Fostering hope and creativity with colour

After a challenging winter that brought us wild weather, cost of living increases and technological concerns, this summer is forecast as a time to restore opportunity and a sense of ease and warmth into our homes.

This year, Dulux colour forecasters predict a combination of almost-pastel shades alongside bold, rich colours will emerge in Australian interiors in response to desires for a renewed sense of hope and to foster creativity.

“Vibrant and uplifting hues like those featured within the Dulux Emerge palette, one of the three palettes from our Dulux Colour Forecast for 2025, can be used together in any combination to bring joy back into our homes this summer,” Dulux colour and communications manager Andrea Lucena-Orr said.

“The Dulux Emerge palette has the power to completely transform a space into a sunny sanctuary and evoke a care-free attitude. Visually, the trend features soft rounded forms and expressive collections of decor, crafted with modularity and curves. These shapes and free-flowing lines add to the whimsical yet calming nature of the trend.”

Dulux colour manager Lauren Treloar said the Emerge palette was likely to resonate with consumers and designers alike, as it was filled with many colours that are soft and soothing.

“Both Dulux Piglet and Dulux Lavenbrun have brown undertones, which means they’re actually neutral shades that evoke a comforting feeling with depth.

“Throughout the last few years, we’ve seen a shift in Australia’s appetite for using coloured neutrals and bolder shades within their homes. This willingness and increased colour confidence is a key insight that has influenced the Dulux Emerge palette and we can’t wait to see how consumers incorporate these colours in their homes this summer.”

Offering inspiration for how to use this palette and add a sunny mood to your own space, the Dulux team with Bree Banfield (formerly Leech), worked their styling magic on a family home. Focusing attentions in the living area, hallway and bedroom that were predominantly white, neutral spaces.

“The living room was filled with light and made for entertaining, which gave us the opportunity to create spaces filled with character and connection. Using Dulux Piglet on the walls and ceiling, we completely enveloped the space in colour and warmth,” Treloar said.

“The supporting wall within the centre of the room provided an opportunity to introduce another burst of colour, so we used Dulux Clay Bake – a muted and muddied gold – to help ground the space and encourage the demarcation of different zones within the room.

“The cabinetry, trims and window wells feature Dulux Hog Bristle Quarter, a wonderfully warm shade of white, building on the playful ambiance of the space.”

Adding contrast to the neutral backdrop, Banfield referenced bolder colours from the palette throughout furnishings, curved ceramic objects and coloured glass vessels, including warm, earthy yellow greens and muted blues and purples. To complete the sunny and care-free look, Banfield incorporated striped patterns within floral still life artwork, cushions and side tables, blended alongside free-flowing lines and organic curves, referenced throughout boucle textured furnishings, furniture and hand-crafted vessels.

Elsewhere, the main bedroom heavily references warm, brown-based pinks, where the team has used Dulux Clay Bake for the walls alongside lighter shades of pink, seen within different bedding textures and the simple still life artwork.

Introducing a sense of relief and casualness back into the space, Banfield used other muted shades from the palette as accents. Dulux Vintage Lilac is referenced on the cabinetry under the bay window and within striped bedding linen and pops of Dulux Lemon Blast appear in cushions that feature soft curves and are inviting to touch. As a result, the tonal transformation emits a feeling of pure joy without being overwhelming.

“Similar to the living room, the main bedroom was filled with an abundance of natural light which made the space feel open and beautiful, but the addition of warming colours and summer-embracing decor has completely transformed the main bedroom into an alluring haven.” Lucena-Orr said.

To add some character and connection to the rest of the home, colour was added to the hallway using Dulux Lemon Blast on the ceiling and Dulux Cornstalk on the walls and decorative arch at the end of the space