Interior Design Experts Warn Against Overused Paint Trend for Spring 2026
Spring is traditionally a season of renewal and transformation, making it the perfect time to undertake a comprehensive spring clean or revitalise your living spaces. While personal taste and individual style preferences always play a crucial role, industry insiders have now identified specific design trends that are becoming overused and are falling out of favour as we move into 2026.
The One Trend to Avoid This Season
If you are contemplating a home makeover this spring, interior design and DIY specialists from the renowned retailer Wickes have highlighted a key design choice you should actively avoid. The advice is clear: when you next find yourself in the paint aisle, you should give neutral shades a wide berth.
Lewis Janes, Head of Decorating & Storage at Wickes, explained to DailyExpress.co.uk: "While muted tones such as beige and grey remain common choices, homeowners are growing significantly bolder with their interior design decisions. The era of 'millennial grey' is firmly behind us, with richer, more comforting tones—including deep greens, luxurious burgundies, and punchy blues—now taking centre stage."
Furthermore, the trend of single-colour saturation, often referred to as 'colour drenching,' is also fading in popularity. It is being replaced by more layered and sophisticated approaches, such as colour capping. This technique involves painting walls and ceilings or trims in complementary or contrasting shades to add remarkable depth and distinctive personality to a space.
Recommended Alternatives for a Fresh Look
Instead of relying on neutral shades, the experts strongly recommend that budding DIY enthusiasts shift their focus towards other emerging trends that will genuinely breathe new life into your home. When selecting fresh paint colours, Wickes' Senior Product Manager for Kitchens emphasised that warm, rich tones are firmly in fashion for the upcoming season.
Tom, the Senior Product Manager, stated: "In contemporary kitchen design, we are witnessing the influence of colour capping really take hold. Rich, warming tones such as burgundy, forest green, and terracotta are becoming increasingly popular, while classic shades like white and duck egg blue remain timeless and versatile choices."
He added: "With Wickes Paint to Order Kitchens, customers can conveniently select from ten on-trend colours, ranging from Heritage Red to Clean Linen. This makes it exceptionally easy to introduce bold, stylish colour into their homes without unnecessary complication."
The Resurgence of Feature Walls
For those looking to make a specific room stand out this spring, Lewis highlighted a previous trend that appears to be staging a sophisticated comeback: feature walls. Whether opting for a contrasting paint colour or a patterned wallpaper, this approach can deliver a substantial visual impact in any room.
Lewis elaborated: "Feature walls are making a strong and deliberate return, but in a more considered and refined way. Today, it is fundamentally about creating genuine impact rather than merely following early 2000s trends. Bold statement wallpapers offer an easy and effective way to add personality without the need to repaint an entire room. A well-chosen print can serve as a striking focal point that expertly ties the space together."
He concluded: "Our curated collection provides inspiring and diverse options for homeowners who are ready to embrace this refined and elegant look for their spring renovations."
