BEHR’s 2027 Color of the Year, Grounded T27-01, is a mossy olive green paint color with earthy brown undertones that feels both fresh and familiar. This nature-inspired shade brings warmth and depth to interiors while offering the versatility of a livable neutral.
We caught up with designer and lifestyle expert Sabrina Soto to get her take on BEHR Grounded T27-01, including the best rooms to use it in, unexpected ways to bring it into a space, and the colors she loves pairing with it.
About Sabrina Soto: Sabrina Soto is an interior designer, television host, author and lifestyle expert. She currently hosts The Sabrina Soto Show and will soon be appearing on HGTV’s Totally ’90s House. Her forthcoming book, The Home Within: Design a Life You Love From the Inside Out, explores the connection between our homes and our inner lives, bringing together Sabrina’s two decades of design expertise with her personal perspective on intentional living and reinvention.
Q.Which rooms do you recommend using Grounded in and why?
A. I love Grounded in spaces where you want the room to feel warm, comfortable and a little cocooning. I could see it being beautiful in a bedroom, dining room, office or even a kitchen. In a bedroom, I’d use it on all four walls and pair it with warm woods, creamy bedding and natural textures. In a kitchen, it would be gorgeous on cabinetry or an island with warm stone and brass accents. It has enough depth to make a room interesting without feeling too heavy.
A. Does Grounded work best as an accent color or a full room color, or both, and why?
A. Definitely both. As an accent, Grounded is a great way to bring color into a neutral room without it feeling like a huge commitment. I’d use it on cabinetry, built-ins, a kitchen island or even a ceiling. But I also love it as a full room color because it has those earthy brown undertones that make it feel really livable. It gives you color while still acting almost like a neutral.
Q. Why do you think Grounded will resonate with consumers? Are you seeing homeowners gravitate toward these earthy, nature-inspired tones? Is this a recent shift and why?
I think people are craving homes that feel less perfect and more personal. We’ve spent years looking at these highly styled, picture-perfect spaces and there’s been a real shift toward rooms that actually feel good to live in. Earthy colors like Grounded help create that feeling because they’re familiar and connected to nature. They work beautifully with wood, stone, linen and all the materials people are already bringing into their homes. I’m definitely seeing homeowners become more comfortable with richer, muddier colors instead of feeling like everything has to be white, beige or gray.
Q. What colors pair best with Grounded?
A. Grounded is really versatile because you can take it in so many directions. I love it with Coastal Beige or Environmental for something soft and tonal. Denim Light is such a pretty pairing because the blue gives you a little contrast while still feeling calm and natural. For something warmer, I’d pair it with Sedona Pink or Cocoa Nutmeg. And if you want more drama, Ancient Root would be beautiful. Grounded can handle a deeper color next to it because it has enough richness of its own.
Q. How does Grounded help create a space that feels lived-in and real?
A. Grounded doesn’t feel precious, which is one of the things I really like about it. It has this earthy quality that works beautifully with the things we actually live with, like worn wood, vintage pieces, natural fabrics, family photos and objects collected over time. People are tired of feeling like every corner of their home needs to be camera-ready. Your home should be the place where you can come in, put your stuff down and exhale. Grounded already has some age and warmth built into it, so it sits right alongside worn wood and vintage pieces instead of competing with them.
Q. What’s one unexpected way or place to use Grounded that homeowners might not think of?
A. I would put it on the ceiling. People forget about the ceiling all the time and Grounded would be gorgeous overhead in a bedroom, dining room or powder room. You could keep the walls lighter and let that olive tone wrap the top of the room. It would add so much personality without taking over the entire space.
Q. How would you use Grounded differently from Hidden Gem since they both are in the green family?
A. To me, Hidden Gem feels moodier and a little more dramatic because of that smoky jade quality. I’d use it when I want a space to feel sophisticated and make more of a statement. Grounded feels warmer and earthier. The brown undertones make it really easy to live with, so I’d be more likely to use it across a larger space or in rooms where I want that relaxed, natural feeling. They’re both greens, but they create completely different moods.
Whether used across an entire room, on cabinetry or in an unexpected place like the ceiling, Grounded shows how an earthy green paint color can bring warmth, personality and a connection to nature into the home. Its mossy olive tone and brown undertones make it easy to layer with natural materials, collected pieces and a range of complementary paint colors.
For more paint color inspiration, decorating ideas and the latest from BEHR, visit Colorfully BEHR. To learn more about Sabrina’s design style, projects and inspiration, visit SabrinaSoto.com.
Colorfully yours,
Larayne
