Interior design experts have identified a paint trend that is falling out of favour in spring 2026, urging homeowners to avoid muted tones such as beige and grey. According to specialists from Wickes, the era of 'millennial grey' is over, with richer, more comforting tones taking centre stage.
Lewis Janes, Head of Decorating and Storage at Wickes, told DailyExpress.co.uk: 'While muted tones such as beige and grey remain common choices, homeowners are growing bolder with their interiors. The era of 'millennial grey' is behind us, with richer, more comforting tones – deep greens, burgundies, and punchy blues – taking centre stage.'
Janes also noted that single-colour saturation, or 'colour drenching', is fading, replaced by layered approaches like 'colour capping', where walls and ceilings or trims are painted in complementary or contrasting shades to add depth and personality.
For kitchens, Tom, Senior Product Manager at Wickes, recommended warm tones such as burgundy, forest green and terracotta, while classic shades like white and duck egg blue remain timeless. Wickes' Paint to Order Kitchens offers ten on-trend colours including Heritage Red and Clean Linen.
Another trend making a comeback is the feature wall. Janes explained: 'Feature walls are making a strong return, but in a more considered and sophisticated way. Today, it's about creating impact rather than following early 2000s trends. Bold statement wallpapers offer an easy way to add personality without repainting a whole room.'
