Painting outside the box with Dulux Blues for 2026

Creative wall painting techniques shouldn't be a serious business. If you're happy to do a little preparation and clearing up, applying energizing interior paint is the quickest and easiest way to change the feel of a room.

Think lateral. Instead of following the usual format of painting the four walls and the ceiling, consider ingenious and experimental home decor ideas to bring a room to life with colour. Try Colour Blocking with Blue, Freeform Shape painting, or framing a piece of furniture, and don't be afraid to get creative.

Providing you with shades you know will work together,Dulux 2026 colour stories make things even easier. Simply choose your favourite (here we've used the Feel Free palette) and get to work. Remember, adding a dash of our Family of Blues will help any scheme look cutting edge and feel just right for now.

Colour-blocking makes a bold statement in any room

Creating statement wall designs through colour-blocking is an easy way to add drama to a room. Like giant tiles, these panels of contrasting green add interest to this kitchen wall and help define the splashback area. Painting the units with our Free Groove™ – a brilliant blue – adds a balancing contrast. Dulux has a wide range of easy-to-clean products specially formulated for kitchen walls.

Echoing colour from one room to the next is a neat way of bringing two spaces together. Here, energizing ochre has been used to make a dramatic panel around the doorway and for the back wall of the adjoining room. This Architectural colour framing tricks the eye into seeing one colour block, creating a connection between the living room in the foreground and the workspace beyond.

Framing a window with colour draws the eye outside, making a room feel instantly bigger. This kitchen window has been surrounded with a playful painted panel of soft ochre, extending up to the ceiling to enhance the effect. Set against a neutral backdrop, blocks of our airy Mellow Flow™ and yellow also bring the space to life.

Extending colour beyond the edges or corners of a room can give it a modern, individual feel. Here, our vibrant Free Groove™ creates an injection of energy into the bedroom without overpowering it. This wraparound effect behind the headboard marks out a joyful sleeping space. The bold yellow frames stretches beyond the doorway, creating a dramatic entrance to the ensuite. This combination of neutral and blue tones creates a fun yet stylish atmosphere

Discover more innovative ideas for using our 2026 family of blues, find out how to transform the mood of your living room with our 2026 colour stories and pick the perfect indigo shade for you here.