Annie Sloan CBE: ‘Cloud Dancer was basically a sort of rather dull white’

Fearless when it comes to colour, and a leading authority on decorative painting, it’s 36 years since Annie Sloan revolutionised the way we paint furniture with her Chalk Paint™.

One of the most important designers of her generation, and author of 27 books – most recently, Annie Sloan Colourful Living, 30 Creative Upcycling Paint Projects For Your Home, published last year.

Her expertise and creative flair led to her being awarded a CBE for Services to Interior Design in 2023 – so it’s somewhat of a surprise to learn ‘colour of the year’ is a first for the colour expert.

“Funnily enough, I’ve never done it before… it came about because of Pantone’s Colour of the Year [2026] being so dull, and everybody was outraged how terrible it was.”

“They’d come up with this colour called Cloud Dancer, which was basically a sort of rather dull white. And everybody went ‘That’s not really a colour, is it? And that is just what we need now.’

Sloan admits she’s thought about it [colour of the year] many times, “But because often the Pantone colour overshadows everything, I didn’t do it.”

“But actually, I enjoyed doing this so much, I’ll certainly do it again next year. It was really, really good.”

She continues: “And I think this was the time for it… people have been much more led by what you’re supposed to do.

“And now, people are thinking ‘they’re not going to move, they’re going to stay in their house and going to make it their own,’ and that’s a really important thing.”

The artist and designer’s Colour Palette of the Year 2026 is a trio of three shades, each paired with a key word to inspire creatives in the coming year.

Tyrian Plum – Creativity. Primer Red – Community. Napoleonic Blue – Wellbeing.

“We didn’t create new colours for this,” explains Sloan. “They’re colours which are already in my range.

“But we’ve put them together to say ‘these are the colours of now and what we’re wanting to use’ – and that’s the new thing.”

Moreover, Sloan says: “What’s so interesting, I was amazed how much I got people saying ‘Oh this is exactly how I’m feeling, this is exactly right’ and it resonated with them.

“And then I found loads of other companies, tech companies, interior design – not particularly copying me – but coming up with the same stock of colours.

“It’s been quite extraordinary… I’ve hit a nerve, it’s the zeitgeist.”

Today, the veteran designer is looking forward to presenting at the Ideal Home Show 2026, now in its 118th year.

“I can’t wait,” she says enthusiastically.

One of her favourite places to be on stage: “It’s very well organised, very uplifting,” and thinks springtime is the best “because everybody’s excited to get back into everything.”

Showing no signs of slowing down, the 76-year-old and “proud of it” believes it’s a very interesting age nowadays for people who are older, particularly women.

“When I first came into the business, you had to be blonde and 20, or in your mid-20s, and I think that’s changed hugely.

“All the people, you know, on TV… Mary Berry, Prue Leith, Celia Birtwell, they’re still working; not because they need to, but because they love it and want to.

“And have the energy. I think we all have much more energy and drive than we ever had before, and that’s why we’re still here,” she says smiling.

Feeling inspired, ready to pick up a paint brush and create a sense of wellbeing?

Tyrian Plum for creativity

To spur your creativity, and referencing this colour, Sloan says: “I’m amazed by it because it’s always been a colour I’ve been a little distanced from.

“People are quite nervous of purple; it’s not a purple, it’s more a plum.

“As soon as I started working with it, I was overcome by the number of ideas that came out of it.

“It works beautifully with feet, so I painted a table. And then I put a flower and some greenery in a vase, and the green in the vase looked amazing with the plum.

“So green looks fantastic, and so many colours go well with plum – and I love plum in the garden,” she enthuses.

Primer Red for community

“Community is what I make,” states Sloan. “So social media is wonderful for me.

“Often I’m not messaging in public, I’m messaging privately. It’s very interesting to hear what people are doing, what they’re painting, and so I’ve developed lots of groups.”

Introducing Primer Red, “it’s a very interesting colour, it’s used in every culture and tradition in the world.

“From the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City, to the grandest Italian Renaissance, to Picasso… it’s terracotta basically.

“You might have a terracotta wall, and that’s a beautiful thing. If you add white, you get the most beautiful pink. “It’s very versatile and goes with practically everything.”

Napoleonic Blue for wellbeing

“I have an office painted in Napoleonic Blue and the reason I’ve chosen it – and have done for many years – is this is my office. There’s a lot going on.

“There’s talk and thinking, all of that sort of movement around – and I love this colour because it’s very calming.

“It’s quiet because the room disappears… it’s not coming in at you; the colour disappears.

“It’s like an endless sky, really. It’s very, very calming, it naturally calms you and that’s why I chose it.”

Annie Sloan CBE is presenting ‘The joy of decorative painting’ and the ‘Create Your Own Beautiful Painted Lampshade’ workshop at the Ideal Home Show on April 15. The Ideal Home Show returns to Olympia, London from April 10–19, for its 118th year. For tickets and more info visit idealhomeshow.co.uk.