Welcome to the fifth edition of Trend Beyond Colours for 2026-27 in the continuing collaboration between Nippon Paint and Colour Hive.

For professional architects and designers, the why will always be as important as the how. This ethos has informed our approach to this new edition where you’ll find deeper insights into the drivers and influences that ultimately inform the trend and colour forecast.

In a rapidly shifting and often uncertain world, we note an instinctive human response to seek reassurance by navigating towards what most reflects an individual’s core values and desires. It was this observation that gave rise to our central theme RESONATE. Whether that desire is for sustained wellbeing, mindfulness, future possibilities, or finding the balance in between, our aim is to resonate with that feeling.

As you navigate this book, you’ll discover the macro drivers informing design trends, and the diverse
responses individuals may have to them. In turn, these radiate out into four diverse directions, each with a
clear aesthetic, colour and materials palette and a key signature colour.

This forecast therefore is not about forcing trends from the top down but embracing the receptive process of analysing the global landscape. From this point, we strive to anticipate the moods that will resonate in the
coming years, and we thank you for coming on this journey with us.