Every year, a handful of global institutions dedicate thousands of research hours to a single question: what colour comes next? The answers they arrive at are never arbitrary. Colour forecasting draws on signals from culture, economics, psychology, politics, and design — and the collective picture for 2026 is striking in its coherence.

The overarching theme? Contrasts held in careful balance. On one side, a deep collective longing for calm, rootedness, and simplicity. On the other, a countervailing energy — bold, expressive, and optimistic. The palette for 2026 doesn’t ask you to choose between these two impulses. It holds them in tension, and that tension is precisely where the interest lies.

For homeowners and renovators, this is a genuinely useful moment. The colour choices being made on international runways and in global design studios filter down into interiors, as they always do. Understanding where the trends are heading gives you a head start — and it helps you make choices you’ll still feel good about in five years’ time.

So with the property investment strategy on the back burner and the conveyancing ongoing (why does it take so long? There simply is no excuse...) I turn my attention to handyman services, carpentry and interior/landscape design....

...No job is too small and I am happy to work on an hourly rate or day rate if that is what you want. However, I find that most customers prefer a fixed price written quotation.

Aside from the hands-on jobs, I also offer more academic/professional services like interior design, landscape design, project management and specialist stone consulting. As these services range vastly please contact sales@upcycleinteriors.co.uk to discuss in detail.