After a challenging winter that brought us wild weather, cost of living concerns and technological scepticism, we now yearn for sunnier times to restore opportunity and a sense of ease and warmth into our homes. This summer, Dulux colour forecasters predict that a combination of almost-pastel shades alongside bold, rich colours will emerge in Australian interiors in response to our desire 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,” says Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux colour and communications manager.
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 this family home. They focused their attention on 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. 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, Bree 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, she 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, Bree used other muted shades from the palette as accents. Dulux Vintage Lilac is referenced on the cabinetry under the bay window and within striped bed 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 overwhelm.
“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,” Andrea adds.
To add some character and connection to the rest of the home, they added colour 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.
“Australians love entertaining at home and introducing sunny colours are an obvious choice to instantly add a sense of fun and wonder to your own home this summer,” Lauren adds.
For more on the Emerge palette.
Photography by Lisa Cohen
