Paints Have Their Own Trends Too
Not only fashion, furniture and food. The world of paints follows trends shaped by innovation, cross-industry dialogue, and contemporary social and cultural influences. Often seen as highly technical, the field proves dynamic, supporting changes in construction and architecture while meeting contemporary aesthetic and design needs.
CAP Arreghini has carried out an in-depth analysis of the main developments that will characterise 2026, in order to offer professionals timely and effective solutions. This research and forecasting effort is designed to align with emerging market needs and even anticipate future demands, supporting designers and applicators in making the most up-to-date technical and decorative choices.
The main macro-trends consistently continue the most relevant themes of recent years, namely sustainability and a natural approach. These values translate into projects that generate wellbeing and quality of living. This orientation is also reflected on an aesthetic level, where nature remains a key source of inspiration, both in colour palettes and sensory effects.
Trends 2026: Focus on Mineral Paints
2026 confirms itself as the year of mineral paints, with formulations based on materials such as lime and silicates. These solutions are more sustainable and natural, in line with values of care for the environment and people that accompany every aspect of contemporary living. Beyond their low environmental impact, mineral paints offer multiple advantages: strong opacity, greater adhesion to substrates, and above all extremely high breathability, allowing water vapour to pass through. This prevents mold and surface condensation that can damage plaster, while improving indoor habitability.
Thanks to these properties, mineral paints are ideal for bio-building interventions on historic or restoration projects, respecting architectural heritage while improving performance, durability and energy efficiency. CAP Arreghini responds with the Mineralcap line, interior and exterior products made with low-impact raw materials, including nature-inspired decorative finishes.
Sensoriality Comes First
As with ceramic finishes, tactility also guides architectural and decorative choices in paints. The demand for three-dimensional surfaces is growing, with tactile, material effects that enhance sensoriality and create a deeper, more dynamic connection with space. Masonry surfaces therefore favour micro-textures, increasingly appreciated for their authentic, realistic and refined character. These finishes are mainly expressed through matte appearances which, in 2026, are preferred overall to glossy ones. Matte finishes convey warmth, familiarity and softness, generating a strong emotional impact and enhancing the material character of the surface.
Representing this trend is CAP Arreghini’s Microlite multi-layer composite system, offering a wide variety of colours and textured finishes such as coarse and fine-grain spatula effects, monochrome spatula finishes and cloud-effect spatula textures.
The Era of “Smart” Paints
This is the time of “smart” paints: intelligent coatings capable of improving thermal insulation, purifying the air and withstanding extreme climatic conditions. Thanks to research and technological innovation, these solutions offer increasingly effective protection for buildings and occupants, contributing to the creation of comfortable, high-performing and healthier environments. This trend stems both from the continuous evolution of the sector and from a growing sensitivity towards sustainable lifestyles and green environments, where wellbeing becomes a central and essential value.
An ideal example of this approach is CAP Arreghini’ Capnanotech line, featuring thermal-insulating and photocatalytic paints that improve quality of life both indoors and outdoors by reducing heat loss, offering anti-mould and self-cleaning functions, improving breathability and transforming pollutants into harmless substances.
Natural Palettes and Colour Boxes
Alongside these trends strongly linked to a green and sustainable vision, the decorative world also evolves. Nature extends into colour palettes that reflect the desire to live in stimulating, sensory and emotional environments through soft, naturally harmonious tones. While Pantone has named “Cloud Dancer” as Colour of the Year with its ethereal white, colour trend research expands the palette to a broader range of shades. These tones instil serenity, enhance concentration, and symbolise calm and relaxation, inspired by the natural world. Space is therefore given to terracotta, clay, sage, ivory, sand and their variations.
These hues increase their impact through application techniques that favour immersive solutions and colour box effects. This is the principle of colour drenching, where a space is enveloped in a single tone. However, 2026 marks the rediscovery of double drenching: pairing two or more related colours with different nuances to create striking intensity and sophisticated chromatic perception.
Looking Ahead for Designers
Understanding trends is the first step towards transforming them into effective and long-lasting design solutions. Paint trends for 2026 offer architects and designers new opportunities to integrate sustainability, technological innovation and aesthetic quality into their projects.
To explore products, systems and technical content dedicated to professionals, visit the CAP Arreghini Designers section, created to support architects and designers in making the most current and informed choices.
