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The sun is shining, temperatures are rising, and summer is upon us. As many look to refresh their homes for the new season, we caught up with Charlie Farrar, Naturewall’s Product Marketing Manager, to explore the standout colours from this year’s Ideal Home Show - and the wider interior design industry.
As interiors become less about bold seasonal statements and more about creating spaces that feel calm, expressive and lived-in all year round, this blog explores the colours shaping homes for summer and beyond. From layered neutrals and warmer finishes to the enduring appeal of natural materials and texture, discover how to create a home that feels both stylish and personal, whatever the season.
Green remains one of the most enduring and versatile colours in interior design.
Soft botanical greens in particular continue to define calming, relaxing interiors this summer, with muted sage, olive and moss-inspired tones taking centre stage.
Seen throughout many displays at this year’s Ideal Home Show - and the perfect addition to any wellness-led interior - softer, organic greens meet their potential when paired with natural oak finishes, layered textures and tactile materials to create spaces that felt grounded yet fashionable.
As Charlie explains, “Botanical greens remain some of the most popular colours, owing to their timeless versatility. Many of the natural green shades available will effortlessly brighten a space while pairing beautifully with much loved neutrals, wood textures and stone-inspired tones.”
Naturewall finishes to try:
Warm, understated and light-filled; sun-baked neutrals offer a more homely alternative for the role cooler greys played in recent years.
As decorators lean towards homes that feel softer, brighter and more relaxed, these shades of oat, clay, limestone and sandy beige, embrace understated warmth via layered textures, matte finishes and natural materials.
Charlie notes that homeowners are increasingly “moving away from cooler grey interiors, and are instead embracing softer, more personal spaces, with warmer finishes helping homes feel more inviting and connected.”
To best enjoy these colours, layer warm beige tones, incorporate limewash-inspired shades and remember to add in a mixture of matte textures and tactile surfaces.
Naturewall finishes to try:
“One of the broader shifts we’ve seen in interiors is the creation of grounded, sophisticated cocooning spaces.
Adding relaxing, cosy deep wood shades, while focusing on contrasting colours and textures, is the perfect way to make your home feel balanced, elegant and comfortable”, says Charlie.
Instead of the domineering, heavy dark shades of the gothic revival trend, deep wood shades bring depth, richness and contrast to already lighter interiors.
As Charlie said, the focus is on balance. By pairing walnut finishes and deeper wood tones with soft, light upholstery, warm neutrals and tactile textures the whole space will become grounded, and timelessly attractive.
Throughout the Ideal Home Show, darker woods were used thoughtfully as accents to anchor brighter palettes and add visual warmth. With but a few well-considered wood additions, you can transform any living space.
Naturewall finishes to try:
Another exciting trend for 2026 is creating refined, calming and spa-inspired spaces; stone whites and layered greys are the perfect starting point.
Stone-inspired whites and layered mineral greys continue to shape refined, spa-like interiors, particularly within bathrooms and minimalist spaces.
This season’s softer interpretation of grey moves away from cooler, clinical tones in favour of chalky finishes, warm whites and subtle marble textures that feel homely and elevated.
As seen throughout this year’s Ideal Home Show, layered neutral palettes and tactile stone surfaces created serene, restorative spaces with a lasting appeal.
As Charlie explains, “All across the country, people are becoming more confident with accessories and decor trends while keeping core features timeless.” This shift towards softer, enduring finishes is helping stone-inspired palettes feel more versatile and long-lasting within modern interiors.
Naturewall finishes to try:
Muted terracotta, clay and mineral-inspired shades are introducing warmth and personality into interiors in a more timeless and understated way this summer.
More than bold Mediterranean-style colour blocking, these more humble tones feel softer, earthier and gently sun-faded, bringing expressive warmth through layered materials and tonal finishes.
Warm, uncomplicated plaster shades, earthy pigments and colour-drenched schemes featured heavily throughout the Ideal Home Show, demonstrating how earthy tones can feel both contemporary and calming.
As Charlie notes, many are increasingly prioritising “timeless materials and natural finishes over colder, heavily trend-driven schemes, with a focus on personality and character.”
Naturewall finishes to try:
Whether you invest in softer neutrals, grounding darker wood tones or introducing earthy mineral shades, this summer’s colours are all about creating spaces that feel personal, balanced and lived-in. Rather than following fleeting trends, these palettes offer timeless inspiration that can evolve with your home throughout the seasons.
