2026 Colour Trends: How To Use In Your Home

Every year, the design world waits with anticipation as industry heavyweights like Pantone and Dulux release their Colours of the Year. For 2026, we were greeted with a kaleidoscope of options, so we asked our resident expert, Rebecca Jones from Edward Thomas Interiors, to break them down…

Pantone Colour of the Year: Cloud Dancer

Cloud Dancer is a soft, airy, off-white that Pantone suggests will incite a calming and reflective presence. It’s the first time in the 26 years of Colour of the Year that Pantone has picked white and it’s been a controversial choice. Some have called it the perfect blank canvas, others suggest it’s tone deaf in relation to how people style their homes.

At Edward Thomas, we’re here for it.

White is a great layering or accent colour. It allows for creativity and is perfect to soften a living room or bedroom, or add freshness to a kitchen/diner. Cloud Dancer offers a twist on the classic monochrome look, pair with an anthracite or caramel for a modern interpretation.

Dulux Colour of the Year: The Rhythm of Blues

In another first, Dulux picked a trio of shades for its 2026 Colour(s). The Rhythm of Blues is a versatile family of indigos that promise vibrancy, meditation and lightness. Blue is one of our favourite shades to work with. Soft blues add a sense of calm so are great for nurseries or home offices; inky, bold blues add a splash of luxury for bedrooms; while timeless hues like navy are perfect for creating an elegant kitchen or dining area.

Farrow & Ball Colour(s) of the Year: Scallop, Hay, Brinjal and Sardine

Farrow & Ball really covered all bases with their choices! Scallop and Hay are a soft pink and yellow respectively while Brinjal is a deep plum and Sardine a mineral blue. Buttery yellow was popular last year and Hay feels like the next iteration. Both this and Scallop would make gorgeous backdrops for a child’s bedroom as they bring a huge amount of warmth.

Brinjal could be seen as a marmite choice but I can see it working well as a statement wall or making an impact in a smaller room such as the downstairs cloakroom. Lastly, Sardine has an earthiness to it that would be perfect for those wanting a pop of colour in an unexpected place such as door surrounds or skirting boards.

Any other colour trends we should watch out for this year?

Everyone’s talking about greige at the moment. It’s a mix of grey and beige with green undertones and brings a warmth to these otherwise neutral shades. Use it alongside warm woods to create a cosy living room or pair with black accents for a statement bedroom.

Then, brown is going to become the new black! Last year we had Mocha Mousse and this has sparked the revival for rich brown tones so look out for more walnut, chocolate and caramel!