RANGE REVIEW: DECORATING & WALLCOVERINGS


PAINT COLOURS OF THE YEAR 2026 AND HOW TO USE THEM


As the paint and wallpaper manufacturers announced their colours of the year, painting and decorating expert Pat Gilham at MyJobQuote.co.uk casts an eye over the colour palettes that are set to dominate in 2026 and shares tips on how to use them.


B


enjamin Moore’s Colour of the Year (COTY) is a rich espresso brown with subtle notes of charcoal. Silhouette


is a versatile colour that blends well with warm neutrals, earthy reds, and blues. It has the benefit of being bold, yet it’s a warmer, subtler tone than black or grey.


This elegant shade feels like an instant classic. So, it’s perfect for giving rooms a refined and timeless look. As it’s a deep, warm colour, it can be used on walls to make a snug feel cosy and to create a striking and grown-up lounge. You could also use the colour on your kitchen cabinets to bring them up to date.


Adventurer Little Greene’s Colour of the Year is another deep, warm hue that feels sophisticated and timeless. Adventurer is a plummy aubergine colour that feels calmer and more comforting than typical red and purple shades. With these comforting qualities, Adventurer is in a prime position to bring an intimate and stylish atmosphere to bedrooms. If you’re worried about overpowering your interiors, try pairing it with a pale pink or grey, or contrast it with a sage or mossy green.


Divine Damson Graham and Brown’s COTY choice is a similar shade. Divine Damson mixes Damson, fig and mulberry


notes to create a dark, opulent red that’s capable of adding depth, warmth and luxury to interiors. Go bold and use it to drench a


room or bring even more drama to spaces by pairing it with exotic, patterned wallpapers and warm metallics. Use it to create a sumptuous bedroom design or to turn a cold, north-facing room into a warm and welcoming space.


Warm Eucalyptus Valspar have also gone with a warm tone for its Colour of the Year. However, they’ve turned directly to nature for their inspiration. Warm Eucalyptus is an earthy green with a hint of grey that coordinates well with deep browns and pale blues, enabling you to create an interior that’s calm and grounding. Warm Eucalyptus is perfect for double drenching a room with Valspar’s Degas Blue and for creating serene and relaxing bathrooms and bedrooms. This versatile green also works well on cabinetry in kitchens, lounges and bedrooms.


Rhythm of Blues In a similar vein to Valspar, Dulux have also chosen a soothing colour palette for 2026. However, they’ve taken a slightly different approach, going for a trio of colours rather than a single shade. Their cool combo, Rhythm of Blues, aims to promote a serene ambience around the home. The trio consists of Slow Swing, a deep, inky blue; Free Groove, a vibrant indigo; and Mellow Flow, a


Freckle If you’re a fan of bright, warm paint colours, you might find yourself drawn to Earthborn’s COTY. Freckle is a soft, earthy orange with hints of ochre and terracotta.


Another versatile paint colour,


Freckle can be used to create a bold accent wall, to warm up ceilings and to add personality to panelling. Pair it with a white, burgundy or aquamarine paint colour to achieve a standout interior.


pale grey blue. These three shades, like most of the 2026 Paint Colours of the Year, have a versatile quality. You could use them together to create a coordinated interior with lots of depth or combine one colour with a warm neutral, punchy yellow or crisp white.


Return to Play


Lick have also gone for more than one colour choice for 2026. Their Return to Play selection consists of eight feel-good paint colours. Return to Play features warm neutrals, including a taupe and a pinkish-white as well as a rich wine red, calming duck-egg blue, mossy green and muted yellow. The palette works together like a grown- up rainbow, enabling you to create a bold, fun home that also nurtures and soothes. You’ll find the red and taupe colours create a warm balance of light and dark tones that have a cocooning effect on rooms. Use it to make kitchens, dining spaces, and lounges feel homely. Or drench your bathroom in Rome House, a dusky green that feels restorative and energising.


Chameleon Tikkurila’s paint Colour of the Year for 2026 is another bright shade with a touch of ochre. Chameleon is a mustard yellow with a hint of green, making it warm yet calming. This subtle twist on conventional sunshine yellows is the natural choice for large airy rooms, as it will enhance rather than overpower the space. It also lends itself to brightening small spaces while keeping a cosy ambience.


Secret Safari Johnstone’s COTY, Secret Safari, is a yellow with a touch greener than Tikkurila’s Chameleon. So, it evokes an even greater sense of calm. Used on walls and ceilings, the soft olive tones bring a deeper connection to nature, helping to soothe and uplift moods. You could combine Secret Safari with natural wood tones and terracotta browns to create a grounding interior design that suits kitchens, lounges and bedrooms. It also coordinates well with coral pinks and pale blues.


Final thoughts From looking at the paint colours of the year, it’s clear that there’s a range of versatile colours set to dominate in 2026. Thanks to the timeless quality of these trending paint colours, you can be confident that whatever you go for, it won’t look dated after the year is out.


WARMING WALLPAPERS BRING A COSY FEEL TO INTERIORS THIS SEASON


Homeowners looking to add warmth to the home this winter should step away from the central heating thermostat and instead consider revamping their interior schemes, says eco paint brand Victory Colours. Founder Victoria Yardley says choosing cosy colours can bring a warm feeling into any room.


The family-run business, which specialises in its own range of environmentally friendly paints, also stocks a range of wallpapers from


22 DIY WEEK DECEMBER 2025


independent design house Ohpopsi. Yardley says: “Ohpopsi are


renowned for their characterful designs in a range of bold hues.” According to Yardley the key to


creating a cosy room is to choose a wallpaper that incorporates warm hues and a pattern that brings depth. Ohpopsi’s Orb is a stunning geometric print bursting with overlapping circles. It is available in a range of colourways, including Fox, which brings together shades of brown and amber to naturally evoke a feeling of warmth.


It pairs beautifully with Victory Colours’ Conker and Coco Bean. Another option is Twisted Geo in Stone. Packed with curves, there is a freedom to Twisted Geo that invites relaxation and comfort, offering the ultimate escape from the great outdoors. Twisted Geo in Stone and Orb in Fox by Ohpopsi are available now from Victory Colours, with prices starting at £69 per roll. Visit www. victorycolours.co.uk/collections/ all/wallpaper to find out more.


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