Over the last few months, whenever speaking to interior and paint experts about wall colours going out of style or recommendations for neutral wall shades, I've noticed that the crisp, brilliant white that many of us grew up with as the default 'always looks good' paint colour is being left behind. There is a new go-to shade in town that’s replacing brilliant white in 2026 and beyond, and it can only be described as a warm off-white or cream.I know it’s not necessarily a dramatic departure from the pure white we’ve grown accustomed to – it’s not like brilliant white is being replaced by pink or green. But this subtle shift from one shade to another, taking the crown of the best white paint is significant enough, and is part of a larger movement toward more comfortable and cosier interiors. Dare we say it, even Magnolia is back on the cards as an alternative to Brilliant White.‘For many years, brilliant white was the default choice because it feels clean, bright and reassuringly simple,’ says Marianne Shillingford, creative director and colour expert at Dulux. ‘But as our homes have evolved into spaces of comfort and wellbeing, our relationship with white has started to shift. When used across every wall in a room it can sometimes feel a little stark, particularly in the softer natural light we often experience in the UK.’
