Set the pace with paint: How colour choices shape the way you live
From energy to calm, Dulux Colours of the Year 2026 offers a trio of soulful blues for every mood and moment at home
By Home & Decor Singapore -
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The desire for calm and comfort has never felt more universal. People are seeking spaces that slow the pace, restore balance and give room to simply be.
Reflecting this mood, AkzoNobel’s ColourFutures 2026 introduces a theme that feels perfectly attuned to the moment: “Your space, your pace.”
The Dutch multinational brand behind Dulux and a global leader in paints and coatings has, for the first time, unveiled not just one but a family of Colours of the Year: three soulful blues known as the Rhythm of Blues.
Together, these Dulux paint colours reflect the emotional rhythms of modern life. This year’s forecast highlights well-being as a priority of modern living – and explores how colour, design and innovation can work in harmony to support it.
(From left) The vibrant Free Groove, airy light blue Mellow Flow and meditative dark blue Slow Swing make up the Rhythm of Blues, AkzoNobel’s Colours of the Year 2026.
Shaping the emotional rhythm at home
Each year, AkzoNobel’s ColourFutures team looks beyond design trends to understand the deeper social shifts shaping the way we live.
For 2026, three sentiments stood out: the joy of breaking boundaries, the desire for connection to thrive and the need for stillness to heal.
A mix of Free Groove and shades of yellow brings bright, upbeat energy to the living room.
“We all have individual ways and rhythms in response to the world we live in,” says Heleen van Gent, head of the AkzoNobel Global Aesthetic Centre. “This influences the colours we want to have around us – different colours for different rhythms.”
These insights inspired the Rhythm of Blues, three distinct yet harmonious blue tones designed to help homeowners set the emotional tempo of their spaces:
- Free Groove: Expressive and playful, adding energy and optimism to social areas.
- Mellow Flow: Airy and expansive, creating calm, clarity and a sense of openness to workspaces or rooms where focus and creative flow are needed.
- Slow Swing: Deep, meditative and grounding, ideal for restful, contemplative spaces.
Heleen van Gent, Head of the AkzoNobel Global Aesthetic Centre.
“Versatile blue is the perfect shade to bring the idea of changing paces to life, and each of our hero shades has been carefully selected to reflect the rhythms we’ve identified,” Heleen adds. “Used on their own or combined with other shades, these blues can help people adjust the pace of their homes to match their mood.”
Whether you’re refreshing your space for the coming year or moving into a new BTO, discover practical tips for applying the various Rhythm of Blues colour palettes in your home.
Setting the pace in every room
In Singapore’s bright tropical light, colours behave differently – appearing richer, more dynamic and full of life. It’s why the Rhythm of Blues palette works beautifully in this environment, says Nikki Hunt, founder of Singapore-based interior design consultancy Design Intervention.
“What I love about this trio is how adaptable it is,” she notes. “Mellow Flow feels open and airy, which is wonderful for small apartments. Free Groove adds character and confidence, while Slow Swing brings a cocooning depth that instantly grounds a space.”
Layering Slow Swing with soft neutrals and browns gives this bedroom a quiet, cocooning mood that feels deeply restorative.
Nikki’s room-by-room applications
Living room: Use Free Groove, a vibrant and confident mid-tone blue, as a statement wall or accent piece. Balance it with natural materials such as oak, rattan or linen for added warmth.
Bedroom: Paint Slow Swing behind the bed or in a reading nook to create a tranquil retreat; layer with soft fabrics and warm, golden lighting to enhance its cocooning effect.
Kitchen: Add Mellow Flow for a fresh, bright feel that balances tropical heat.
Workspace: Apply Mellow Flow on walls for calm focus, accented with hints of Free Groove to spark creativity.
Her guiding principle? “Think in rhythm, not repetition. Layer tone and texture like nature does: lighter where the sun hits, deeper in the shadows.”
Nikki Hunt, Founder of Design Intervention.
To help home owners navigate colour with confidence, Nikki highlights three common mistakes to avoid.
Firstly, equating calm with colourlessness. She explains that while a fully neutral room may appear serene in photos, without tonal variation (subtle shifts in shade or depth), the eye has nothing to rest on. This lack of visual cues keeps the body quietly alert rather than relaxed.
Secondly, copying palettes from cooler climates. Soft greys that work in London often look washed-out under Singapore’s intense light, which calls for cleaner, more saturated tones.
The pairing of Mellow Flow and Free Groove sets a clear, uplifting rhythm, grounded by warm wood for a well-balanced workspace.
The last is following trends too literally. “The goal is to find what feels right for your space,” says Nikki. “The beauty of the Rhythm of Blues palette is that it allows you to do just that – with three tones, three moods and endless possibilities to create a home that matches your pace.”
Opening up compact spaces
In smaller homes, colour also helps reshape a room, opening it up when you need breathing space, or grounding it when life feels fast.
Light blues like Mellow Flow visually recede, making walls appear further away, Nikki explains. Keeping ceilings lighter adds height, while a deeper shade like Slow Swing on one wall introduces depth and dimension.
She advises pairing these blues with warm neutrals and natural textures – such as pale oak, travertine or rattan – to keep the room relaxed yet inviting.
“Think of colour like choreography: blue sets a calm rhythm, texture adds warmth, and light brings it all to life,” says Nikki.
The science of beautiful, healthy homes
Colour nourishes the senses, but paint can do more than just delight the eye. Dulux Ambiance All AirClean, available in over 2,000 colours, is formulated with Pure Air Technology to help purify indoor air, so your walls not only look beautiful, but also support your well-being.
This innovative paint breaks down harmful pollutants like formaldehyde into water vapour. It’s especially useful for Singapore’s air-conditioned urban homes, where VOCs from furniture, adhesives and building materials can accumulate over time.
As Gordon Lee, Commercial Head for AkzoNobel Paints (Singapore), puts it: “We believe that everyone should feel safe in their homes. With Dulux Ambiance All AirClean, home owners now have the choice to actively improve their indoor air quality.”
Paired with a mood-balancing palette like the Rhythm of Blues, Dulux Ambiance All AirClean helps transform everyday rooms into spaces that look good, feel good and support healthier living.
Explore the Dulux Colour of the Year 2026 palette and Dulux Ambiance All AirClean at dulux.com.sg.