DECO’s 2026 Finish Forecast: Nature-Inspired Palettes and Two New Architectural Finishes

DECO Australia has released its 2026 Finish Forecast, a digital guide highlighting the material and colour directions set to influence architectural design in the year ahead. Moving beyond flat, solid colours, the forecast centres on finishes defined by texture, tonal variation, and visual depth.

Informed by global forecasting bodies including WGSN and Coloro, alongside insights from Pantone and Australia’s Dulux Colour Forecast, as well as DECO’s two decades of expertise in advanced powder coat and sublimation finishes, the outlook reflects a broader shift toward finished materials that support wellbeing, durability, and emotional connection within the built environment.

Globally, 2026 colour trend predictions are shaped by themes of redirection, reconnection, and renewal. Coloro’s Transformative Teal signals resilience and adaptability, while softer neutrals such as Pantone’s Cloud Dancer introduce calm and visual clarity. Locally, Dulux’s Ethereal, Elemental, and Evoke palettes reinforce the growing role of colour in shaping atmosphere and providing respite from increasingly digital lifestyles.

Responding to these movements, DECO has developed eight curated finish palettes for designers and specifiers. These palettes pair DecoWood® and DecoVogue® sublimated finishes with complementary solid powder coat colours, supporting façades and exterior spaces that feel warm, layered, and enduring.

“Rather than prescribing colour alone, the forecast focuses on how finishes interact across surfaces.” says Architectural Business Manager Simon Pearson. “The aim is to give architects and designers tools to create palettes that feel both grounded and expressive through material contrast and tonal balance.”

Adding to the forecast’s versatility are DECO’s two brand-new finishes: Pewter Ash™ and Salted Spruce™.  While Pewter Ash™ introduces a refined, weathered timber tone suited to a minimalist and understated elegance, Salted Spruce™ offers a light grey timber aesthetic with a contrasting grain that enhances scale and texture.

“These finishes respond to the growing demand for materials that convey authenticity while meeting durability and maintenance expectations,” Pearson adds. “They enable designers to introduce warmth and tactility without compromising performance.”

DECO’s 2026 Finish Forecast is now available for download at deco.net.au. To view the new DecoWood® finishes visit deco.net.au/finishes.