Surprise home trend for 2026 you didn’t see coming

Dulux Colour Forecast 2026 – Elemental palette. Styling: Bree Banfield Photographer: Lisa Cohen

Struggling to find inspiration for redecorating your home? Nanna might have the answer.

Turns out ‘nanna chic’ is one of the top interior trends for 2026, according to Dulux’s annual Colour Forecast.

Think vintage-inspired materials, antique shopping, curated clutter, and colours like baked clay, burnt orange, and warm golden tones.

Digital fatigue and global uncertainty were the inspiration behind this year’s Colour Forecast, which sees a rise in calming and connecting colours.

Dulux Colour Forecast 2026 – Evoke palette. This bedroom embraces the ‘nanna chic’ trend. Styling: Bree Banfield Photographer: Lisa Cohen

RELATED: The six big interior design trends going into 2025

Dulux colour and communications manager Andrea Lucena-Orr said cost of living pressures and geopolitical unrest were leading people to incorporate more comforting colours in their homes.

“Colour has the power to lift spirits, offer emotional reassurance and bring a sense of calm into our homes,” Ms Lucena-Orr said.

“Australians are feeling digitally overwhelmed. There’s a strong shift towards emotional reconnection — with ourselves, with others, and with nature. This translates into a need for warm, calming interiors that encourage reflection and joy.”

Dulux Colour Forecast 2026 – Evoke palette. Styling: Bree Banfield Photographer: Lisa Cohen

Dulux Colour Forecast 2026 – Ethereal palette. Styling: Bree Banfield. Photographer: Lisa Cohen.

MORE: How to use 2025’s hottest colours in your home on a budget

Curated into three palettes — Ethereal, Elemental and Evoke — this year’s forecast champions warm earth-based neutrals, rich burnt oranges, caramels, and greens such as sage, moss and spearmint.

Evoke is inspired by maximalist interiors and ‘nanna chic’, reflecting a conscious shift towards circular design — celebrating sustainability, repurposed materials, and the beauty of imperfection.

This sentiment is reflected in the rise of antique shopping for one- of-a-kind pieces, and the growing number of designers creating new works inspired by the elevated design of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s.

Dulux Colour Forecast 2026 – the Evoke palette leans into warm, comforting tones and vintage-inspired materials. Styling: Bree Banfield. Photographer: Lisa Cohen.

Dulux Colour Forecast 2026 – Elemental palette. Styling: Bree Banfield. Photographer: Lisa Cohen.

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“Dulux Evoke is likely to be popular with home enthusiasts as the colours lean into deep, comforting tones rather than bright hues,” Ms Lucena-Orr said.

“It features vintage-inspired materials, handcrafted elements, and curated clutter making spaces feel alive and layered, adding to our collections over time. Chrome and aluminium replace gold, whilst bold colour layering and clashing prints add texture, charm and a sense of layered character.”

Dulux Colour Forecast 2026 – Ethereal palette. Styling: Bree Banfield Photographer: Lisa Cohen

It comes as painting and decorating expert Pat Gilham at MyJobQuote.co.uk reveals the most common paint colour mistakes to avoid in your kitchen.

Mr Gilham said to avoid dark browns and terracotta shades as they can make a kitchen feel small, dark, and dingy.

Bright yellow can make a kitchen look cheap, while moss or sage green can make a space feel cramped.

Leave deep purple for the office and red is overstimulating.

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