CB2 Taps 2026’s Most Controversial Color for Its New Outdoor Collection – and It’s Surprisingly Serene
While others reach for cabana stripes and neon hues, CB2 uses the airy shade to bring a breezier sensibility to alfresco living
Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer, has reignited a familiar debate: is white even a color at all? Critics scoff. CB2, however, clearly disagrees, building its new outdoor collection around the same kind of airy palette. After all, supporters would argue its unpigmented beauty lies in being a blank canvas – setting a quiet stage for real, phone-free life to unfold, or offering the chromatic equivalent of a vacation.
Rather than jolt the eye with on trend thick stripes or neon pinks, CB2's new outdoor collection settles into serenity. Long-lined pieces like the faux-limestone coffee table and the even more elongated Sunbrella-upholstered sofa from the Oakley lineup – designed in collaboration with interior designer Kara Mann – create a soothing backdrop that lets color and pattern take the spotlight elsewhere.
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Designed to drift effortlessly from afternoon lounging to evening entertaining, ultra-oversized, impossibly cushy pieces like the Oakley Teak Lounge Chair double as both a sociable perch for conversation and a solo daybed for napping.
Of course, the smaller accents offer a respite for the eye as well. CB2 rounds out the look with milk-glass lanterns that glow softly after sunset, a handwoven white herringbone rug that feels just as crisp indoors as it does out, and appetizer plates illustrated with an idyllic vintage garden scene – all the more charming against their clear backdrop.
Outdoor table and dining accessories whisper so that the real stars can speak: chatty guests, the meat you've masterfully grilled, or, in this case, the caviar.
Like any great vacation, there’s a sense you could simply float away. The difference is, this escape doesn’t require a flight. Shop Homes & Gardens' favorite serene CB2 pieces
You’ve likely already fallen down the rabbit hole of indoor-outdoor-friendly portable lamps, but what about a lantern? Just as easy to move and equally equipped to withstand the elements – though a clear winner in the whimsy department, especially clustered along a coffee or dining table or enchanting a patio corner.
Is white ever going out of style? According to designers, the answer is an unequivocal no – so invest wisely. This outdoor rug feels like a low-commitment way to dip into the color trend, adding more nuance than you might expect thanks to its intricate herringbone weave.
Chic whites and high-gloss finishes are a match made in heaven in this scallop-based side table, designed in collaboration with Savannah-based designer Caleb Zipperer. Between the sculptural details and the way this petite piece catches the light, it's easy to appreciate the simplistic strength of keeping design’s most contested ‘blank slate’ just that.
Resin is a beautiful thing – just get a load of those swirls. Each of these darling bowls (perfect for nuts, chips, dips, and the like) is individually poured into a mold, creating a mesmerizing smoky effect in matte white. Every piece is one of a kind – a must if you want to avoid any unintentional ‘opa’ moments during outdoor entertaining.
Most of us, for obvious reasons, have avoided white patio furniture like the plague. But this immaculate low-slung outdoor sofa might change a few minds. Upholstered in a specialized performance fabric developed in Denmark, it delivers the slubby, flecked look of high-end linen with the comfort of indoor furniture, all while staying remarkably pristine through the season.
You don’t have to go all-white all the time to harness the power of this calming color. It coexists beautifully with others, which is why the illustration-style garden scene on these appetizer plates feels both soft and striking at once. Plus, those scalloped edges couldn’t possibly be more perfect for layering over your usual solid outdoor dinner plates.
Cloud Dancer–esque shades can play with color, too. CB2’s Costa line from the new outdoor collection pairs billowy white with sunwashed taupe, creating perhaps the most serene, whisper-soft take on pattern imaginable.
You don’t want to skimp on an umbrella – one particularly overzealous gust of wind and your entire resort-style setup could quite literally come crashing down. With an all-white design, the details matter: a sturdy crank-to-open mechanism, rustproof aluminum frame, and vented Sunbrella® canopy make this crisp shade solution one you’ll rely on for years.
Bouclé for the backyard? You better believe it. This cozy cushion, handwoven from recycled yarns, adds a fresh layer atop existing outdoor seating – or, of course, serves as the perfect monochromatic companion on a white one.
Some call white sterile, but CB2 – and us included – find the shade serene. There’s a reason the pared-back minimalism of the ’90s, à la Calvin Klein, is having a revival. The airy, of-the-moment hue works beautifully outdoors, but should you want to bring the look inside, designers share how to make the most of this blank canvas at home, too.
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