Dulux forecasts earthy tones for autumn

Autumn is here – a time of year when we gravitate indoors as the days get shorter and the evenings turn crisp.

As we head into the cooler months, we want our homes to feel cosy and inviting – a space where we can relax with the ones we love, while at the same time providing a front-row seat to the beauty of the changing seasons outside.

This autumn, Dulux colour forecasters predict the warm neutrals and muted yellow-greens in Connect, one of three palettes identified in the Dulux Colour Forecast 2023, will take centre stage.

Together, these colours can create a calm, earthy vibe that’s perfect for laid-back entertaining and family gatherings as the weather cools, whilse blurring the lines between inside and out.

“The Dulux Connect palette is filled with beautiful earth-based neutrals that are so easy to live in and decorate with in our homes,” Dulux colour and communications manager Andrea Lucena-Orr said. “They speak to our growing passion for craftsmanship, sustainability and living more simply, and create the relaxed and cocooning feeling we crave from our homes in the autumn months.

They are also extremely versatile and work with a variety of architectural styles, adding warmth and colour to contemporary interiors or enhancing the character of period homes.”

Armed with the Dulux Connect palette, the creatives at Dulux transformed a spacious open-plan lounge and dining area into a cosy and welcoming family retreat. “This lounge is flooded with natural light and surrounded by gorgeous garden vistas,” Lucena-Orr said.

“The original space looked beautiful in Dulux Natural White but it lacked a sense of comfort and soul. However, by adding these natural paint colours, Dulux Stilted Stalks and Beaten Track from the Connect palette, it has created a sense of comfort and relaxed style.

The new scheme has achieved a beautiful calming space that really draws you in.”

Dulux colour forecaster and stylist Bree Leech revealed exactly how she and her team tackled the makeover.

“Exposed timber beams, cathedral ceilings and stone-look tiled floors gave this beautiful openplan room a ‘chic farmhouse’ vibe, while the white was beautiful and simple – we wanted to show how introducing just two colours into a large room like this can bring warmth and cosiness,” she said.

“The room’s generous proportions and high ceilings called for slightly deeper colours – in this case, a beautiful muted yellow-green and a soft wheat hue from the Dulux Connect palette unites the interior with the lush garden outside seen through generous picture windows and sliding glass doors.

“We wanted to make this a space perfect for gathering with the fireplace at its heart.

So, we painted the main walls and ceiling in Dulux Beaten Track, a lovely creamy honey hue, to tie in with the timber beams and offset the stone look floor tiles.

We then used a slightly richer colour on the fireplace wall [Dulux Stilted Stalks] to make the fireplace the clear focal point.”

For furniture and accessories, the team mixed different styles and eras to make the lounge feel relaxed and characterful.

“Beautifully worn vintage pieces, such as a ’70s leather sofa and slate coffee table, sit comfortably alongside newer future family heirlooms, such as classic Camaleonda upholstered ottomans and a deep-seated, contemporary sofa in a tobacco linen [Jardan Sunny sofa],” Leech said.

“Texture is key to making any space feel inviting.

Here, we layered tactile, natural materials, including raw timber, rattan, worn leather, heavy linen fabric, shearling and stone – all drawn from the same curated colour palette to create a cohesive look.

Hand-made ceramics displayed on the fireplace ledge and a mix of botanicals and dried flowers emphasise the earth-drawn theme, whilst an abstract artwork reflects the dynamic colours in the landscape.”

Lucena-Orr said autumn was the time people most wanted their homes to feel intimate, familiar and inviting, so they should pull out the paint brush and have fun experimenting with some cosier colours.

“While saying goodbye to your white walls might feel a little scary at first, remember that paint is the easiest low-commitment update you can make for your home.”

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