Paint Colour Trends for 2026 from Dulux and Pantone, Featuring Warm Neutrals

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A number of global paint brands have released their 2026 colour predictions. While specific colour choices vary, the underlying sentiment is consistent: people are seeking calm neutrals and colours that deliver comfort. Dulux's 2026 forecast centres on one key insight: people want warmth, calm, and connection. With global uncertainty weighing on us all, colour is shifting toward comfort, softness, and grounding.

Dulux takes inspiration from Milan Design Week and trends in Western Europe. However, they filter these trends for the Australian climate, light, and lifestyle. You can find Dulux's 2026 colour launch here. Here are the key points.

Warmth dominates. Everything is moving toward warmth - warm neutrals, warm greys, and warm timbers. The cooler palette of the 2010s is fading. Interestingly, Dulux's iconic 'Hogs Bristle Quarter' is having a renaissance moment after being sidelined during the Millennial Grey period.

Chrome and silver are resurgent. Chrome appeared everywhere at Milan Design Week. It was seen in lighting, furniture legs, tapware, and decorative elements. It's back with quiet confidence.

Texture rivals colour. Velvet, bouclé, corded textiles, raw stone, and layered paint effects are no longer secondary; they're being integrated into design work.

Curves over hard lines. Rounded furniture, soft edges, and sculptural forms reinforce the calming aesthetic we're all craving.

Tonal colour is on trend. Colour drenching and subtle tonal shifts—using a single hue in two different strengths across walls and ceilings—are shaping how designers approach colour in 2026.  Then there's Pantone's Cloud Dancer.

Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year is a white they call "Cloud Dancer"—and it's sparked debate. Some dismiss it as a conservative and risk-averse choice. Others question whether the poetic name was the real reason behind this selection. But there's something honest about it: after a year of relentless headlines, who wouldn't crave the feeling of dancing on fluffy soft clouds? The resurgence of green and brown. Beyond Pantone and Dulux, other major paint brands are leaning into the growing use of greens and browns. This palette reflects our collective focus on environmental concerns. Interestingly, this echoes the 1970s, the last era when green and brown dominated the cultural and creative zeitgeist. Avocado appliances, brown paneled walls, brown tiles, brown bricks—everything brown! They weren't accidental. Environmental activism and political disillusionment dominated that era, leading to a movement away from the synthetic designs of the 60s. Sound familiar?

The 2026 forecasts point to a shift away from cool greys and toward warmer, more comforting palettes. Colour is becoming more present and is being used in more adventurous ways.

For renovators and developers, this doesn’t mean taking big risks. Controlled confidence is key: introduce colour in small, deliberate ways. Accent walls, select rooms like laundries or media rooms, joinery, tiles, or soft finishes allow projects to feel current without compromising broad appeal. Kitchens, in particular, are leading this change. Used thoughtfully, colour doesn’t dominate—it adds value.