It is time to breathe easier. Dulux has unveiled Soulful Sage as its 2027 Colour of the Year – a serene, silvery-green shade that invites you to create lighter spaces for a lighter life.

In a world where many of us feel overwhelmed by information and endless demands on our attention, Soulful Sage offers a practical answer. This ethereal, soft colour helps you build spaces that restore rather than exhaust. It anchors three carefully curated colour stories – Glow, Light and Lift – each one designed to bring calm, warmth and energy to your spaces.

The shade emerged from AkzoNobel’s comprehensive annual trend research, conducted by the Global Aesthetic Center. It reflects a clear global shift towards simplicity and wellbeing.

A colour that supports rather than dominates

‘Designers are moving away from saturated, demanding palettes toward colours that support rather than dominate a space,’ says Palesa Ramaisa, Dulux Colour Expert. ‘Soulful Sage is versatile – it works as a statement wall, a ceiling colour or a grounding base in layered interiors. For design professionals, it is the bridge between minimalism and warmth.’

Creating sanctuaries where the weight can lift

‘Our 2027 Colour of the Year is about creating lighter spaces for lighter lives. We are living through a time when many of us feel weighed down – by world events, by information overload, by everything demanding our attention. With Soulful Sage, we are giving people a practical way to transform their spaces into sanctuaries where that weight can finally lift,’ says Heleen van Gent, Creative Director, AkzoNobel Global Aesthetic Center.

That vision speaks directly to how we live now. Homes and workplaces do more than ever before. They shelter us, ground us and recharge us. Soulful Sage helps these spaces do that work quietly, without demanding attention of their own.

Three colour stories: Glow, Light and Lift

Alongside Soulful Sage, Dulux has introduced three complementary colour stories. Each one offers a distinct mood and purpose, giving you the flexibility to design spaces that feel intentional and complete.

• Glow A warm and nourishing space that wraps you in comfort. Earthy and grounding, it is where we can find ourselves and reconnect with what truly matters.
• Light A calm and healing space that feels restorative and peaceful. Soft and serene, it is where we can reflect, refocus and recharge our spirits.
• Lift A bright and uplifting space that feels energising and joyful. Optimistic and inspiring, it is where we can embrace possibility and find the energy to dream.

Colour across every industry

The 2027 collection reaches well beyond residential walls. Dulux has designed the colours, textures and special effects to light up the senses across a wide range of markets. Alongside decorative paints, the brand has created inspirational palettes for aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, metal furniture, lighting, cabinetry, flooring, building products and architecture.

‘We do not create our colour stories in isolation. We work closely with architects, interior designers, trend specialists and product developers – bringing diverse perspectives to our research every single year,’ says Nathalie Sweeney, Marketing Director for Dulux.

‘That collaboration produced Soulful Sage and three colour palettes. Together, they reflect where design and consumer behaviour are heading across different industries. For customers in Sub-Saharan Africa, we deliver solutions tailored to their needs. These help them create spaces that feel lighter, brighter and more alive.’