14 Jan Interior Colour Schemes 2026

What interior colour schemes should you be considering in 2026? Signature Painters Brisbane has researched the latest trends from leading paint brands, industry experts and interior designers to answer that question.  Here are five interior colour schemes to put on your radar. When you’re ready for a full interior repaint, contact us for a quote and we can also arrange a free Dulux Colour Consultation to help you create the perfect look.

1. Earthy Interior Colour Schemes 2026

The significant shift from cool to warm neutrals in interior colour schemes over recent years is now official. Gone are the 50 shades of grey. Instead, we’re gravitating to neutrals with warm, earthy and sophisticated undertones, like sandy beiges, earthy clays and soft browns – and using plenty of contrasting tones, textures and organic materials to ensure our neutrals aren’t boring. Inspired by nature, these inviting tones create a sense of comfort, calm, and grounding.

Warm browns like Dulux Caramel Sundae, as well as old favourites like Hog Bristle Quarter, are featuring in Dulux’s 2026 Colour Forecast. These look great paired with natural materials and earth-toned accessories. If you love the earthy trend but find it too hot for the Queensland climate, pair browns with off-whites and greens, or try taupes with green undertones like Taubmans Taupe Stone, which feels tranquil and balanced.

2. Off-White Interior Colour Schemes 2026

White remains a key 2026 interior paint colour because it’s so easy to pair with other colours and natural materials such as timber, stone and rattan. It’s also refreshing in a tropical climate and will probably never go out of style in Queensland. However, we’ve largely left behind cool whites for neutral and warm off-whites. Warmer-toned whites are actually a must to complement some of the stronger, earthy colours that are trending now.

Striking the perfect balance between warm and cool is Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2026, Cloud Dancer. It is a soft, airy off-white with a balanced mix of pale beige and grey undertones, making it a versatile, neutral white that goes with everything. A close Dulux equivalent is Dulux White Exchange Quarter.

3. Natural Green Interior Colour Schemes 2026

Green is one of the safest colours to use in a home and natural greens are here to stay in 2026 interior colour schemes. Like blue, it brings a sense of calm to a space and is easy to match with other colours and textures. For Australian living rooms, earthy, natural greens like sage, olive, and eucalyptus create a calming vibe and suit both modern and traditional homes.

Taubmans colour of the year, Team Spirit, is a rich eucalypt green that adds character and contrast to interiors. This colour works well to define spaces such as dining rooms, feature walls or kitchen cabinetry, and pairs beautifully with matte finishes and metal accents for a sophisticated look.

4. Soft Pastel Interior Colour Schemes 2026

With the upheaval in the world outside, people will continue to seek ways to bring happiness to their homes in 2026, and colour is a great way to do it. Last year Dulux highlighted saturated mid-tone colours to create playful interior colour schemes, but this year the trend is moving towards soft ‘nurturing’ palettes.

Dulux’s 2026 Ethereal Colour palette features a delicate pastel-like blend of soft and mid-tone hues that evoke a sense of serenity and joy. With romantic blush and mauve tones like Dulux Savin and Aroma, alongside gentle jades and blues such as Dulux Tiamo and Blue Shell, this palette feels uplifting and playfully luxurious.

5. Moody Blue Interior Colour Schemes 2025

In 2026, there are some new blues on the scene for those seeking a more dramatic interior colour scheme. Taubman’s ‘rhythm of the blues’ are complex blue shades ranging from almost black, like Slow Swing, through to bold indigos and mid-toned grey-blues like Mellow Flow.  Classic blues like Porters Hamptons Blue, a subdued green-blue with umber undertones, remain popular and will probably never go out of style.

The darker blues add sophistication, creating moody or dramatic spaces in living rooms, offices and dining rooms. The lighter tones evoke a sense of calm and are perfect for bedrooms. In the Australian environment, muted blues have the added bonus of tempering the bright sun and creating cooler-feeling spaces. In 2026, the secret to a successful blue interior colour scheme is to layer it with earthy shades and tactile materials to add warmth and prevent it from feeling too cool.

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Getting your interior colour scheme right

Interior colour schemes in 2026 are more about expressing your personality creatively than making a space feel bigger or lighter. It’s not easy to get it right. Factors like light, longevity, aspect and the style of your home all come into play. If you own a Queenslander home, you may find our blog on Queenslander interior colour schemes useful.

When you need a full interior repaint, make sure you get a professional colour consult and test sample pots throughout your home’s interior before you go ahead. At Signature Painters, we can help you with this process. Our residential interior repainting service includes a free Dulux Colour Consult and Colour Overlay with a full interior repaint. Our process will help you choose a colour you love that adds value to your property. We can also repair any damage before painting to ensure your refreshed interior looks as good as new, and, of course, we guarantee your home will be beautifully painted!

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