The soft, silvery green shade aims to create lighter, restorative spaces in homes and beyond
Category: Arts & Culture
Dulux has announced its Colour of the Year for 2027 as Soulful Sage, a light and uplifting green that promises to shape interior design trends in the coming year. Described as "an ethereal, soft and silvery green," Soulful Sage is intended to help people "live lightly," according to the brand. This versatile hue sits at the heart of three new colour stories—Glow, Light, and Lift—each offering distinct palettes to inspire home decorators.
As the world grapples with increasing uncertainty and information overload, Dulux's Creative Director and Colour Expert Marianne Shillingford emphasized the need for homes to serve as sanctuaries. "Our overarching theme, ‘Live Lightly’, reflects what we feel people need from their homes right now," she said. "With increasingly busy lives, our homes should provide a counterbalance—a place to switch off, reconnect, and make room for moments of joy." Soulful Sage captures this sentiment beautifully, celebrating nature's calming power and embodying a sense of innocence and rejuvenation.
According to Dulux, the selection of Soulful Sage is the result of extensive research conducted by its parent company, AkzoNobel. The brand noted that the calming and versatile shade was chosen as a response to the current feelings of global uncertainty. "Soulful Sage is a soothing and versatile colour that provides a flexible foundation for schemes requiring different levels of warmth, neutrality, or visual energy," Dulux stated.
The Glow colour palette is crafted to enrich Soulful Sage with warm and inviting earth tones. Shades such as Belgian Chocolate, Clay Walls, and Cinnamon Sprinkle are combined with uplifting lilac and Soulful Sage to create a cozy atmosphere. "These colours feel authentic, familiar, and comforting," Shillingford explained.
The Light palette aims to create a grounding and healing space, pairing Soulful Sage with neutral browns, greys, and blues. "Our Light colour story combines these quiet, pale tones with darker shades for a pared-back, healing feel," Shillingford noted. This palette is particularly suited for environments where clarity and simplicity are desired.
Meanwhile, the Lift colour palette incorporates vibrant and bright tones, featuring yellowy ochres and soft pinks alongside Soulful Sage. This combination is intended to inspire and energize, creating an uplifting atmosphere. "These positive tones can help you create an inspiring, light-hearted feel and fill your home with a little bit of wonder," Shillingford added.
The announcement of Soulful Sage marks a notable shift in design trends as consumers increasingly seek lighter, more restorative environments. Dulux's previous Colour of the Year, a trio of blue shades dubbed Rhythm of Blues, also drew inspiration from nature but offered a more intense expression compared to the subtlety of Soulful Sage. This evolution reflects a growing desire for spaces that feel calm, simple, and connected to the outdoors.
Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center, elaborated on the importance of this shift. "Many people are feeling weighed down by world events and overloaded with information. We want to offer consumers a way to create lighter environments so they can feel that weight lifted off their shoulders," she said. This philosophy aligns with the broader trend of prioritizing well-being and simplicity in design.
The versatility of Soulful Sage allows it to serve as a statement wall colour, a ceiling tint, or a grounding base in layered interiors. According to Palesa Ramaisa, a Dulux Colour Expert, designers are moving away from saturated palettes toward colours that support rather than dominate a space. This shift is particularly relevant as many seek refuge from the noise and chaos of daily life.
As the launch of Soulful Sage approaches, Dulux has made plans to facilitate its integration into various projects. The company has developed a Specifier Guide to help professionals incorporate the Colour of the Year into their designs effectively. This guide will assist architects and designers in creating specifications that align with the intended purpose and functionality of their spaces.
Starting September 8, 2026, Soulful Sage will be available for mixing at Dulux colour retailers, allowing consumers to begin incorporating this refreshing hue into their homes. The accompanying palettes—Glow, Light, and Lift—will also be accessible, providing a comprehensive approach to decorating with Soulful Sage.
As the world looks forward to 2027, the implications of Dulux's Colour of the Year extend beyond mere aesthetics. The emphasis on creating lighter, more restorative environments speaks to a collective yearning for calm and joy in our living spaces. By embracing Soulful Sage, individuals can transform their homes into sanctuaries that nurture well-being and inspire creativity.