Beginning the new year in calming blue

15 Jan 2026

The colour for December from Color Marketing Group (CMG) saw us ending the year in an energetic orange. And now, at the beginning of 2026, January’s hue see’s us starting the new year with a calm blue that hints to the summer sky and sea.

Bio-Graphing: Resilient, detoxifying and serene

For homeowners, this colour is all about creating a sense of calm that still feels current and thoughtful.

Bio-Graphing reads as a soft, airy blue with a subtle green undertone, the kind of color that instantly lowers the volume in a room. It feels clean and clear without being cold, which makes it great for spaces where you want to breathe a little easier like bedrooms, bathrooms, home offices or open living areas.

In everyday homes, it works as a gentle reset. It replaces stark whites or overly warm neutrals with something more restorative, helping rooms feel lighter, fresher and less overstimulating. There’s a quiet confidence to it. It feels safe and familiar, but also a bit forward looking, which is ideal if you want your home to feel modern without chasing trends.

Because it’s low key and low chroma, it plays very nicely with natural materials. Think warm wood floors, stone countertops, linen curtains, soft taupes and creamy whites. On walls it creates a serene backdrop.  On cabinetry or furniture it feels refined and intentional rather than decorative.

Taking inspiration from this colour, you can find it in hues like Resene Frozen, Resene Clouded Blue and Resene Elegance Wallpaper Collection M661-01:

The shades of the seaside will help soothe you into a good night’s sleep. This bedroom’s wall is painted in Resene Alabaster with thick hand-painted stripes in Resene Frozen and narrow hand-painted stripes in Resene Quarter Frozen. The flooring is stained in Resene Colorwood Natural and the side table is Resene Kashmir Blue. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Instead of painting all your walls, try smaller accents of blue on furniture, like on these upcycled drawers in Resene Clouded Blue. The tranquil tone pairs beautifully with the upper half stained in Resene Colorwood Whitewash for a beachy feel. Project by Sarah Beedell, image by Bryce Carleton. See how to refresh old wooden drawers here.

Find this cool blue within Resene Elegance Wallpaper Collection M661-01, sitting amongst darker blues and accents of white.

For similar blues, try popular shades like Resene Polo Blue, Resene Relax, Resene Blue Moon and Resene Comfort Zone:

Published: 15 Jan 2026