The desire for authenticity is at its peak as designers and their clients prioritize curated collections and heritage antiques to create distinction in their personal spaces.
INTRODUCING PATINA: OUR COLOR OF THE YEAR FOR 2026
The natural chemical process of oxidation or calcification creates a weathered finish, indicating great age over time. Organic patina acts as an ornamental bridge, bringing history and heritage to new forms.
WEATHERING HEIGHTS
The sharp edge of contemporary design becomes familiar and warm when coupled with the aging effect of weathering. Balanced between heritage and modernity, a patina brings the beauty of history to architecture, housewares, and industrial stylings.
Originally created in Medieval England and revived in the late Victorian era, encaustic tiles showcased multicolor finishes and wear from repeated use over time. Thus began the fashionably classic way to express artisanry and bold color through patina.
With a tangible link to history and legacy, a weathered patina can create a sense of grounded calm. This can also be true of antique furnishings, as well as the intentional aging of metal or painted finishes.
Stairway to Heaven
Tea Ceremony
Sky is the Limit
OUTSIDE THE LINES
Color that incorporates reflective finishes brings a hint of luxury back to work and living spaces. An earthy mix of mineral, metallic, and iridescent finishes revitalize both personal spaces and public venues. Be adventurous and color outside the lines!
Low-alloy steel, copper, zinc, and high-performance cement all develop unique, rich finishes. These natural patinas integrate the effects of aging and weathering into the building’s aesthetic, creating architecture that tells a story and connects with its environment.
Look to modern civic buildings, observational towers, and custom facades where the patina is celebrated as an authentic, visually dynamic, and sustainable design feature. These structures offer a foil and alternative to the flawless, minimalist finishes of mass produced construction, elevating history and authenticity within our urban landscapes.
Interiors often follow fashion, with several of the most exclusive fashion houses developing patinaed fabrics and forms since 2020. The catwalk’s explorations and imitations of oxidized textures and intentional wear have now begun to permeate our approach to dressing both interiors and exteriors.
Purple Heart
Luna Dunes
Good as Gold
TOP BRASS
With the increased awareness and importance of sustainability, both commercial and residential interior professionals are prioritizing materials that offer longevity and age gracefully.
High-quality vintage pieces honor custom artisanship while giving objects a second life. Aged metals and alloys, such as unlacquered brass, blackened steel, copper, and bronze, are paired with wood, marble, and tile to provide a beautiful, spirited contrast. Mix and match brushed, antiqued, and burnished finishes in this upmarket trend across a variety of home accents: hardware, tabletop decor, and other decorative art pieces.
This trend towards sustainability extends to civic projects as well, such as the revitalization of city centers and the restoration of dated, urban areas. The historic preservation of original buildings, or the salvaging and repurposing of existing materials when restoration isn’t possible, helps retain the unique character of cities and towns while updating buildings for modern use. This approach not only celebrates and preserves an area’s rich history but also is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than new construction.
Wallcoverings that enhance and showcase patina, from full room wraps to specialty walls, are available in a range of products including mass market, high-performance, and natural options.
Greek to Me
Bomb Shell
Brass Monkey
