In formaldehyde (\( \text{HCHO} \)), the carbon atom is double-bonded to oxygen and single-bonded to a hydrogen atom and a methyl group (\( -CH_2 \)). This requires three regions of electron density around the carbon atom. Hence, the carbon atom undergoes \( sp^2 \) hybridization to form three sp² hybrid orbitals, which results in a trigonal planar shape.
The shape of the formaldehyde molecule is trigonal planar due to the \( sp^2 \) hybridization of the central carbon atom.