Vernon Hills, Ill., Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evolving from last year’s nature-inspired palette, the Color Watch 2026: Balanced Optimism collection from Rust-Oleum is all about celebrating the power of positivity and harmony. This year’s carefully curated collection is bursting with soothing neutrals and bold, expressive hues to achieve the perfect mix of comfort, creativity and a can-do spirit. Anchored by the Color of the Year, Painter's Touch® 2X Ultra Cover Satin Lagoon, this jewel-toned teal invites everyone to find their perfect balance between serenity and self-expression.

“Lagoon is the kind of color that makes you want to dive right in,” said DIY expert and Rust-Oleum Color Council member, Lindee Katdare. “It’s bold, it’s beautiful, and it instantly updates any space – whether you want a splashy statement or a serene escape. With Lagoon, it adapts to its surroundings – always sophisticated, always emotive – and delivers a remarkably emotional range.”

Inspire and recharge your way
Whether you’re a color newbie or a DIY dynamo, Rust-Oleum helps you paint outside the lines. Try a tiny pop of color or transform an entire room because the only limit is your imagination. The 2026 palette incorporates specific shades designed to harmonize or stand out:

• Vibrant statements: Bringing a bold punch of vitality to the palette, Painter’s Touch® 2X Ultra Cover Satin Poppy Red is a warm red that can make a big statement or serve as an accent for a lively burst of color.
• Grounded warmth: Stops Rust® with Custom Spray 5-in 1 Leather Brown brings a grounded, timeless presence to this year’s palette. Its deep, rich tone offers exceptional versatility, pairing seamlessly with both lighter hues and dramatic shades. Complementing this warmth, Varathane® Premium Fast Dry Wood Stain in Kona, adds another refined possibility, delivering a richly toned wood finish that enhances the palette’s inviting character.
• Calm peace: Low Odor Matte Day Dreaming is a soft gray-blue shade that adds a sense of calm, ideal for indoor projects with its low-odor and fast drying formula. It offers a monochromatic look when paired with Lagoon and complements brighter shades like Poppy Red. Complementing it, Color Spark® Interior Wall Paint & Primer in Up in the Clouds, evokes the peaceful nature of the sky, offering a paint and primer in one for easy application.
  

Easy, season-by-season updates
Keep your spaces feeling fresh and fabulous all year. The Balanced Optimism palette is your ticket to mix, match, and remix your favorite colors in unexpected ways, so every season is a chance to play and create.

• Winter: Chase the cold away with a harmony of bold and peaceful tones. Spray paint candleholders or decorative trays in vibrant Poppy Red and anchor with Day Dreaming for cool serenity. To add a subtle twist, paint an accent wall in Up in the Clouds for a calming, wintry sky effect, or try napkin rings in Universal® Aged Metallic in Vintage Gold for a luminous finish and touch of festive glimmer.
• Spring: Celebrate new beginnings with an unexpected blend of Color Spark® Interior Wall Paint & Primer in Joshua Tree. This rich, energizing color applies smoothly and provides an energizing backdrop. Transform decorative accents, shelves or frames with Stops Rust® Turmeric or consider Low Odor Dusty Rose to inject a calming softness.
• Summer: Channel sunny day confidence with a fun, coastal twist. Paint a small bistro set or outdoor Adirondack chairs in luxurious Lagoon and add in playful hints of Poppy Red on garden lanterns or planters. For an earthy touch, Stops Rust® with Custom Spray 5-in-1 in French Beige delivers a smooth, neutral finish with advanced rust protection and five different spray patterns, perfect for updating outdoor pots to round out a fresh, beachy look.  
• Fall: Reimagine a unique yard sale find to create a cozy and elegant destination in your home. Flip a dated cabinet to a showstopping coffee nook piece with Cabinet Transformations®   in Seaside. Refresh hardware with Vintage Gold and inject bold and deliberate sophistication with Lagoon on decorative vases or a wooden chair.

Products for every project, indoors and out
The complete Color Watch 2026 palette is ready for action across paints, stains and sprays. No experience? No problem. These products are made for quick wins, creative adventures and feeling proud of what you achieved.

Rust-Oleum’s portfolio of easy-to-use products empowers DIYers to refresh their homes with confidence and ease. Spray paints like Low Odor Premium Spray Paint, Stops Rust®, Stops Rust® with Custom Spray 5-in-1, 2X Ultra Cover™,  and Universal® offer vibrant, durable finishes for materials ranging from metal to plastic. Finishes, including Varathane® Wood Stains, add rich tones to wood surfaces. Coatings such as Color Spark® Wall Paint & Primer and Cabinet Transformations® Kits deliver professional-quality results, making it easy and affordable to refresh walls, cabinet and countertops with style and reliability.

This year, watch for influencer collaborations, interactive tools, and even more ways to get inspired. “We can’t wait to see how DIYers transform their spaces and bring balanced optimism home,” said Katdare.

Dive in and get inspired
Head to the Color Watch 2026 website to see the full palette, spark your creativity, and kick off your next project today at www.rustoleum.com/color-of-the-year-2026.

About Rust-Oleum
For more than a century, Rust-Oleum® has been a global leader in manufacturing innovative coatings that empower do-it-yourselfers and professionals alike across categories including small project paints, cleaners, primers, automotive, industrial, high-performance coatings, wood care and abrasives. Its wide breadth of brands and products include such trusted names as Rust-Oleum®, Stops Rust®, Painter’s Touch®, Universal®, EpoxyShield®, Varathane®, Zinsser®, Watco®, MultiSpec®, X-I-M®, The Pink Stuff®, Krud Kutter®, RockSolid®, Ready Seal ®, Wipe New®, Testors®, Seal-Krete®, Mean Green®, Modern Masters®, Moldex®, Whink®, Miracle Sealants®, Roto-Rooter®, Concrobium®, Gator® Finishing Products and RUST-O®, a spray paint designed in collaboration with artists for precision, coverage and creative expression. Visit rustoleum.com for more information. Follow Rust-Oleum on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram.

Contact: Vivika Panagiotakakos
224-471-6057
vivika.panagiotakakos@rustoleum.com

A video accompanying this announcement is available at:
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