What will homes look and feel like in 2026? Every year, AkzoNobel’s ColourFutures identifies the shades that reflect how people are living, feeling, and creating around the world. In this exclusive interview, Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Centre in Amsterdam reveals the inspiration behind 2026’s palettes, how they come to life in real homes, and what they mean for design, wellbeing, and sustainability.
CH: Can you share the inspiration and thought process behind this year’s Colour of the Year?
Heleen: Absolutely. We respond to behavioural trends, and once a year we research these trends together with a group of international design and trend experts. We invite them for a brainstorm session and ask them to share what people in their region are concerned about, what influences the way they look at their homes and the built environment.
Our group comes from all over the world — your region, Malaysia, included, as well as Latin America, North America, Africa, and Europe. They all share their thoughts on the global situation and how it shapes consumer behaviour. We then identify the most significant topics and translate them into colour stories.
This year, it is very much about how people react to the world we live in, our overheated, hectic world, and how everyone has their own way of responding — and their own colour needs as a result. Our overarching theme is Your Space, Your Pace. In your own space, you decide the pace, the mood, and the colour flow you want around you.
We developed three individual colour stories. One is centred on warm tones and connection — all about our need for kinship, the Flow Colour Story. The second speaks to the younger generation, Gen Z, with a more fluid, playful, out-of-the-box attitude, and how that translates to interior decorating needs, the Free Colour Story. The third is about the need to create a beautiful retreat for “me time”, this is called the Slow Colour Story. Each palette reflects a sentiment and a lifestyle “rhythm”.
CH: Let’s talk about the four palettes. How do these palettes translate into real-world applications for homes and workplaces?
Heleen: We also research which colours work best in different types of spaces — healthcare, offices, education, hospitality, and residential. It’s called human-centric design, and it’s incredibly insightful. We link our trend colours to these findings.
Some palettes are more suitable for healthcare, while others work beautifully in hospitality. All palettes are lovely for residential use — that’s never an issue. Blues and greens, for example, enhance restfulness and focus, while brighter, warmer colours evoke energy and connection.
These qualities are exactly why we created the palettes the way we did. Our beautiful brown palette, combined with three blues, shows how the blues elevate the tones they sit alongside. The browns create a sense of introspection and calm, while the warmer reds bring energy and warmth. The greens — especially those shifting from yellow to green — offer freshness, flow, and playfulness, perfect for spaces that need a lively feel.
CH: Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in design. How do emerging eco trends influence colour selection and material finishes?
Heleen: The first thing we do is reuse colours from the past. We believe our palettes have a longer lifespan than just one year. Although we highlight a Colour of the Year annually, you’ll notice that True Joy from 2025 is still present in 2026 — and the same goes for Sweet Embrace. These aren’t short-term ideas; they’re long-term trends.
We encourage people to build on what they already have. Colour is personal, so your next paint colour won’t be 180 degrees different from your previous one. And even if you start completely fresh, your new colour scheme will still feel relevant for years. We share something new each year simply to inspire — not to push people to repaint everything on the 1st of January.
We also offer products that support sustainable living. Many of our paints are designed with human wellbeing in mind — for example, products that destroy formaldehyde in the air. All these attributes are available in the Colours of the Year palettes, so people can choose the colour they love in the finish that suits their needs.
CH: Could you share some real-world case studies of how Dulux palettes have successfully transformed a space — whether at home or at work?
Heleen: It really starts with our photoshoots. We applied the concept of One Room, Four Ways. We photograph the same white room, then apply our palettes with minimal changes to props or furniture. The sofa, the bed — everything stays the same. By simply changing the wall colours, you can truly see what colour can do. It changes the architecture, the vibe, the mood of a room. For example, to illustrate the impact, we have a library of images showing how different colour palettes can transform your living room, bedroom, kitchen and workspace.
ONE BEDROOM, FOUR PALETTES
The Rhythm of Blues
In Malaysia, Dulux has collaborated with a local Airbnb featuring the Blue Room.
CH: Looking ahead, how do you see the role of colour evolving in interior design in 2026 and beyond?
Heleen: We’re seeing colours become slightly lighter overall, with accent areas highlighted in darker tones. We went through a period of “near blacks” — very dark browns, reds, and greens — which we showcased in recent years. Now the shift is towards lighter hues, although darks still play an important role in creating contrast.
So yes, subtle blues and browns are becoming more prominent, as you mentioned. They’re less forceful and easier to use. We also see colour being used architecturally — to highlight features, influence the room’s shape, or wrap a space entirely.
Painting ceilings is becoming more common. When I started at AkzoNobel, I always said, “Don’t forget the ceiling,” and I think people listened! Colour wrapping — walls and ceiling in the same shade — is growing. It creates a cocooning effect, like wrapping yourself in colour. It works with light tones, midtones, and darks, depending on your lighting and the mood you want.
CH: When comparing the palettes for 2025 and 2026, what would you say are the key differences?
Heleen: It’s more of an evolution than a revolution — which ties back to sustainability. We had a bright yellow in 2025, but overall the new palettes are lighter. We still include some bright shades, like our cobalt blue Colour of the Year, but the bright colours now serve more as accents. The lighter colours have become the foundations, the carriers.
CH: Do you have a personal favourite colour from ColourFutures 2026, and what draws you to it?
Heleen: I always say I don’t have favourite colours — just as you don’t have favourite children — but in this case, I can’t hide that the very dark navy is my personal favourite. Especially from a fashion perspective, it has always appealed to me.
But honestly, I love all three blues. The cobalt blue is energising, while the lighter blue has a beautiful greyed-off quality — like blue skies. Paired with the terracottas in the palette, it creates a wonderful combination of sky and earth. I believe there are no colours I don’t like; sometimes it’s just the combinations that may not work. With the right pairing, any colour can shine.
CH: Finally, what advice would you give Malaysian homeowners considering a repaint this coming year?
Heleen: Don’t worry — start by letting Dulux inspire you. Explore the materials, visit the website, and use our tools. Choose one colour and trust your instinct. Colour is personal, and if you stay true to yourself, you can’t go wrong.
Once you’ve chosen a colour from the ColourFutures palette, the combinations are already clever — whether you go up, down, left, or right, you’ll find a perfect match. We also offer the right whites that make colours come alive, so selecting the correct white is important.
And then just go for it. People often overthink the process, but it should be joyful. The first few days may feel new, but soon it becomes familiar. Once your furniture and art are back in place, the room settles beautifully. Paintings, by the way, look wonderful against coloured walls — the backdrop makes the artwork sing.
Enjoy colour. It’s truly a gift to yourself to surround your home with shades that feel personal.
“Enjoy colour. It’s truly a gift to yourself to surround your home with shades that feel personal.” – Heleen van Gent, Creative Director from AkzoNobel’s Global Asthetic Center
https://www.akzonobel.com/en; https://www.dulux.com.my/en
