According to Dulux’s Colour and Design Manager, Lauren Treloar: ‘Each palette has been thoughtfully designed, allowing consumers to mix and match shades with ease.’

While colour-drenching – the technique of tying one hue across walls, trims and ceiling, with sheen changes to bring depth – has been a much-loved trend over the past few years, the new direction is ‘dopamine decor’, which uses colour to spark joy and boost mood.

Originally about filling rooms with bold, mismatched brights, it will evolve into a more curated approach in 2026. Designers now favour intentional pops, as seen in Wattyl’s current range. This sizzling, high-octane palette draws inspiration from Mexico with lush pinks, zesty limes and fiesta oranges. The net effect is rooms that feel optimistic without shouting.

‘A dining room, for example, benefits from the warm, bright colours of Wattyl’s saturated Badaboom pink, orange and yellow,’ says Wattyl colour expert, Katherine Champion. ‘All these colours are recognised for their ability to stimulate the appetite. The room (pictured, designed by Fenton & Fenton) cleverly combines the vibrant pink with the more grounding colours of tan.’

Materials: Significance of sustainability

Sustainability has moved from marketing line to procurement list. Designers now ask two questions of every material: what’s in it and where does it go at end-of-life? Here are some 2026/27 trends and products that could be utilised in future projects.

Skirting’s flush finishes: The trending shadowline look continues, such as Intrim Shadowline Skirting System.

Installation is up to 30 per cent quicker thanks to its fixed rebate and longer lengths, and it outperforms P50 angles and L-bead. It can also be kerfed or flexed for curved walls.

Accessibility meets innovation: Engineered with inclusion and independence in mind, Stegbar’s new Accessible Sliding Door delivers a smart design for modern living.

Available in eX Hybrid Slimline and Residential ranges, it features inclusive design elements developed in consultation with industry experts, providing secure, comfortable access at home without compromising on performance or aesthetics.

Less frame, more vision: Australian homes are embracing expansive glazing. AWS leads with aluminium systems that unite minimal sightlines, energy efficiency, and strength. ComfortEDGE™ defines today’s standard, while UltraEDGE™ will redefine it in 2026, delivering pure, precise, high-performance design for Australia’s evolving architecture.

For a closer look at the latest material trends, turn to the newly released CSR Style Guide. This comprehensive home design and build toolkit covers exterior material and colour palettes and unique home designs.

Inspired by global trends and adapted to suit Australians, the Style Guide will assist both HIA members and keen homeowners, offering practical tools, expert advice and a wealth of inspiration from leading Australian brands. This includes Bradford, Cemintel, Hebel, Monier and PGH.

Texture: Restraint and style

Texture is the new neutral’ – that’s the latest catchphrase in the interior design industry. When the palette is warm and restrained, surfaces carry the real interest. Here are more current trends.

Limewash: Clay and microcement deliver low-sheen, monolithic walls with gentle movement. They’re particularly effective in colour-drenched schemes.

Fabric gets plush: Chunky wools, bouclé, chenille and basket weaves on sofas and bedheads add elegance and texture. Try corduroy for occasional chairs or linen for drapery with proper weight.

Shading controls light: Privacy and natural light are key elements, particularly when living in townhouses or apartments. Luxaflex Silhouette Shadings offer the ultimate light control, enabling clients to harness and diffuse natural light.

Kitchen & bathroom: surface art

Kitchen designs in 2026 will focus on functionality and sustainability. Equally important are aesthetics, as seen by Austaron Surfaces’ new range which utilises contemporary colour, pattern and tones. Following the success of its Supreme and Premiere ranges, Staron continues its design evolution with the launch of Aria. This collection features nine colours with softly flowing marble patterns and natural tones, creating a serene depth and atmosphere, all supported by Staron’s seamless design freedom.

This collection features nine colours with softly flowing marble patterns and natural tones, creating a serene depth and atmosphere, all supported by Staron’s seamless design freedom.

In releasing its third collection of ICON designs, Caesarstone demonstrates the visual appeal of the hand-crafted version of natural stone.

Current kitchen trends also highlight considered furniture. ‘Islands are curvaceous, benchtop edges are more sculptural, and surfaces lend texture and colour to the overall mix,’ says Emma Bush, Caesarstone’s Brand Manager. In releasing its third collection of ICON designs, Caesarstone demonstrates the visual appeal of the hand-crafted version of natural stone.

Bathroom design: High recycled material content will become a hot topic in 2026/27. Cosentino recently launched its Eclos brand (suitable in bathrooms and kitchens), which introduces a new category of mineral surfaces with zero crystalline silica, high recycled material content, and groundbreaking layered design system. It’s taken 28,000 hours of research and 1500 hours of testing by Cosentino’s R&D and Product departments.

Case Study 1: Art House by Rustic Touch

To see how these trends converge, look no further than the Art House – a bold, two-storey beach house renovation by Rustic Touch. It won Residential Design at the 2024 HIA-CSR Hunter Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards.

Perched on a hill overlooking a NSW Central Coast beach, the project began with a tired 1940s cottage and secondary dwelling. The brief from its art-loving owners was to create an open-plan home that serves as a gallery for eclectic artworks, maximises ocean views, and makes a statement in the streetscape.

Low-maintenance cladding, Shou Sugi Ban charred timber, Viroc panels, Monument-painted Matrix blades, and warm blackbutt decking form a rich textural backdrop for graffiti art doors and vibrant ceilings.

Inside, a monochrome base lets colourful art shine, with spotted gum stairs, OSB panels, Mondrian-inspired tiles, and Fornasetti mosaics adding punch. Lighting – both functional and theatrical – underscores the home’s sense of drama and intimacy.

Case Study 2: Villa Donini by Zanetto Builders

In Tasmania, Villa Donini by Zanetto Builders reinterprets a Tuscan-style villa for the 21st century. One of its triumphs is the masterful use of colour. The palette embraces warm, sun-baked tones that echo 2026’s move toward earthy, soulful hues.

The exterior has a restrained, natural finish that sits comfortably in its heritage context. Inside, colour choices create flow between restored cedar doors, chevron timber flooring, and custom stonework.

Walls are dressed in creamy off-whites and soft butter tones that bring light into living spaces while softening the villa’s strong architectural lines. These shades sit in the same family as Dulux’s Warm Sand and Mellow Beige, both highlighted in current Australian paint forecasts.

In more intimate areas, deep tobacco and warm clay undertones frame bespoke details, such as the Tasmanian oak in the panelled ensuite. 

Feature niches, including an epoxy-mitred display alcove with LED backlighting, utilise muted olive-greens to create visual punctuation without overpowering the classic envelope.

Villa Donini demonstrates how paint can bridge history and innovation, keeping a heritage property fresh while aligning with the Australian colour directions of the coming years.

First published on 12 Feb 2026.