What the brands forecast, what the best-seller lists say, and where the two disagree. Every claim links to its source.
Whatever the forecasts say, whites fill every best-seller list: the top eight of Resene's top 20, the whites that top Taubmans' best sellers and the three whites Dulux says it always comes back to. Pantone choosing a white, Cloud Dancer, as its 2026 colour of the year reinforced it.
resene.com.au homebeautiful.com.au dulux.com.au archdaily.com
Brand forecasts and independent designers point the same way: whites with a little warmth are replacing stark, blue-based whites. Haymes' colour manager says there is no coolness to neutrals at the moment, and Resene reports Half Spanish White climbing its top 20. The catch is that Dulux still names cool Lexicon Quarter as its single most popular colour, so cool whites are fading in forecasts faster than in sales.
homebeautiful.com.au woodsandwarner.com.au prioritypainting.com.au resene.com.au dulux.com.au
Sydney designers Woods and Warner say the word grey has almost disappeared from client briefs, and a Brisbane painter calls cold blue-based greys dated. The greys that survive are warm: greige, taupe and mushroom, such as Dulux Dieskau and the warm greys in the 2026 Elemental palette.
woodsandwarner.com.au prioritypainting.com.au bhg.com.au dulux.com.au
Brown is the colour the forecasters agree on. Benjamin Moore's 2026 colour of the year, Silhouette, is a burnt umber, Sherwin-Williams chose Universal Khaki, and Dulux runs caramel and chocolate through its 2026 Elemental and 2027 Sensory palettes. Designers report clay, terracotta, ochre and caramel replacing the cool palette in briefs.
archdaily.com dulux.com.au dulux.com.au 2 woodsandwarner.com.au trade.bunnings.com.au
Grey-leaning greens are the strongest colour story across 2026 and 2027. Taubmans' 2026 Colour of the Year is the green Team Spirit, and for 2027 Dulux UK picked Soulful Sage, Sherwin-Williams Celery and Behr the olive Grounded. On exteriors, Better Homes and Gardens calls green the standout colour of 2026 and the 2026 Dulux Colour Awards exterior winner is drenched in two greens.
taubmans.com.au dezeen.com younghouselove.com bhg.com.au dulux.com.au
Dulux UK's 2026 colour of the year was a trio of blues, and greyed blues run through the Dulux Australia 2027 forecast (Blue Glass, Powder Blue, Blue Balm). Glidden and Valspar both chose smoky blues for 2027.
dezeen.com dulux.com.au dulux.com.au 2 newcastleherald.com.au womanofstyleandsubstance.com younghouselove.com
One colour across walls, trims and ceiling, with a change of sheen instead of a change of colour, is the application trend named most for 2026. Bunnings Trade lists it with colour capping and painted ceilings, and the Dulux Colour Awards judges used the word for the 2026 winning exterior.
Better Homes and Gardens reports sandy beiges, clay and creamy whites replacing cool grey and stark white on 2026 exteriors, with Hamptons schemes moving to warmer whites. Painters' lists back it with warm neutrals such as Dulux Tranquil Retreat and green-beiges such as Pozieres.
Monument, Night Sky and Domino sit on Dulux's most popular exterior list and Brisbane roofers still name Monument first. But NCC 2022 caps roof solar absorptance at 0.64 in climate zones 1 to 5 on the deemed-to-satisfy elemental path, which rules out Monument (0.73), Woodland Grey (0.70) and Basalt (0.67) unless the house goes through a NatHERS assessment. Colour consultant Samantha Bacon's answer for hot areas is a lighter roof with Monument on the gutters; architects do the same with dark cladding under a Surfmist roof.
ncc.abcb.gov.au steelselect.com.au colorbond.com dulux.com.au roofwerx.com.au makingyourhomebeautiful.com architectureau.com
Queensland has required 7 stars for most new houses since 1 May 2024, and both QBCC and the Queensland Government list a lighter roof among the features that get a house there. State guidance also says covenants and by-laws cannot stop a householder choosing a light roof colour. Surfmist (0.33), Shale Grey (0.44) and Dune (0.48) sit well inside the 0.64 limit; the counter-argument is glare, and one colour consultant notes some councils and estates restrict Surfmist roofs for reflectivity.
qbcc.qld.gov.au business.qld.gov.au business.qld.gov.au 2 colorbond.com colorbond.com 2 colorbond.com 3 makingyourhomebeautiful.com
Pantone: Cloud Dancer, a soft white and its first white. Dulux UK (AkzoNobel): Rhythm of Blues, three blues called Mellow Flow, Slow Swing and Free Groove. Benjamin Moore: Silhouette. Sherwin-Williams: Universal Khaki. Behr: Hidden Gem, a smoky jade. Valspar: Warm Eucalyptus. The common thread is warm, muted and earthy.
Announced by 3 October 2026: Dulux UK Soulful Sage, Sherwin-Williams Celery, Behr Grounded, Glidden Artifact, Valspar Cottage Door, Dutch Boy Deep Rooted and Graham and Brown Rose Earth. Benjamin Moore and Pantone had not announced. Greens lead, with smoky blues second.
2027 source
Soft and tonal: calm, comfort and mindful living, with Japanese influence and warm neutrals.
Field Maple, Moorland, Spinach Green, Buttercookie, Ecru, Blue Balm, Sweet Chocolate, Dark Cocoa, White Dune Half, Humble Fawn, Dieskau, Barite
Individuality and joy: unexpected light and mid-tone pairings, pastels and powder blues.
Spring Fever, Baca Berry, Temptress, Blue Glass, Catnap, Albeit, Rich Loam, Canary Wharf, Powder Blue, Natural White, Stately Frills Half, Tranquil Retreat
2026 source
Calm and grounded: warm whites, golden browns and warm greys.
Hog Bristle Quarter, Phantom Beige, Clear Concrete, Blended Cream, Stone Master, Reckless Grey, Puddle, Condiment, Ticking, Caramel Sundae, Coffee Dust, Red Mane
Maximalism and vintage charm: earthy pinks, mustards, deep browns and dramatic accents.
Snowy Mountains Half, Baked Clay, Succulent, White Beach, Magic Melon, Wink, Germania, Misty Grape, Red Jacks, Topelo Honey, Chocolate Treat, Deep Aqua
2026 source
2026 source
2026 source
Team Spirit, a calm grey-green, with Designer White as the all-rounder.
Team Spirit, Designer White
2026 source
Optimistic, joyful and welcoming.
After, Beijing Blossom, Paloma Pink
Playful but reassuring.
Bleached Hemp, Citrine Quartz, Humid Jungle
2026 source
2025 source
Everyday colours drawn from Australian landscapes.
Faded Blue, Bushland, Parched Earth, Pale Cornflower, Worn Red, Light Stone (Heritage)
Coastal greens, sands and soft whites.
Overview, Grassland, Sand Haze, Modesty White, Soft Feathers, Remote
