Somerville, Mass. – October 15, 2026 -- Lilypad, a paint and primer that absorbs excess moisture and prevents condensation, now comes in seven new colors after landing on TIME's Best Inventions of 2026 list in the Manufacturing & Materials category.
One gallon absorbs about 13 ounces of water vapor
Adept Materials built Lilypad for rooms that get wet. The paint takes in moisture when humidity spikes and releases it as conditions normalize. A single gallon absorbs about 13 ounces of water vapor, roughly what a hot shower releases.
In controlled side-by-side tests simulating a typical shower, Lilypad kept peak humidity about 15% lower than conventional paint. The company says laboratory testing, controlled field trials, and deployments in hundreds of real homes back up its efficacy.
Moisture problems affect 47% of U.S. homes
Dampness and mold affect 47% of U.S. homes, or nearly 140 million Americans. These problems are associated with a 30% to 50% increase in respiratory illness and asthma, and cost the U.S. economy more than $22 billion annually, according to the company.
The Essentials palette grows to eight shades
Lilypad launched in February 2026 with a single shade, Perfect White. The new Essentials palette adds seven colors, each formulated with Adept Materials' patented VaporwispTM moisture-control technology:
- Soft Landing: a warm off-white with a touch of honey
- Silk Rose: a soft, pale pink with peach undertones
- Eternal Moment: a pale, airy blue
- Sage & Sound: a muted, earthy sage green softened with gray
- Fogline: a neutral, misty gray
- Cinnamon Oatmeal: a toasty, light brown with notes of cinnamon
- Cloud Break: a mineral blue-gray
Free of Red List chemicals and meets California VOC standards
Lilypad products are free from the Red List chemicals named in the Living Building Challenge. They are formulated to meet California's strictest VOC standards and are Green WiseTM Certified. Adept Materials says the products are designed and priced to serve homeowners, high-end builders, and affordable housing property managers.
TIME joins Fast Company and Edison Awards
Fast Company named Lilypad the 2026 Innovation by Design winner in the Materials & Biodesign category. Earlier this year, it received a Silver Edison Award in the Commercial Technology category. TIME's Best Inventions list features 300 innovations.
Adept Materials founder and CEO Derek Stein said the recognition shows people are ready to hold building materials to a higher standard.