BHG partnered with premium paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore to launch its first-ever Colour of the Year and an insight-led report, informed by its 5.8 million audience touch points.

As soft whites and safe neutrals continue to shape colour forecasts, Better Homes and Gardens is making a decisive break for 2026. The launch of its first-ever Colour of the Year signals a shift towards richer, more expressive colour choices that reflect how Australians want their homes to feel and function.

Grounded in extensive trend research and cultural analysis, BHG’s 2026 Colour of the Year, Spiced Tangerine, is colour-matched to premium paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore’s Racing Orange 2169-10. The prediction reflects global and local shifts across fashion, design, architecture, pop culture and consumer behaviour, pointing to a growing appetite for richer, more expressive interiors.

The initiative is supported by a downloadable Colour of the Year report, offering industry insight drawn from BHG’s 5.8 million-plus audience touch points across print(1), digital(2), social and email. The report explores the cultural signals, behavioural shifts and consumer sentiment shaping colour decisions in Australian homes.

Curated by Better Homes and Gardens Editor Megan Osborne, the final colour selection is supported by expert commentary from BHG creative projects editor Geneva Vanderzeil, interior designer Jono Fleming, and Andrew Dunn, director at Benjamin Moore Australia.

“If colour could capture a mood for 2026, then Spiced Tangerine would be it. Our BHG Colour of the Year is deep, warm and unapologetically rich,” says Osborne. “The appeal of Spiced Tangerine lies in its duality: it is both energising and calming, sumptuous yet accessible. It nods to nostalgia (hello ’70s!) with its vintage terracotta roots, while speaking to a modern tone that values connection and comfort.”

“We have officially moved past beige!” says interior designer Jono Fleming. “People want warmth, character, and the comfort of colour that actually feels lived in. This shade is grounded and expressive at the same time, which is rare. And it still sits beautifully alongside the tones we already use in Australian homes.”

The Colour of the Year initiative marks a new strategic partnership between Better Homes and Gardens and Benjamin Moore, aligning two of the most trusted authorities in homes, colour and design. “Racing Orange 2169-10 is bold, uplifting and full of life,” says Dunn. “It’s an inspiring and confident choice that reflects where design is heading.”

Designed as a fully integrated, omnichannel consumer experience, the Colour of the Year will be brought to life across a print feature, supported by digital content, social storytelling, email, and an interactive People’s Choice vote.

The unique insights that underpin this feature underscores BHG’s evolution from a source of creative inspiration to a trusted authority in trend reporting and cultural interpretation. Its commercial influence is reflected in audience behaviour: 96 percent of consumers take action after engaging with BHG content(3), 37 percent go on to purchase advertised products, and 55 percent search online for items they’ve seen. Digital affiliate sales on bhg.com.au have increased 173 percent year-on-year, with conversion rates reaching 6 percent – 243 percent above the industry average.

BHG’s audience remains highly invested in the category, with 72 percent homeowners, 42 percent classified as big spenders, and half having renovated or redecorated in the past year. Collectively, they spend an average of $886 million per month on home and garden, and $1.5 billion on groceries.

Spiced Tangerine is supported by two complementary 2026 colour predictions – Dewy Eucalyptus and Roasted Butternut – both matched to Benjamin Moore shades.

To access the Better Homes and Gardens 2026 Colour of the Year report, visit: www.bhg.com.au/lifestyle/bhg-2026s-colour-of-the-year/

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Sources used: 

(1)   Roy Morgan Single Source Australia, Mar25 – AP14+
(2)   Ipsos iris Online Audience Measurement Service, May 2024 – April 2025, AP14+ (12 months average)
(3)   Are Media, Consumer Data & Insights, Better Homes and Gardens reader survey, 2025