Plascon’s colour forecast for 2026 is a welcome refocus on human-centric design and the transformative power of authentic creation.
WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied
In our overstaturated AI world, Plascon is placing human-centric design at the forefront of its Colour Forecast for 2026 – aptly called Hand, made – by reinforcing the importance of ‘making by hand’.
“At the heart of painting is the hand. It’s part of every step – choosing shades, testing swatches, and finally bringing colour to the wall. Paint is not abstract or artificial; it’s tangible, textured, and deeply human. The hand makes it real: authentic, unique, and a mark of craft. Our new colour combinations reflect the same spirit of celebrating imperfection and individuality. They don’t just cover surfaces, but respond to daily life,” says Plascon’s head of marketing, Leslie Frank.
Drawing inspiration from our daily surroundings – our city streets, wild gardens, and oceans – the Plascon team devised a collection of four distinct colour groupings, or ‘worlds’, that celebrate our imperfection and individuality as humans. Each group celebrates contrast and harmony, offering curated colours that unite to form immersive palettes.
Butter + Sky
This palette is optimistic and inspired by blue skies and warm yellows. The colours include Chocolate Chunk (O2-D1-1), Blazing Sun (Y4-A1-4), Sapphire (B7-A1-1), Athena’s Dream (B4-A2-1), Cave Painting (O2-C1-1), Julia (Y3-A2-2) and Signal Red (G7).
Land + Sea
Rooted in earthy and watery textures, the Land + Sea palette embodies natural materials and biophilic influences. The colours include African Mud (O2-E1-1), Olive (G2-E1-2), Frog Pond (Y6-D1-1), Bashful Blue (B3-C1-4), Sparkling Lemon Lime (Y6-A1-1), Daily Lily Dream (O2-A1-1), and Evening Stroll (G6-C2-1).
Fashion + Candy
Here, the colours are vibrant, eclectic and bold. Inspired by street style, nightlife and pop culture, this palette includes Eclair (R7-D1-1), Ruby Tuesday (R5-B2-2), Bellagio Blue (B6-B2-1), Hot-N-Spicy (R6-B1-1), White Maas (Y2-A2-2), Lemon Essence (Y5-A1-2) and Ginger Biscuit (O1-C1-1).
Orchard + Blooms
This lush and vibrant collection, which is inspired by fruit markets and garden centres, focuses on abundance and vitality. The colours include Chocolate Delight (R6-E1-1), Hudson (26), Spanish Brocade (O2-B1-3), Swazi (R2-C1-1), Wanda (Y4-C1-1), Good Day Sunshine (O6-A1-1) and Just Terracotta (R7-C1-1).
“From swatch to wall, the process becomes a story told by the human hand and the transformative power of colour,” says Leslie. | plasconcolour.co.za
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