Magdalena Gierasinska, head of product and displays at Barker and Stonehouse comments on Dulux’s new 2026 colours and how to incorporate them into the home for the desired effect.

“Colour choices in the home aren’t just about aesthetics, they shape how we feel in our everyday spaces. Our recent survey¹ found that almost one in four people say their home influences their mood, and for a third, the impact is significant. With so many of us wanting our living rooms and bedrooms to feel relaxed or calm, Dulux’s new blues for 2026 arrive at the perfect time and can be the perfect accent colour.”

Speaking to Barker and Stonehouse, Holly Beedon, Clinical Lead at Living Well UK explains, “The spaces we inhabit send constant signals to our brain. If a room feels chaotic or uncomfortable, it can trigger stress responses that make it harder to relax. Calming environments with a sense of order and soft lighting, on the other hand, cue the body to unwind.”

Pair blues with warm, natural tones
Magdalena comments, “Blues alone can sometimes feel cool or distant, but when paired with warm neutrals, such as soft beiges and earthy browns, they create the emotional balance people crave at home. This mix delivers the clarity and freshness of blue, grounded by the safety and warmth of natural shades. It’s a timeless pairing that works across living rooms, bedrooms, and even dining rooms. Balancing a rich brown or burnt orange sofas with a blue armchair or blue accent wall creates a contemporary, comforting and warm space without overwhelming with either colour scheme”

How to incorporate Mellow Flow (soft, light blue)
“Mellow Flow is the perfect shade for homeowners who want their bedroom to feel restful. Its gentle, seaside quality pairs beautifully with linen or cotton fabrics, rustic woods, and woven rugs. Pair a velvet sofa in Slow Swing blue, balanced with a natural oak coffee table or boucle accent chair. Or a dining space where upholstered chairs in warm neutrals soften the clarity of Mellow Flow. These pairings bring together freshness, warmth, and texture in a way that feels both stylish and restorative.”, says Magdalena.

How to incorporate Slow Swing (deep, velvety blue)
Magdalena also shares, “For living rooms, where a third of people told us they want to feel relaxed and another quarter want calm, Slow Swing is ideal as its rich and grounding. This colour is great on the walls behind a deep, low-slung sofa in a lighter leather, or a dining table in solid oak. The mix of dark blue with natural wood creates a timeless elegance, and a space where you naturally unwind at the end of the day.”

How to incorporate Free Groove (bright, saturated blue)
“Not every room is about calm, as sometimes you want vibrancy and energy, and that’s where Free Groove is perfect. It can be used in a kitchen or hallway with accents of yellow and natural textures like wood or rattan to bring a playful, uplifting feeling. Alternatively, I’d pair this brighter blue with a light, neutral oak dining table or coffee table to balance the intensity of the blue.”

“Ultimately, softer tones tend to soothe while bolder colours energise, but the secret is in balance. By pairing Dulux’s new blues with warm neutrals and natural textures, you can create rooms that look beautiful and, just as importantly, feel emotionally in tune with the way you want to live.”, concludes Magdalena.