Key Insights
Design conversations heading into 2026 point toward a clear shift: away from cool minimalism and stark contrast, and toward warmer, richer and more emotionally intelligent colour palettes. Across interiors and architecture, colour is being used less as decoration and more as a tool to influence mood, comfort and connection.
2026 Colour Trends
2026 Colour Trends: Warmth, Depth and Material Expression
Insights drawn from leading colour forecasts for 2026 highlight a collective response to digital fatigue, global uncertainty and a renewed desire for grounded, human‑centred spaces. The result is a palette that feels considered, tactile and deeply material‑driven.
Pantone Colour of the Year 2026: Cloud Dancer
Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2026 is PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer – a lofty white described as a whisper of calm and a conscious move toward simplification and quiet reflection. It’s positioned like a blank canvas: creating space for creativity, clarity and measured design decisions.
Photo Credit: Pantone Colour of the Year Website
In practice, Cloud Dancer shows up as soft, airy whites and calm off-whites used to open spaces, enhance natural light and allow texture to become the primary design language.
This style aligns strongly with the use of white and neutral-toned SAS metal ceiling systems (supplied throughout WA by Progressive Materials), where colour steps back and the ceiling itself becomes a feature through form, depth and pattern rather than bold finishes. In these applications, the geometry and texture of the ceiling define the space, providing visual interest while also delivering functional benefits such as acoustic performance and service integration.
Rather than relying on strong colour, the ceiling speaks for itself – reinforcing the 2026 shift toward restrained palettes, material honesty and design elements that are both expressive and purposeful.
The dominant themes shaping colour in 2026 include:
- Warm neutrals and earthy tones replacing cold greys and high‑contrast black‑and‑white schemes
- Controlled saturation rather than bold, primary colour statements
- Depth through layering, texture and tonal variation
- Colours that feel familiar, comforting and timeless, rather than trend‑driven
Expect to see hues inspired by natural materials and landscapes – think clay, sand, stone, weathered metals and softened botanical greens, paired with richer accent tones such as ochre, rust, berry and muted blues.
Within this palette, EQUITONE Inspira Stone, a premium fibre cement façade product, provides the appearance of natural stone without the cost, weight or maintenance associated with quarried materials, making it a practical way to introduce stone-like warmth and texture into façades while retaining the performance and consistency of premium fibre cement. This product is supplied right here in WA by Progressive Materials.
Rather than shouting for attention, these colours work quietly in the background, supporting architecture and form while enhancing the emotional quality of a space.
Material‑Led Colour, Not Just Paint
One of the strongest takeaways from the 2026 forecasts is that colour is increasingly being expressed through materials themselves, not simply applied finishes. Texture, surface variation and natural imperfections all play a role in how colour is perceived.
This is particularly relevant for façades, ceilings and interior linings, where colour and materiality are inseparable. Subtle tonal shifts, matte finishes and through‑coloured materials are favoured over flat, uniform surfaces.
Translating 2026 Colour Trends Into Built Form
For architects, interior designers and builders, the opportunity lies in selecting materials that:
- Age gracefully over time
- Provide tonal depth without overpowering a design
- Work cohesively across interior and exterior applications
- Support both creative intent and technical performance
This is where material selection becomes critical and where early engagement with suppliers, like Progressive Materials, can help ensure colour, finish and performance align from concept through to construction.
Progressive Materials: Colour, Performance and Expertise
At Progressive Materials, we work closely with architects, interior designers and builders across Western Australia to help translate emerging colour trends into buildable, compliant and durable solutions.
Our technical consultants like to assist early in the project. Early engagement is key to making sure the designer’s project brief can be fully interpreted and solutions can be presented that provide the best outcomes.
Bringing 2026 palettes into facades
EQUITONE is a through-coloured fibre cement facade material that allows colour, texture and finish to be expressed as part of the panel itself, rather than as an applied surface treatment.
Warm neutrals, softened whites and earthy accents are most convincing when they’re expressed through real materiality: matte surfaces, tonal variation and finishes that age well.
Within the EQUITONE range Progressive Materials specifies, stocks and supplies, there are strong alignments to the 2026 direction:
- EQUITONE Pictura is a high-density fibre cement panel with a through-coloured core and a smooth, matt finish, featuring a coloured double-layer acrylic coating and a UV-hardened PU topcoat for high abrasion resistance and permanent graffiti protection.
- EQUITONE Inspira features digitally printed surfaces inspired by natural materials and is available in wood, rust, stone and concrete designs. A practical way to introduce warm, grounded material cues while retaining the strength and reliability of fibre cement cladding.
Beyond facades: Ceilings
The same 2026 principles – comfort, warmth and controlled saturation – apply overhead and inside. Ceiling and lining selections can be used to soften acoustics, add texture and reinforce a cohesive palette across the full project.
SAS International metal ceiling systems, specified and supplied by Progressive Materials, align strongly with this year’s approach. Often finished in white or neutral tones, the emphasis shifts away from colour and toward form, geometry and surface texture, allowing the ceiling to become an architectural feature.
Alongside their visual impact, these metal ceiling systems deliver acoustic performance and durability, making them well suited to hospitals, airports, commercial offices, public spaces, restaurants and education facilities. The result is a ceiling solution that supports calm, functional environments, without the need for bold colour statements.
Designing for 2026 Starts Now
As colour trends move toward warmth, depth and emotional resonance, material selection becomes more important than ever. Facades and ceilings are no longer passive backdrops; they are central to how a space feels and performs.
By engaging early, designers and project teams can confidently incorporate 2026 colour directions into their projects using materials that are technically supported, locally available and suited to Australian conditions.
Progressive Materials continues to work at the intersection of design, material innovation and technical expertise, helping the industry specify with confidence as colour trends evolve.
For product guidance, technical support or assistance aligning material selections with emerging colour trends, our team is available to support projects across Western Australia.
Get in touch for more information on 2026 Colour Trends:
Laura Holmes
Business Development Manager: Architectural Specifications
