These 5 Color Trends Dominated WOW!house 2026 – And They're Set to Be Everywhere This Year
Here are the biggest color trends we pulled from this year's WOW!House, the immersive 'showhouse' led by the industry's best designers
The week that WOW!house opens its doors is always an exciting one at Homes & Gardens. Twenty-one rooms make up this year's showhouse, created by leading interior designers and iconic brands, and while each felt distinctly unique in design and message, a few hero colors really stood out.
We gathered an idea of what's hot in almost every aspect of interior design (striking Art Deco lighting and luxe curved seating were common themes throughout the WOW!house 2026 trends), but five exciting color trends were really clear this year. Out of all the twenty-one rooms, these five color trends excited us the most, providing a glimpse of the power of color in its many forms, from bold to subdued.
1. Deep Burgundy
The Parlour by Martin Kemp Design, a deeply luxurious lounge inspired by a small boutique the designer stumbled across.
The Parlour by Martin Kemp Design was woven with moody colors, namely deep plums and burgundies. 'The palette came from an unexpected moment. I walked past a small boutique that was completely color-drenched and was struck by the confidence of it. It wasn't something we'd explored before, but I was intrigued by the idea of immersing a room in a single, rich tone. Around the same time, one of the team was wearing Rouge Noir nail polish, and I immediately thought, that's the color. It's such a classic and iconic shade. It felt entirely in keeping with both the room's intimate atmosphere and our inspiration, Grace Jones, whose style is fearless, glamorous, and timeless.'
'While we're certainly seeing a renewed appreciation for richer, more enveloping colors,' explains Martin. 'I think these shades have always had a place in interiors. Deep burgundies, chocolate tones and inky hues are classics for a reason; they bring depth and a sense of permanence. Trends may ebb and flow, but these colors remain enduringly relevant.'
'Moody colors work particularly well in smaller, more intimate spaces where conversation and atmosphere are the priority,' continues Martin. 'That's exactly why they suited the Parlour Room so well. Rather than trying to brighten everything, embrace the cocooning quality of darker tones and lean into the sense of comfort and intimacy they create. In the right setting, they can feel incredibly welcoming and sophisticated.'
2. Matcha Green
Matcha green was the primary color running throughout the Martin Moore Kitchendesigned by Samantha Bartlett.
Sage green is the quiet color designers are using to create calm. From the matcha green range oven to the muted marble countertops, soothing pale green brought the serene Martin Moore Kitchen designed by Samantha Bartlett to life.
'We wanted the cooking space to feel calm, grounded, and connected to nature rather than overly clinical or trend-driven,' explains Samantha. 'The overall palette was inspired by natural materials and muted, earthy tones – colors that reference Mother Nature. The green acts as a soft anchor within the room, bringing warmth and depth while still feeling light and fresh.'
'The aim was to create a room that feels timeless, welcoming, and lived-in, somewhere that feels like home,' adds Samantha. 'Our work is deeply inspired by Mother Nature, so these softer greens are part of a much broader design language rather than a seasonal color decision. Greens have been used in interiors for centuries because they're inherently calming and versatile, sitting beautifully alongside natural materials such as timber, stone, linen, and clay.'
'Perhaps what's changing is not the color itself but the wider cultural desire to bring nature indoors. As people increasingly seek spaces that support wellbeing and connection, palettes rooted in the landscape naturally resonate. That's why we believe sage and matcha greens have a timeless quality: they reference something enduring rather than something fashionable.'
3. Warm Neutrals
The Turnell & Gigon Group drawing room by Albion Nord was woven with rich hues, from chocolate browns to grounding green-toned blues.
The Turnell & Gigon Group Drawing Room by Albion Nord gave new meaning to decorating with neutrals. Threaded with deep browns, warm beiges, and an unexpected yet soothing duck egg blue, the sitting room balanced comfort, tranquillity, and richness.
While blue can sometimes feel cold, the domed roof provides ample daylight in the space, bringing an openness that pairs beautifully with the palette. The hand-painted alcoves are painted in a bespoke Benjamin Moore blue, matched with coordinated fabric walls and ceiling that soften the room. Each brings an added layer of thoughtfulness to the overall design.
The warm browns and beiges are a clever move against the blue backdrop, providing an all-important punchy dose of richness that counteracts the cooler walls and coffered ceiling. Albion Nord 'Fenton' sofas provide a sense of comfort and neutrality, and the chocolate brown slipcovered armchairs tick the richness box. An enviably soft and impressively large sand-colored velvet coffee table stands proud at the center of the room, a vessel that immediately caught our attention for its size and surprising practicality (fitted with shelves of hidden storage).
4. Playful Primaries
The Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by Young Huh features a vibrant display of color, with 55 lacquered inset boxes painted in vibrant Benjamin Moore paints.
The Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by Young Huh made a compelling case for the return of primary colors. While the room featured a neutral backdrop of Chantilly Lace, each wall was covered in lacquered inset boxes, painted in a vibrant hue or embellished with a hand-painted mural inspired by Korean folk art.
The colorful boxes (reminiscent of lacquer trays) acted as murals in their own right, each slotting into a portion of the room's walls. From bold Galápagos Turquoise to the lime-meets-lemon Citron, Young didn't hold back on the acidic hues. A fiery orange called Picante sang against deeper plums and jade greens, like Jade Garden.
5. Seafoam Blues
Seafoam blues and greens brought an enduring calm to the Phillip Jeffries morning room by Sara Cosgrove.
'My concept is a quiet, uplifting analogue sanctuary; a room that resists the velocity of modern life – a fantasy really,' says interior designer Sara Cosgrove on the Phillip Jeffries Morning Room. 'The space references couture thinking – proportion, drape, tension and finish. It is also informed by nostalgia for slower rituals, such as reading print magazines and long conversations.'
It was the seafoam color palette that made Sara's serene morning room truly come to life. A sense of calm was palpable instantly, made possible with such a delicate, grounded palette of muted greeny-blues and creams. From the abstract walls reminiscent of waves (created by the room's sponsor, Phillip Jeffries) to the architectural ceiling painted in a green-tinged blue, the muted seafoam palette only added to the calmness of the design.
Organic textures and neutral tones (colors that go best with pale blue) bring a grounded touch, transforming the morning room into a space that combines two inherent qualities – function and emotion.
From nature-inspired greens to luxurious burgundies, this year's WOW!house was filled with exciting color trends that have inspired us until the next one comes around.
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