If you’re thinking of giving your walls a refresh next year, 2026 is shaping up to be all about mood, warmth, and personality. From soothing hues to bold accents, the trends are pointing toward spaces that feel lived-in, comforting, and expressive. Here’s what we're seeing, and what we think you’ll love.
Warm Earth & Nature-Inspired Tones
One of the big moves for 2026 is deeper, earthier colour palettes. Think warm terracotta, burgundy and berry reds, as well as olive or forest greens. These shades work brilliantly for cosy living rooms, snug corners, and anywhere you want a sense of comfort.
Wallpaper’s following suit — botanical prints with moody backgrounds, leafy large patterns, or wallcoverings in natural tones (deep greens, muted browns) are going to be everywhere. It’s about bringing nature indoors, in a way that soothes.
Discover Bramble, Brick, Magic Tree and Veg Out to get the look.
Blues Rule (In All Their Shades)
If there’s one colour family making waves, it’s blue. The idea is to cover a spectrum: calm & airy, bold & expressive, and deep & grounding.
Blues are having a moment as the new “neutral” in many places — soft sky tones, muted oceanic shades, watery blue-greens. Using them on walls, cabinetry, or even ceilings adds serenity and versatility.
Check out our blue paint colours such as Nesh, Nana's China and Smurf Blue to get the look.
Colour as Mood & Statement
2026 isn’t afraid of feeling, and colour is one of its main tools. We’ll see lots of “mood” colours: saturated reds, plums, and jewel tones (emerald, amethyst) that aren’t just accent shades but sometimes full-on statements.
Then there are paint tones that evoke nostalgia — soft pastels (muted lavenders, dusty pinks, pale mustards), blushy neutrals, almost-there peaches. These bring warmth and comfort without being overbearing.
For a nostalgic feel look to Prinks, Angel Delight and Knickers in a Twist.
Texture, Layering & Wallcovering Depth
It’s not only about which colours, but how they’re used. These are some texture and design techniques rising in popularity:
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Colour-drenching: using variations of the same hue across walls, trim, maybe even ceilings, to make rooms feel immersive.
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Color blocking: combining geometric sections of different shades on walls. One wall might be split top/bottom, or sections divided by architectural detail, moulding etc.
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Wallpapers with tactile or painterly effect: brushstrokes, watercolor washes, large botanical motifs, retro geometrics, or textures mimicking natural surfaces like linen, plaster.
“New Neutrals” & Soft Warmth
While bold colours are making noise, there’s also a quiet revolution in neutrals. The neutrals of 2026 are softer, warmer, more layered. They tend to have undertones of peach, pink, or yellow instead of the colder greys that have dominated. These are perfect backdrops to allow the furniture, art, wallpaper or smaller decor pieces to pop.
Mayo, Nowt, Cricket White's and Barmcake are all perfect examples of the new neutrals.
Muted greens (eucalyptus, sage with warmth), creamy ivories, delicate blush-neutrals — these colours allow flexibility and calm, especially in smaller rooms or spaces you use a lot.
Wallpaper Trends to Watch
Since you also do wallpapers, here are what wallpaper lovers will want to lean into in 2026:
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Modern botanicals: deeper tone leafy prints, jungle or forest themes, darker base colours. Gives drama + nature vibes.
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Retro geometrics: patterns with nostalgic nods, ’70s style geometrics with updated colours (blush, ochre, terracotta).
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Texture / subtle neutrals: linen-effect, plaster-effect, hand-drawn trees or nature silhouettes, tone-on-tone designs. Great for hallways, ceilings, places where you want calm but character.
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Artistic & painterly: brushstroke and watercolor motifs, murals that feel hand-painted or like art installations. They add movement and creativity.
What This Means for You & Your Home
Here’s how to take all that inspo and make it work in real life:
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Start with mood: Do you want calm and restorative? Energetic and bold? Your desired mood will help you choose shades.
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Test, test, test: Colours change with light. What looks deep and dramatic in photos may read totally different at 5pm in your living room. Swatches and tester pots are lifesavers.
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Balance is everything: If you go bold on wallpaper or a feature wall, you might ease off elsewhere. If walls are soothing neutrals, let accents pop (art, cushions, frames).
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Mix textures & finishes: Matte, eggshell, glossy, textured wallpaper — mixing these helps avoid flatness. Wallpaper with slight sheen, metallic hardware, wood or stone surfaces all bring depth.
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Don’t forget trim, ceilings & doors: 2026 trends aren’t limited to walls. Painting doors, skirting, ceilings in complementary tones or even darker shades is becoming more common, especially with colour drenching.
Final Thoughts
If we had to pick a mantra for 2026, it’d be: “Colour with intention. Texture with heart.” Whatever you choose — a moody blue, a warm burgundy, a botanical wallpaper print — let it speak to you. Because at the end of the day, it’s your home, your mood, your joy.