Lilypad Paint Named to TIME's List of the Best Inventions of 2026

Award-winning paint that prevents condensation and regulates humidity is now available in seven new colors

SOMERVILLE, Mass., Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Adept Materials today announced that Lilypad™, its humidity-regulating paint and primer, has been named to TIME's list of the Best Inventions of 2026 in the Manufacturing & Materials category. The news comes as Lilypad expands beyond its original Perfect White with seven new colors, each formulated with the same patented moisture-control technology.

Lilypad is built for rooms that get wet. It's a premium paint and primer that absorbs excess moisture when humidity spikes, and releases it as conditions normalize. A single gallon of paint absorbs about 13 ounces of water vapor, roughly what a hot shower releases. Lilypad helps prevent condensation and regulate humidity, making it the first latex paint to address the root cause of indoor moisture damage while helping to improve comfort, air quality, and energy efficiency.

"It's time to rethink what building materials can do. It's why we founded Adept Materials. Today's recognition from TIME tells us we're not alone, and that people are ready to hold materials to a higher standard," said Derek Stein, founder & CEO of Adept Materials. "Lilypad takes a simple, decorative product and gives it a greater purpose. We're honored to be included on the TIME Best Inventions List, and we hope Lilypad is just the first of many inventions that add functionality and intelligence to the materials around us."

Moisture issues like dampness and mold affect 47% of U.S. homes—nearly 140 million Americans across the economic spectrum—and are associated with a 30% to 50% increase in respiratory illness and asthma, costing the U.S. economy more than $22 billion annually. Laboratory testing, controlled field trials, and deployments in hundreds of real homes prove Lilypad's efficacy in addressing moisture problems. For example, controlled side-by-side tests simulating a typical shower show that Lilypad keeps peak humidity about 15% lower than conventional paint.

Lilypad products are free from Red List chemicals named in the Living Building Challenge, are formulated to meet California's strictest VOC standards, and are Green Wise™ Certified. Additionally, Lilypad products are designed and priced to serve a broad market, helping homeowners protect their investment, high-end builders deliver beautiful and durable finishes, and affordable housing property managers reduce maintenance costs.

Lilypad launched in February 2026 with Perfect White, and is now available in seven new colors. Each color in The Essentials palette was formulated with Adept Materials' Vaporwisp™, the core technology enabling moisture control.

The Essentials palette:

• Soft Landing: A warm off-white with a touch of honey, offering an elegant, versatile foundation for any interior.
• Silk Rose: A soft, pale pink with peach undertones, muted and sophisticated with a hint of beige.
• Eternal Moment: A pale, airy blue with a fresh, open feel.
• Sage & Sound: A muted, earthy sage green, softened with gray for a grounded, organic feel.
• Fogline: A neutral, misty gray that settles quietly into any space.
• Cinnamon Oatmeal: A toasty, light brown with notes of cinnamon that feels cozy without feeling heavy.
• Cloud Break: A composed, mineral blue-gray, calm and restorative like the sky clearing after a storm.
• Perfect White: The original. A timeless, neutral white that complements a full spectrum of colors.

The TIME honor follows recognition from Fast Company as the winner of the 2026 Innovation by Design Award in the Materials & Biodesign category. Earlier this year, Lilypad received a Silver Edison Award in the Commercial Technology category.

The TIME Best Inventions List features 300 extraordinary innovations changing our lives. To read the full list, see here. For more information about the Lilypad Paint & Primer kit and to shop The Essentials color palette, visit lilypadpaint.com.

About Adept Materials

Adept Materials is an adaptive material technology company on a mission to improve the health, durability and energy efficiency of the built environment. Founded by Brown University physicist Dr. Derek Stein, Adept is commercializing Vaporwisp™ material technology that advances moisture, humidity, and thermal management. Lilypad Paint & Primer is the first product engineered with Vaporwisp to reduce moisture-related risks in homes. For more information, visit adeptmaterials.com.

About Lilypad

Lilypad Paint & Primer puts walls to work. Formulated with Vaporwisp™ technology, Lilypad automatically regulates indoor humidity to reduce moisture-related risks in homes. Lilypad absorbs water vapor when humidity spikes and releases it as conditions normalize. Born from a physics research lab at Brown University and backed by two of the nation's largest homebuilders, Lilypad was included in TIME's Best Inventions of 2026 list and was a winner of Fast Company's 2026 Innovation by Design award. Learn more at lilypadpaint.com and @uselilypad.

SOURCE Adept Materials