These are the hottest colours to style right now, according to leading stylists
Bold or soft. Vibrant or muted. Stand alone or just an accent. Colour is everywhere, and how you style it can be the first thing someone notices about your personality.
Forecasting what the trendiest or most stylish colours and combinations are doesn’t have to be a herculean task. It can be an exciting way to add a breath of fresh air to your curated outfit or a new creative flair to the design of your kitchen.
So if you’re trying to work out how to reinvent your style this year, these are some bold highlights that we’ve drawn from runway buzz and home décor trends that can help inspire your next makeover.
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What difference does colour actually make?
‘When colours become popularized and are more frequently seen and talked about, they enter our decorating subconscious,’ explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute.
‘In other words, if we notice them online, in retail stores, or in magazines, wherever we’re seeing trend direction going, they will cross over from one discipline to another. So, if you see it coming down the runways of the Paris shows, or the New York Fashion Collection shows, or even the London shows, when people start to see trends happening and the direction is going in a certain way, they pick up on it.
‘It doesn’t mean you’re going to rush out and buy a very expensive red coat and red shoes and a red bag just because a certain shade of red happens to be the big colour. But it enters your decorating subconscious, or colour subconscious. Once you’re aware that you’re seeing more of that colour and it’s being talked about, your imagination takes you into other realms. You start to think, ‘Oh, I’m seeing it in fashion,’ and then you use it in other places where you use colour.’
This isn’t to say that wearing or styling a certain colour makes you out of trend or unfashionable. If it weren’t for designers mastering new colour combinations that had never been tried before, we wouldn’t be seeing some styles hit our shelves in the first place.
The best way to dress on trend is to style yourself and your home in a way that shows off your personality and makes you happy, with the secret ingredient to any great design being the confidence to show off your work.
It's an ethos that Elise Heptinstall-Holmes, personal stylist and owner of Redefined Styling, encourages in her clients: ‘Colour trends are an amazing source of inspiration when it comes to personal styling.’
‘For many of us, there can be a tendency to get stuck in a rut with colour, always going for the same ‘safe choices’, and ending up with wardrobes full of very similar things. So, seasonal colour trends are an exciting time to inspire, alongside High Street retailers giving us lots of fun ways to introduce a new colour into our wardrobe.
‘But along with all that excitement can come the pressure of “I must buy something in that colour” without necessarily giving thought as to whether it’s the right colour for you. And what’s more important is when you introduce a new colour into your wardrobe, will it easily combine with existing pieces you already have? It’s no point having random pieces of clothing you can’t connect to create outfits.’
Colour trends are an amazing source of inspiration
Knowing how to navigate what colours you truly enjoy, and not what you’ll be bored with in a few weeks’ time, can feel like a difficult task when staring at the endless colour combinations available to choose from. ‘I always say to my clients it’s amazing to get excited, but take a moment, pause, and take a little time to research before deciding whether a new colour will work for you,’ Elise advises.
‘I personally always wait a season (or two) to see if a colour sticks around. This is always a great test to really see whether a colour trend is in it for the long haul and worth investing in.’
If you want to know what colours will be covering magazines, runways, and designer shops this year, here are some of the highlights:
Earthy Neutrals
Some colours were meant to work together, much like earthy neutral palettes combining soft creams, deep sage, and burnt saffron shades into one palette.
Kelly Caira, stylist and colour analysis expert at House Of Colour, shares: ‘While this season is focused on earthy neutrals such as brown and tan, I anticipate the lighter neutrals such as cream, stone and ‘greige’ tones dominating in 2026, which are wonderful paired with bold or rich tones.’
If earthy shades aren’t your typical go-to colour combination, then a decadent bejewelled touch may also feature as a top trend, as Kelly explains: ‘I’m sensing an 80s energy to the colours that have appeared at London fashion week, so I’ll be curious to see whether the vibrant pinks and turquoise blues translate onto the High Street in 2026.’
Transformative Teal
It’s reminiscent of Mediterranean getaways and feeling washed away in clear sea waters, so no wonder transformative teal is Pantone’s colour of the year for 2026. ‘When Pantone names a Colour of the Year, it establishes itself in people’s minds,’ shares Leatrice.
‘Even when the year ends, that colour doesn’t fall off the edge of the earth. The challenge and fun creatively is to take those colours and use them in new ways so they feel fresh.’ Get ready to see this colour featured in home design, beauty, and fashion throughout the year.
Nicola Barker, head of buying at Suit Direct, shares: ‘Teal is one of the standout jewel tones we’ll see throughout autumn, bringing a fresh and modern edge to the season’s traditionally earthy colour palette.’
‘The shade is a rich blend of blue and green, offering a cool and vibrant contrast to the classic autumnal neutrals and warm shades. It’s an unexpected shade for the colder months, but it works so well with shades like camel, charcoal, and chocolate. It also pairs beautifully with other jewel tones like burgundy or plum, particularly for evening wear.’
Chocolate Brown
If mocha mousse was Pantone’s colour of the year for 2025, chocolate brown is the more sophisticated version that will add a warming, sultry tone to your design. Or as Nicola adds, ‘Chocolate brown is the new black.’
‘It’s one of the most stylish shades of the season and is taking over mood boards. It’s deep, warm, and feels ultra luxe. This shade adds depth and texture to any outfit and pairs seamlessly with other colours like powder blue, blush pink, and lighter neutrals like cream.’
The resurgence of brown tones in our style is a welcome change to how the colour was negatively viewed in the past, as Leatrice explains: ‘The appreciation of brown is a major trend, not only from the standpoint of using it in fashion, but also how we can now combine browns with other colours.’
‘Brown was always a colour people almost threw away mentally - they didn’t think about it as a colour. But at the same time, you had those brown leather boots, the dark brown leather jacket, and a brown handbag you’ve had forever. You take it for granted, but it’s a presence.’
‘Brown used to be associated with dirt or dirtiness, or with chocolate – quite the opposite extreme! In the 1990s, that changed hugely. Martha Stewart talked about brown eggs; LeVian introduced brown diamonds; Michael Kors sent a gorgeous piated brown down the runway for after five when nobody wore brown for after five. The movie Chocolat and Starbucks popping up everywhere with a coffeehouse brown aesthetic gave the colour a glamorous new twist. It became elegant and appreciated.’
Buttercup
Sunny skies, sunflowers, and homemade lemonade; yellow connotes positivity and optimism. Why wouldn’t you want it as a beacon of light in your wardrobe?
It’s a colour that Leatrice has been seeing cropping up around the globe: ‘Yellow, especially in London and England, is worth talking about. Having lived in the Pacific Northwest, I had a lot of experience with yellow. If you live in an area with a lot of rain and grey winter days like that, bringing yellow into your wardrobe or home brings a ray of sunshine.’
‘Yellow gets a bad rep in clothing. People say, ‘I don’t like to wear yellow; it doesn’t look good on me.’ But it’s not about wearing it head to toe. You can wear it as an accessory: a belt, hairpiece, sandals, bag, pants, anything that doesn’t reflect in your face, if that’s not your comfort level. We sometimes forget what yellow means: most people associate it with sunlight. Coming out of winter doldrums into spring and summer, it brings a light, airy feeling. It lifts the spirits, whether in the home or in clothing.’
If you were hesitant about incorporating the bright shade into your life, know that it’s not a colour just featuring in Europe. Leatrice adds: ‘When I lived on Bainbridge Island, I worked with a paint store owner who developed a Bainbridge Island yellow, a yellow specially for the Pacific Northwest – one that isn’t dandelion-bright but has some warmth in it, so it’s not shocking. You walk into a room that’s painted that colour and your spirit is instantly lifted. On grey winter days, it feels wonderful. People walked into my house all the time and said, ‘It feels so warm in here.’
‘It was all because of the colour – and that’s the power colour has to shape our experiences, feelings, and moods.’
Rich tones
When it comes to combining colour, richer, sophisticated tones will be the perfect palette to work into your style. ‘We’re moving towards what I like to call quiet richness,’ shares interior designer and Touched Interiors founder Kunal Trehan.
‘Expect to see deep olives, warm taupes and earthy terracotta anchoring interiors with a sense of calm sophistication. Soft lilacs and dusty blush tones will return too, not sugary pastels, but grown-up shades that add subtle depth. Metallics are shifting away from polished brass towards more muted, patinated finishes such as antique bronze and pewter. These hues aren’t fleeting trends; they have real longevity and will feel relevant well beyond the season.’
Richer colours, drawing on different iridescent jewel tones, can add a layer of timeless elegance to any style.
Deep oranges and citrines are an excellent example of gemstone colours beginning to gain popularity, as Leatrice shares: ‘Years ago, orange was not a highly preferred colour. People considered it a kiddie colour, childish, or like a lollipop. But I always point out: what about Hermès? That is definitely not a kiddie colour. At one time, Hermès was not affordable to anyone, and today, while many still can’t buy Hermès, they see that gorgeous scarf and find it in reproduction or another application that’s more accessible, or they use it in the home as an accessory.
‘Orange was at one point almost a colour meant either for children on one end or very high-end on the other. Where’s the middle ground? Now that we have so much information available to us online and through social media, we see new mixtures of colour combinations. We become more experimental. People may not be ready to use it in broad swaths, but they’re willing to use it in smaller touches.’
What if I don’t know what my style is?
If you’re looking for a new personality to shine in your wardrobe or home but you don’t know where to start, you shouldn’t feel lost. Exploring new colours, textures, and silhouettes is half of the fun in exploring your creative side.
‘The key is to start with how you live, not just what looks beautiful online,’ recommends Kunal. ‘If you’re someone who entertains often, richer, bolder tones will create atmosphere in the evenings. If you crave sanctuary, choose neutrals with warm undertones to cocoon and comfort. Always consider natural light, as cooler shades can look flat in a north-facing room, whereas warmer pigments will bring a sense of balance. The right colour is the one that makes you feel instantly at ease when you walk in.
‘Something I’ve found works brilliantly for both myself and my clients is experimenting with fresh flower arrangements. Place them in your chosen room and change the tones week by week. It’s a simple, non-committal way to live with different hues and discover how they make you feel, all while enjoying the beauty of ever-changing, seasonal bouquets.’
When you’re styling a new outfit, don’t feel like your wardrobe is the enemy. Exploring what patterns, colours, textures, and cuts you enjoy is part of the fun of carving out your own style.
‘I think sometimes people forget clothes can be ‘our amour’, it’s amazing how what we put on in the morning can shift our mindset and help tackle the day,’ says Elise.
‘Your 90-year-old self would be telling you right now to have fun, enjoy, and don’t worry about what you think others might be thinking…most of the time it’s you that’s holding back your instinct of what’s perfect for you.’
Are there any colours that work with my complexion?
Colour theory is the idea that different skin tones, hair colours, and eye colours can complement different colours and tones in your wardrobe and beauty regimes.
‘Most people can wear most colours, but it’s the tone and the intensity of the colour that makes such a difference when supporting your complexion in the best possible way,’ Elise explains.
‘Understanding what type of complexion you are, is based on a number of factors, including hair colour and eye colour. But the real test is understanding what type of skin complexion you have (warm versus cool), and this is very individual.
‘Our parents, grandparents, and family heritage all combine into the exciting melting pot that is your skin type. I know due to the increased popularity of colour, there are many online options to try and suss this out…but honestly, I feel it’s so important to do this in-person with someone trained in colour. You want to see how your skin reacts to each colour season in natural daylight. It’s only then that you can really see the exciting difference that wearing the right colours can make.’
‘Colour combining is a wonderful way to express yourself, whether it’s through outfits, makeup, or home décor,’ adds Kelly.
‘If you’ve had your colours analysed, your palette acts as a guide for easy combinations. For instance, pairing cool, blue-based tones together creates a sense of harmony, whereas mixing cool and warm shades can sometimes feel less balanced. The same applies to makeup. When your lip, cheek, or eye colours harmonise with your undertone, everything looks balanced. This is one of the most effective and helpful aspects of an in-person colour analysis, you discover your best colours for makeup and can choose products to purchase on the day.
‘All this knowledge easily translates to other aspects of life. Clients often find that the insights from their colour and style session extend beyond their wardrobe and into the realm of home interiors. Once they understand how tones harmonise and their own preferences for pattern and design, choosing paint shades, fabrics, and accessories for their home feels far more effortless.’
How can I style a new colour?
Taking the leap to expand your style and try something new can be intimidating, but it’s part of the fun of learning about your interests and spotlighting your personality. We’ve asked the experts how they try adding something new to their style, and how we can do it ourselves. When it comes to home design, Kunal says that ‘layering is essential.’
‘A single flat colour can feel lifeless, but tone-on-tone schemes, such as clay walls paired with rust linens and burnished copper accents, create depth and intrigue. As a rule, I suggest one grounding neutral, one statement colour, and then a third accent in varying tones, used sparingly in artwork or upholstery.’
‘Texture elevates everything: a deep navy textured fabric carries far more impact than navy paint alone. The magic happens when colour, material, and light are considered together, producing a space that feels both personal and effortlessly stylish.’
‘When trialling a new colour, I suggest taking a moment to consider if it really is a colour you love,’ recommends Elise if you’re looking to revamp your fashion. ‘However, if you are keen to go ahead and trial, first work out if that colour is going to mix & match with existing pieces in your wardrobe – can you make the colour work when you get back home?’
Photos: Getty
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