Are you aiming for change this new year? Look around your house. Are the walls beat up? Is the colour dated? Is it just too beige or grey? If you’ve set your sights on a home makeover, our 2026 Colour of the Year – Archer Blue – will hit the mark.
Baby blues
Year after year, blue tops the charts as a favourite colour around the world. It’s also a popular colour for kids’ bedrooms, but you have lots of options beyond young and light or playful and bright blues. With a hint of grey in Archer Blue, it’s perfect for the child who loves blue but wants a more grown-up bedroom – and the parents who want the room to grow with them.
If you have a teenager who wants a dark, moody room, colour drenching it in Archer Blue will get you started, especially if you also paint the ceiling. To enhance the moodiness of the room, try painting the trim a dark colour like Opening Night. While not quite black, it will add a dramatic punch to the room.
Eyes skyward
Love Archer Blue, but also prefer brighter rooms? Use light colours for walls and trim, then try using Archer Blue only on your ceiling. This will draw everyone’s eyes upwards and bring the outdoors in by mimicking the moody sky.
For lighter walls, we recommend Lion Yellow, a warm and cozy hue that leans slightly orange. This pastel paint will give any room in your home a cheery, peachy glow.
If this combination is too colourful, Daisy is a lovely light and airy white that will bring warmth and brightness to any room. It’s also an excellent choice for doors, trim and ceilings throughout your house.
Soft landing
For a house with an open floor plan, try a more down-to-earth palette. Consider painting the wall connecting your dining and family rooms a soft green like Lunar Lamp, then paint your island or lower kitchen cabinets Archer Blue. The colours are complementary without either one being too bold, especially if your upper cabinets are a light wood.
Right on target
No matter the colour – or colours – you choose, you should look at them in your space before painting. Stop by your local Co-op Home Centre to pick up swatches to see in your intended room.
Over the course of a few days, move the swatches around the room. Throughout the day, the light will change and cause the colour to look different.
Whether you like to colour drench rooms, or prefer to have an accent wall, Archer Blue is sure to make a statement in your home. Once you’ve finalized your plan, head to your local Co-op Home Centre to get your paint mixed and pick up all your supplies. Let your creativity fly in 2026.