Stop repainting, redesigning interiors: Add 5 trending colours to home decor and make any room look expensive without makeover – The Times of India

Summer 2026 has already arrived and if you are looking to enhance your home’s accent colours, you have come to the right place. Whether you are looking to breathe new life into a tired living room or add a finishing touch to a recently decorated space, the right accent colour can completely transform a room without a full redesign.

This season’s palette is rich, varied and exciting.To cut through the noise and identify which shades to invest in, we help you break down the five accent colours dominating interiors this summer, along with expert advice on how to use each one to its full effect.

Bold and bright: Sunshine yellow

Few colours command attention quite like sunshine yellow. Energising, optimistic and impossible to ignore, it is the accent shade for anyone looking to inject personality into their home this summer.In an interview with the Times of India, Dr Eleni Nicolaou, Art Therapist and Creative Wellness Expert at Davincified, a US-based premium online platform offering custom paint-by-numbers kits that transform personal photos into beautifully accessible artworks, offered her perspective. With a background rooted in the psychology of colour and its effect on mood, space and wellbeing, Dr Nicolaou is well placed to guide homeowners through the season’s most compelling colour choices.

“Yellow has a remarkable ability to lift the energy of a room instantly,” said Dr Nicolaou. “It draws the eye and creates a focal point, which is why it works so well in spaces that feel a little flat or uninspired.”The key is restraint. A sunshine yellow cushion, a ceramic vase or a single statement chair is all it takes. Let the colour do the talking without flooding the room with it.According to authors Y Tanaka et al in a recent 2026 study in the journal Building and Environment, “Rooms with high colour saturation across multiple surfaces increased cognitive fatigue, whereas controlled accent usage alongside neutral palettes improved comfort and visual clarity.”

Overusing colour can overwhelm, while balanced accents and neutrals create a more comfortable environment.

Nature-inspired: Sage and olive green

Green has been a firm favourite in interior circles for a couple of years now and summer 2026 shows no sign of it fading. Sage and olive tones in particular bring a sense of calm and natural balance to a space, making them ideal for living rooms and bedrooms alike.A 2026 paper by L Hernndez and colleagues in the Journal of Environmental Psychology showed that warm, high-luminance hues like yellow significantly raised energy and positive feelings, whereas cooler greens favoured calmness and emotional regulation.

It affirms that sunshine yellow raises energy and green colours induce calm.

“There’s something naturally grounding about green,” Dr Nicolaou explained. “It connects us to the world, which has a calming effect on the mind. Even a few green textiles or a well-placed plant can change the feeling of a room entirely.”Try a sage green feature wall, olive linen cushions or a cluster of houseplants in earthy pots for a look that feels both considered and effortless.

Warm and grounding: Terracotta and clay

Terracotta continues to hold its own as one of the most versatile accent tones available. Warm, earthy and surprisingly adaptable, it adds depth to modern interiors without ever feeling heavy.

“Clay tones work beautifully alongside whites, creams and warm woods,” said Dr Nicolaou. “They bring a sense of warmth and groundedness that a lot of people are drawn to, particularly in spaces where they want to feel truly at ease.”Ceramics, rugs and cushions are the easiest entry points. A terracotta pot or two on a windowsill can be more than enough to anchor a room’s palette.

Soft and subtle: Blush pink and powder blue

Not every accent needs to shout. Blush pink and powder blue offer a quieter kind of impact, sitting comfortably alongside neutrals and adding a gentle layer of colour without disrupting the balance of a room.

“Pastels are wonderfully versatile,” Dr Nicolaou noted. “They’re forgiving, easy to pair and suit a wide range of interior styles.

For anyone new to using colour in the home, they’re a brilliant starting point.”Small accessories and artwork are ideal vehicles for both shades.

Moody and dramatic: Deep teal and indigo

For those who want contrast and a touch of drama, deep teal and indigo are the standout choices of the season. Used sparingly, they create a striking visual tension that adds sophistication to any space.

“Dark accents are about confidence,” said Dr Nicolaou. “A single indigo armchair or a teal decorative piece can become the focal point of an entire room and give it a sense of real intention.”The trick is restraint. A deep teal throw draped over a sofa, an indigo lamp base or a cluster of dark decorative vessels on a shelf is more than sufficient. Let the depth of the colour do the work and resist the temptation to overdo it.

Bottom line

You do not need to repaint a room to refresh it. A few well-chosen accessories in the right colour can have just as much impact as a full redesign. Start small, see how the colour feels in your space and build from there if you want more of it.In a 2026 study in the Interior Design Research Journal, authors R Gupta and M Sørensen established, “Small-scale colour interventions – such as cushions, textiles and decorative objects – were found to produce disproportionately high improvements in perceived room aesthetics compared to full-scale redesigns.” This validates the claim that you don’t need a full redesign; strategic accent pieces can transform a space effectively.Dr Eleni Nicolaou suggested, “Accent colours work hardest when they have breathing room, so pair them with neutrals like white, cream, or warm beige to let the shade stand out without visual chaos and don’t overlook texture. Pairing a velvet cushion with a linen throw and a ceramic vase in the same colour family adds a richness that flat colour can’t achieve on its own. Texture is what makes a space feel layered and lived in.

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