pairings, and start your next project with confidence.

Colourfully yours,

Diana

Note: The 2026 Exterior Stain Colour of the Year, Taupe (SC-153/ST153) and the Accent Colour Collection are available exclusively at The Home Depot. Taupe is available in BEHR PREMIUM® Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain & Sealer,

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BEHR 2026 Exterior Stain Colour of the Year: Taupe (SC-153/ST-153)

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