With decades of colour expertise behind them, HMG Paints, the Manchester-based paint manufacturer, has unveiled their Colour of the Year – Swan.
Selected by HMG’s internal colour specialists along with their decorative design team, HMG have looked ahead and assessed the emerging cultural, architectural, and interior design movements to identify a colour that reflects how people want to feel and connect with their homes this year.
A refined and calming grey-white infused with the softest whisper of lavender, Swan is seen as a modern evolution of white and has been carefully selected by colour experts at HMG to align with shifting design preferences. By analysing the ever-changing interior trends through extensive internal research, HMG have identified the growing shift in the industry, as users look to swap out colours like magnolia for softer shades, with the choice being the direct response to the movement.
As part of HMG’s popular Essentials Colour Collection, Swan introduces a sense of tranquillity and quiet sophistication to interiors, working seamlessly across walls, woodwork and furniture. The colour preforms exceptionally well as both a standalone shade and can be partnered with various other shades within HMG’s expansive colour range.
Gracienne Ikin, Business Development & Market Growth Manager for Decorative Paint (White Label) at HMG Paints, comments: “For 2026, Swan feels incredibly relevant as it reflects what so many of our customers and partners are looking for right now. It brings a sense of calmness and ease to the spaces people use every day and we’ve already seen how beautifully it performs across real projects within the business.
“For me, Swan is a great representation and fresh direction for neutral tones. It can complement the richer accent colours in a decorative space without feeling cold or clinical. That balance to me is what made it stand out so strongly as our colour of the year.”
Speaking on how it aligns with HMG’s wider decorative direction, Alyssia Thorburn, Creative Marketer at HMG Paints, says: “Swan is a standout shade within HMG and a personal highlight of my work within the business. As interiors move towards tonal layering, quiet luxury and more personalised spaces, we believe that Swan has a contemporary edge that redefines the role of other neutral decorative shades found within the market.
“Unlike standard white emulsions, Swan has added depth and softness which helps bring interior designs together. We believe that Swan represents a clear evolution within HMG’s decorative range, as we look to align our decorative shades to stay line with how interiors are being designed and lived in today.”
Swan in use
Swan has already featured across a range of various projects at HMG, where it has been used to support both modern and traditional interior schemes across various projects.
One great showcase of the colour comes from the recent Collyhurst Village project, in which HMG worked closely with FEC UK and Project Furniture Residential to supply a variety of interior coatings. This project featured a range of colours from expansive decorative colour selection, with Swan being selected to create a balance between a lot of the richer accent colours in the new homes.
Looking into 2026, HMG Paints plans to actively feature Swan across a variety of upcoming decorative projects, using the colour as a consistent reference point within both residential and commercial environments nationwide. The shade will be at the forefront of HMG’s decorative range as part of the Essentials Colour Collection.
The selection of Swan reflects HMG’s ongoing commitment to informed colour choice, guided by expertise, research and practical application. As an independent manufacturer with a strong decorative heritage, HMG continues to champion colours that respond to changing interior requirements whilst sharing this knowledge across its wider business network, supporting designers and partners though experience-led decision making.
If you are interested in using Swan in your next decorating project, the shade is available direct via HMG’s distribution network and online at shop.hmgpaint.com as part of their Essentials Colour Collection.
A special promotion will be available for a limited time only on shop.hmgpaint.com, using the discount code SWAN30 at checkout to get 30% off HMG’s Colour of the Year.
