Planning a painting project in January? This is the trending colour to have on your radar
If you’re set on doing some DIY in 2026, this is the paint shade you should be paying attention to, according to a colour psychologist.
The start of a new year is always a great time for starting new projects or hobbies. Whether you pick up a new sport, attempt Dry January or set your goals for the upcoming months, it’s a period to recalibrate and recharge.
January is often a time when we look to start DIY projects, too. In fact, one survey found that over a quarter of people consider refreshing their home’s interiors in the first month of the year, while four in 10 feel a desire to change something after taking down their Christmas decorations.
If this sounds familiar and you’re planning to do some DIY, it can be hard to know where to start, especially if you’re repainting. It can help to turn to trending looks – perhaps you’ll be inspired by Pantone’s 2026 colour of the year, Cloud Dancer (described as a “billowy, balanced white”) or the cherry red hues we’ve seen all over the runways and in interiors.
But if there’s one colour that’s going to be everywhere in 2026, it’s blue. First, Dulux announced a trio of cool blue shades as its pick for 2026. Then Etsy announced its colour of the year was ‘patina blue’ – a “serene, confident hue that instantly makes you exhale”. And now, Lick has highlighted its ‘Blue 20’ as the “ultimate January blue”. We all know the saying that ‘three is a trend’, so it’s clear that blue is the shade to have on our radar for the upcoming months.
Credit: Lick
Wondering why this shade has become so popular? Tash Bradley, colour psychologist and head of interior design at Lick, thinks it’s because we’re finally reframing how we see this colour. “Every January, blue gets a bad reputation, representing the cold weather, a lack of motivation and failed resolutions as we begin the new year,” she says. “In fact, blue represents quite the opposite. The colour of the mind, it’s supportive, soothing, clarifying and has an extraordinary ability to connect us straight back to nature.”
If you’re convinced to add blue to your next interiors project, Bradley offers a pro tip. “I want you to think about a darker shade with a softening grey undertone,” she advises. “This gives it that velvety, elegant depth and it wraps a room in this down-to-earth, cocooning warmth.”
So, whether you’re planning to repaint your bedroom, bathroom or living room, keep this trending colour on your radar. It’s sure to be a sought-after look in 2026.
Images: Getty; Lick
