Silhouette by Benjamin Moore: the evolution of warmth and depth

In the midst of bold colour drenching and expressive maximalism, interiors are softening again. The shift is not a return to minimalism but a maturing of warmth - a movement toward shadow, subtlety, and tactility. Benjamin Moore’s 2026 Colour of the Year, Silhouette, embodies this refinement. Deep and layered, it speaks to restraint and texture rather than saturation.

Silhouette by Benjamin Moore: the evolution of warmth and depth

Depth refined

Silhouette is a sophisticated continuation of the warm palette we have embraced in recent seasons. Its smoky undertone and brown-black base evoke depth and heritage while feeling modern when styled with stone, timber, or linen. On wainscoted walls it lends quiet nostalgia, while in contemporary spaces it introduces balance against lighter, chalky tones.

This palette reflects a growing desire for grounded design - interiors that feel considered and timeless rather than seasonal. Silhouette achieves that through contrast and layering, pairing beautifully with ceramics, aged metals, and soft diffused light.

An artist’s eye

In my own practice, umber forms the foundation of many pieces. I use it as an underpainting to create shadow and tonal weight, layering, sanding, scraping, and glazing to reveal light through darkness. This approach mirrors how depth can be built within an interior: tone on tone, texture against smoothness, matte beside sheen. The goal is not contrast for its own sake but an atmosphere that feels cohesive and calm.

The material dialogue

One reason Silhouette feels so right for now is its relationship with materials that are honest and handcrafted. Ceramic tiles and sculptural forms have become staples in interior styling, offering artisanal tactility and imperfection in a world so reliant on devices. This deep brown-grey grounds those elements, allowing white, seafoam, or clay finishes to stand out without sharpness. It also pairs naturally with bronze, tarnished gold, and warm lighting - combinations that feel lived-in and enduring rather than polished.

The sensory response

Colours in this spectrum do more than decorate. They shape emotion. Silhouette nurtures, steadies, and slows the pace of a room. Under soft light it becomes enveloping, almost sensual, connecting us back to earth and materiality. It is the tone of a quiet evening, the scent of timber and smoke, the calm found in texture and shadow.

In the stillness

The story of Silhouette is not about returning to darkness but about finding peace in depth. In both art and interiors, shadow creates light. It invites pause and reflection. In a world of constant brightness, this colour reminds us that stillness, too, has beauty.

Abstracted is a creative journal by Lee J Morgan exploring art, interiors, and the spaces between, offering an artist’s view on the evolving language of design.