Colour Forecast 2026: The End of Beige?

Project by Thomas Vooght & Visuals by Xarp Studio

For the past two decades, beige has reigned supreme as the safe choice in property development and interior design. From show homes to luxury lobbies, its soft, neutral tones provided a backdrop designed to offend no one, please just enough, and allow prospective buyers to project their own vision onto a blank canvas.

But as we move towards 2026, the era of beige appears to be drawing to a close.

What we are witnessing is not simply a change in colour preference, but a broader cultural shift — one driven by changing consumer behaviour, generational values, and the growing demand for interiors that tell a story rather than fade into the background.

Beige: From universal solution to symbol of banality

For years, beige was celebrated for its versatility and broad appeal. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that neutral interiors were rated higher for perceived flexibility and personalisation potential by buyers and tenants alike. Developers embraced beige as the ultimate ‘no-risk’ choice — easy to market, easy to sell.

But in a world now saturated with visual content, beige is increasingly seen as the colour of indifference, of spaces designed by committee, for no one in particular. In an age where identity and storytelling are central to how we consume, beige is struggling to keep pace.

The data tells the story: colour is on the rise

This isn’t just a matter of design whimsy — the numbers reflect a real shift:

• Pinterest’s Predicts Report 2025 recorded a 164% increase in searches for “eclectic interior colour palettes” and a 132% rise in “colourful living room walls” over the previous year.

• WGSN’s Colour of the Year 2026 is Future Dusk — a rich, violet-blue hybrid chosen for its “mysterious, introspective and confident” character.

• According to Euromonitor’s Global Interiors Trends 2025, 57% of consumers across key markets (including the UK, US and Brazil) said they are more inspired by spaces with bold colour than by neutral environments.

Even in property sales, where colour was once seen as risky, data is challenging long-held assumptions. A 2024 report from Zillow found that homes with kitchens or bathrooms featuring navy or olive accents sold, on average, for 2.6% above the asking price, while fully neutral interiors often underperformed, particularly in urban markets.

What’s driving the end of beige?

1. Gen Z enters the property market

This generation, raised on Instagram, TikTok and personalised aesthetics, is visually literate and unafraid of colour. For them, beige reads as algorithmic sameness — the default of developers unwilling to commit to an identity. A 2024 McKinsey report found that 72% of Gen Z property seekers prefer marketing materials (renders, videos, brochures) that showcase “a strong visual personality”.

2. Spaces as an extension of personal brand

We live in the age of personal branding — and that extends to our homes and workspaces. Today’s buyers and tenants want interiors that reflect who they are, what they value, and how they see themselves. Beige, by trying so hard to be neutral, often fails this test.

3. The emotional power of colour

Research in Colour Research & Application (2023) indicates that rich, well-applied colour increases memorability of a space by up to 14%. In a crowded market, that memorability can translate directly into sales and brand recognition.

The emerging palette of 2026

The colours gaining prominence aren’t random — they’re strategic choices, loaded with emotional and cultural meaning:

• Petrol green and olive: stability, sustainability, and calm.

• Terracotta and saffron: warmth, authenticity, connection with craftsmanship.

• Deep blue and charcoal: confidence, sophistication, modernity.

• Lilac and violet accents: creativity, introspection, and edge.

• Colour as a strategic asset

For developers, architects, and interior designers, colour is no longer a matter of aesthetics alone — it’s a branding tool, a way to differentiate, to make a statement, and to connect emotionally with buyers long before they set foot inside a property.

It’s not the death of beige — just the end of beige as default

Beige will always have its place — as a supporting tone, a counterbalance, an element of calm in more complex palettes. But its role as the default setting for interiors is fading. And in its place, we see the rise of colour as both a design feature and a commercial advantage.

At Xarp Studio, we help property developers, architects and designers create visual narratives that stand out — with mood-rich renders, films and imagery that bring your project’s character to life. Because in this new landscape, colour isn’t just a detail — it’s part of your story.

Discover more at

→ Xarp Studio