Dulux’s ‘Rhythm of Blues’ sets the tone for 2026

Move over Mocha Mousse: Dulux has unveiled its much-anticipated Colours of the Year for 2026, and blue hues are very much in.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

With its trio of uplifting, calming, and airy tones, ‘Rhythm of Blues’ – Dulux’s Colours of the Year 2026 – serves as a panacea for today’s frenetic world.

This marks the first time the paint brand has spotlighted an entire colour family rather than naming a single shade as its tonal choice for the year ahead.

The sentiment emerging from Dulux’s annual trend forecast, run by AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center, was clear: in our fast-paced lives, people either want to turn up the volume and bring ‘fun’ into their space, or they’re seeking a calming atmosphere that helps them mentally recharge.

“Because we understand that colour is emotion – and therefore personal – we’ve chosen a family of colours for 2026. They’re centred around three different rhythms that offer endless scope for changing the pace of your space,” says Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center.

The brand’s theme for 2026 is “your space, your pace”. It’s about creating a home that flows at the right tempo for you, and the ‘Rhythm of Blues’ colour family does just that.

‘Mellow Flow’, a light, airy blue, is calming without being cold, while ‘Slow Swing’, a meditative dark blue, helps create a relaxed mood. As a counterpoint, ‘Free Groove’ is the perfect vibrant blue to inject energy into a space. | dulux.co.za

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