Colour · 5 minute read
Every paint brand has named its shade for 2027. Before you reach for the roller, here's what they all have in common, and how to use them without repainting the whole house.
It's this time of year again, when every major paint company announces its Colour of the Year.
I'll admit it, I have a real soft spot for Colour of the Year. It's like the Oscars for people who own more than three paint charts. But I also get a lot of messages around now asking whether it's time to repaint.
The temptation to repaint is strong when you see these colours come out. And 100%, you do not need to do that. Put the roller down, and let's talk about it.
The 2027 line-up so far
- Little Greene, Marle. A soft, clay-like mid brown. Warm, earthy, and not at all the brown your parents had in 1978.
- Graham & Brown, Rose Earth. A dusty, earthy pink with a plaster feel, paired with a gorgeous chintz-inspired wallpaper called Roselle Grove.
- Farrow & Ball are tipping purple for 2027, after a big jump in purple paint sales this year (over 60%, which is a lot of aubergine hallways).
- Dulux, Soulful Sage. A pale, heritage green.
- Behr, Grounded. A mossy olive with brown undertones, and the moodiest of the bunch.
- Valspar, Cottage Door. A soft, mid powder blue.
And Pantone usually announces in early December, so keep your eyes peeled.
What they all have in common
Look at that list again. Clay, rose, sage, olive, plum, powder blue. Not a cool grey in sight! Every single one is warm, earthy and a little bit softened, like it's been left out in the sun for a few years. That tells you far more than any one shade does. People want homes that feel cosy, grounded and lived in.
Which, if you've followed me for more than five minutes, you'll know I'm very much here for.
The best colour for your home is the one that makes you go "oh, I love that" every time you walk in.
How I'd use a Colour of the Year (without repainting the house)
- Treat it as a mood, not a rule. If you love the feel of Marle but your walls are already a deep green, bring the brown in through a velvet cushion, a lampshade or a vintage leather chair.
- Try it on woodwork first. Skirting, doors, a window frame. It's a small amount of paint and it changes a room more than you'd think.
- Paint something you'd otherwise throw away. A tired chest of drawers or a Marketplace find is the perfect test pilot for a new colour.
- Check it in your light, at night. Colours of the Year are always photographed in gorgeous studios. Your north-facing living room at 7pm in November is a different story. Always, always sample.
- Ask whether you'll still love it in five years. If the answer is "probably not," put it on something small and swappable.
My verdict
My take on Colour of the Year is to care a little bit. Enjoy it, be inspired by it, steal the mood. But the best colour for your home is the one that makes you go "oh, I love that" every time you walk in. No press release can tell you that one.
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Tell me which of this year's shades you'd actually live with. I'm torn between Marle and anything purple 🖤
Alana MillerInterior designer since 2008, founder of Delve Interiors and lover of dark walls, old things and buying less but better.