This year’s Dulux Colour Forecast emphasises a return to comfort and connection, driven by the need to create nurturing environments in response to global uncertainties.
The forecast introduces three distinct palettes: Still, Recollect and Emerge, each reflecting the evolving cultural landscape and interior design trends. These palettes have been carefully curated by the Dulux Colour Team, led by Andrea Lucena-Orr, Lauren Treloar and Bree Leech, who conducted extensive research throughout the year – including in Milan – to capture the mood and direction of 2025.
Still is a palette that fosters tranquillity and comfort, featuring soft neutrals like Dulux Studio Cream and Dulux Mellow Beige. These tones are complemented by muted accents such as Dulux Nighthawk, creating spaces that encourage a deeper connection with nature and a slower pace of life. The palette’s emphasis on eco-friendly materials and biophilic design underscores a growing desire for sustainability and craftsmanship.
In contrast, Recollect evokes nostalgia and sophistication, with rich, moody hues like Dulux Plum Sauce and Dulux Olive Blend. This palette taps into a longing for the familiar and secure, blending vintage design elements with modern sensibilities to create interiors that feel both cosy and refined.
When asked about her favourite parts of the 2025 Forecast, Andrea Lucena-Orr – Dulux Colour and Communications Manager – says: “Probably the burgundy and white colours – they’re always so rich and they always work so beautifully in interiors. They’re always so warm and nurturing as well.”
Lucena-Orr continues: “We had already researched the burgundy theme but until you see it, you don’t really appreciate it,” she says, thinking back to Milan Design Week. Lucena-Orr was in fact a panellist at the Habitus x V-ZUG discussion hosted at the historic Pinacoteca di Brera, where she shared some of her contemporaneous insights into the colour scene at this year’s global design gathering.
“The other thing at Milan was that yellow-green – everything from mid-range yellow right through to the dark olive colours. I really loved seeing them on modern pieces of furniture as well. Olive is often a colour you think of seeing on more heritage or nostalgic pieces, but it was so great to see it on modern furniture,” adds Lucena-Orr.
Emerge offers a more optimistic and expressive approach, showcasing a range of soft greens, lilacs and vibrant accents like Dulux Lemon Blast. This palette is designed to inspire individuality and inclusivity, bringing a sense of joy and creativity to living spaces.
The Sydney launch event showcased these palettes in carefully styled settings, providing a glimpse into how these colours will shape Australian interiors in the coming year. “I think we just connect to colour much better when it’s in a sensory environment,” explains Lucena-Orr. “For you to actually physically experience it on your table, with elements from each of the trends… when you do get to create an event and immerse yourself in the whole experience, you always get more out of it and you learn more too.” She also notes how some of the designers present were drawing their own very tactile lessons from handling the objects and experiencing the colours in tangible forms.
As Dulux continues to set the tone for interior design, the 2025 Colour Forecast invites consumers to create spaces that not only reflect their personal style but also offer a sense of comfort and connection in uncertain times.
Habitus x -ZUG in Milan 2024 with panellist, Andrea Lucena-Orr