Blue is the colour for 2026

If you are a dedicated follower of interior design fashion, you’ll know right about now is when the decorating powerhouses announce their ‘colours of the year’. One of the first to break cover is paint brand Dulux. It has taken the bold step of announcing not one but three colours they expect will be popular in 2026. This choice gives home owners extra versatility when creating on-trend interiors.

Dulux has chosen Free Groove™, Slow Swing™ and Mellow Flow™ as their trio of paint shades. Blue is known to be a calming colour, evoking feelings of serenity and used to create a restful atmosphere. Cleverly, all three Dulux colours are from the indigo family, which stops the hues feeling cold in a residential setting. Home decorators can choose from:

• Free Groove™ is the clearest blue. Although not quite a primary shade, Free Groove™ packs a punch, leaning to the violet side of indigo and reminiscent of dark denim.

• Slow Swing™ is the most dramatic blue of the three. Think of an almost-black pool of writing ink and you’ll be in the right colour area.

• Mellow Flow™ is the most versatile blue chosen. It is a much lighter shade that is a mix of steel grey, dusky lavender and cornflower blue.

Pick one…. or combine all three

All three Dulux Colours of the Year are designed to work in harmony, so those looking to fully embrace the trend can dive right in with confidence. If your approach to decorating is more restrained, Free Groove™, Slow Swing™ and Mellow Flow™ are amazing accent colours, although Mellow Flow™ is subtle enough to be used on every wall.

If you are tempted over to the dark side with Free Groove™ or Slow Swing™, Dulux suggests a number of neutrals that offer a pleasing colour balance. Clinic White™, Horizons™, Sahara Drive™  and Del Mar Shores™ can be painted liberally across walls and ceilings, with splashes of blue adding interest. Follow the correct prep and choose the right finish, and you can paint kitchen cabinets, items of furniture, shelves, pictures frames and even radiators in a Colour of the Year.

Alternatives to try

We know many homeowners are loyal to a brand of paint, so here are some alternatives to Dulux:

Alternatives to Free Groove™: Woad by Little Greene, Blue 111 by Lick, Blue Pearl by Paint & Paper Library, Moroccan Resort and Biro Blue by Valspar, and Kimono and Kasbah Blue by Graham & Brown.

Alternatives to Slow Swing™: Railings from Farrow & Ball, Deep Space Blue and Dock Blue by Little Greene, Dark Royal Blue and Dodie by Coat Paints, Blue Glaze by Crown Paints, Plimsoll by Paint & Paper Library and Bold Move by Valspar.

Alternatives to Mellow Flow™: Lulworth Blue and Kittiwake from Farrow & Ball, Brighton and Pale Wedgewood by Little Greene, Blue 04 by Lick, Blue Vein by Paint & Paper Library and Baby Boots by Valspar.

If the Dulux colour announcement has whet your appetite for a new home that you can put your interior style stamp on, contact White & Brooks. We have a number of properties for sale that are a blank canvas, waiting to be personalised by a new owner. Contact us to discover what’s available in Chichester, Bognor Regis and the surrounding areas.