BOLD choices

Colour expert and creator of Chalk Paint Annie Sloan discusses Pantone Colour of the Year 2026 - and her colour palette of the year.

- By SAM WYLIE-HARRIS

COLOUR QUEEN: Annie Sloan

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™.

She's 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, which was published last year.

Her expertise and creative flair led to Annie 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.