By Maddie Cochran Interiors 21.12.2025

The 3 Colours You’ll See In Every Home in 2026

Pantone’s 2026 Colour of the Year has set the tone.

This year, from a colour perspective, was anything but restrained. “More is more is more!” said the masses. It’s an emotional response to the turbulent social environment around us – that’s how trends come to be.

How was this woven into our moodboards and floorplans? Colour drenching confirmed a much-needed departure from millennial minimalism. Tonal drapery fell into the spotlight as more than just a functional item. And bright lacquer found its way back onto the list of top finishes for hero furniture pieces.

Naturally, the transition into a new calendar year serves as an opportunity to refresh or refine the space you call home. So, do it through colour – simply. Here are three colour families we predict you’re about to see everywhere.

New Neutrals

They aren’t going anywhere; they’re just getting warmer and richer. Stark whites and ghostly greys are to be replaced with soft ochres and whipped butters. Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2026 is clear proof: Cloud Dancer, a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence for anyone rediscovering the value of quiet reflection.

Jen Baxter, founder of Baxter Hill Interiors, accurately predicted the emergence of a neutral palette with “more depth and a continuing shift towards earthy, organic mid-tones.” Finding colours that appear time-worn or sun-soaked makes them feel as though they’ve been a permanent fixture of the house. It’s as if there’s memory and experience already attached to the design item.

The shades you should look out for:

- Epernay – C2 Paint

- Melodious Ivory – Dutch Boy Paints

- Universal Khaki – Sherwin-Williams

Nut & Roast

A loving extension of the ‘brown’ renaissance we’ve witnessed over the last couple of years. (Mocha Mousse clearly struck a very positive chord because iterations of this shade continue to permeate must-have home decor.) It’s an unconventional base – “Brown has become a new neutral that pairs well with complementary earth tones, such as sage, terracotta, and mustard,” explains Kristine Renee of Design Alchemy.

Half the attraction here is edible marketing. We draw more primal and memorable connections to things we feel we can taste. So when terms like espresso and cacao are wrapped around throws and bed linen, there’s an instant level of satisfaction that comes to mind – the desired effect of settling into a space that feels uniquely you.

The shades you should look out for:

- Hazelnut Crunch – Clark+Kensington

- Matte Coffee Bean – Krylon

- Special Walnut – Minwax

Dusty Jewel Tones

We saw a sprinkling of this in 2025, but deeply saturated colours inspired by antique gems are here to stay. It’s an accessible way to inject a sense of luxury into your every day; an opportunity to cocoon select spaces in personality and sophistication that you might not be feeling in other areas of life.

Manuella Moreira, principal and founder of Manuella Moreira Interiors, confirms that “trends are moving towards more jewel-tone palettes that bring greater depth and dimension to interiors.” Sapphire blues, emerald greens, and ruby reds all straddle this particularly alluring emotional line between introspective and intense.

The shades you should look out for:

- Hidden Gem – Behr

- Warm Mahogany – Glidden

- Divine Damson – Graham & Brown