The colour trends for 2026 are warm, considered and quietly confident. Across the three British brands we stock, the direction is the same: gentler mid-tones, earthy neutrals with more character than grey, and rich, enveloping darks such as Little Greene's aubergine Adventurer (7). Little Greene's 26 new colours, launched in September 2026, sum it up well.
What has changed is less the colours themselves than how people use them. Rather than a single feature wall, the emphasis is on whole families of colour, layered from light to dark across walls, woodwork and ceilings.
Here is what is rising, brand by brand, and how to bring it into your home without it feeling dated in a year or two.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Perpetual Blue (348)
The big picture: warmth and mid-tones
Cool greys have been giving way to warmer neutrals for some time, and 2026 continues the shift. Little Greene's creative director, Ruth Mottershead, describes their latest colours as "an evolution rather than a revolution", reflecting a real interest in mid-tones and balanced, gentler colours that are easy to live with.
- Earthy neutrals with a hint of green, brown or ochre in place of grey.
- Muddied greens and smoky blues that feel grounded rather than bright.
- Warm, softened colour: terracottas, aged yellows and blackened oranges.
- Rich, cocooning darks such as aubergine and inky blue, used generously.
Our earlier piece on how colour will shape homes in 2026 explores the mood behind these choices.
Little Greene: 26 new colours and an aubergine
In September 2026 Little Greene added 26 colours across their Colours of England and Colour Scales collections. Highlights include:
- Haye White (346). A warm white with a touch of ochre, for rooms where a brilliant white would feel stark.
- Parlour (347). A light, warm plaster colour with a gentle pink undertone.
- Perpetual Blue (348). A mid to deep blue with a hint of green.
- Ashes of Marigold (350). A softer, earthier take on their 1970s orange, Marigold (209).
- New colour families. Barge Stone (360) and Hammock (38) now come in graduated pale, mid and dark versions, which makes tonal schemes simple.
Their colour of the year is Adventurer (7), a rich, regal aubergine with warm undertones, close in feel to burgundy.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Ashes of Marigold (350)
Farrow & Ball: tonal layering and familiar colours
Farrow & Ball's colour curator, Joa Studholme, has predicted that gradient layering will be a huge paint trend in 2026: using several shades from one colour family, from darkest to lightest, across every element of a room. It is a softer alternative to colour drenching, and because the shades share a base pigment they blend easily.
The new colours Farrow & Ball introduced in 2025 suit the mood perfectly. They include Reduced Green (313), a brooding dark neutral, the muddied green Dibber (312), the aged yellow Duster (319), the warm orange Marmelo (316), the soft terracotta Naperon (315) and Scallop (311), a gentle, warm alternative to white. Farrow & Ball also brought back Sap Green (199), Broccoli Brown (198) and Etruscan Red (56) from their archive.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Reduced Green (313)
Paint & Paper Library: jewel-bright accents
Paint & Paper Library's Jewels capsule collection takes its cue from rare and semi-precious minerals, with colours such as the rust orange Atlas (716), the lush green Malachite (713), the deep pistachio Midelt Sage (711) and the soft pink Rose Cluster (717). Their head of design, Andy Greenall, sees them used boldly by confident colourists, or as elegant accents on woodwork, trims and furniture in calmer rooms. That second idea is a lovely way to bring a stronger colour into a neutral scheme.
How to use trends without dating your home
- Choose what you love first. A trend is useful as a prompt, not a rule.
- Use families of colour. Tonal schemes, like Barge Stone or Hammock in several depths, feel current but have a timeless calm.
- Put the boldest colour where it is easy to change. A door, a piece of furniture, a cloakroom or the inside of a cupboard.
- Sample properly. Paint large boards and look at them in daylight and lamplight. Our sample pots make that easy, and our guide to choosing colours by room orientation explains how your light will change them.
Questions we are often asked
Is grey still in fashion in 2026?
Cool greys have largely given way to warmer neutrals. If you like grey, look for one with a green or brown base, which feels more current.
What is Little Greene's colour of the year for 2026?
Adventurer (7), a rich aubergine with warm undertones.
What is gradient layering?
Using several shades from the same colour family, from dark to light, across walls, woodwork and ceiling. It gives the depth of colour drenching with a softer, more graduated feel.
