The much anticipated 2025 Dulux Colour Forecast presents three compelling palettes designed to uplift and nurture; comforting, enlivening hues for the year ahead.
Emerge
Embodying a sense of hope, the Dulux Emerge palette embraces self-expression, understanding, and acceptance.
Influenced by shared housing arrangements, skill sharing initiatives and activities that promote altruism and environmental stewardship, the interiors take on their own eclectic style to celebrate connection.
Muted purple-blues emerge as a new colour direction in 2025, stepping away from clean and brighter shades. Dulux Emerge is a jubilant palette featuring a spectrum of uplifting almost-pastel shades that inspire joy and a light-heartedness.
Whilst each colour within the palette is conducive to walls, soft furnishings, and fabrics, or appearing as accents in decorative objects and artwork, the warm orange-based pink and biscuit shades, including Dulux Nile Street and Dulux Kereta or the greyed-off Dulux Vintage Lilac, are stunning backdrops to accents like the cheerful Dulux Hagley Park and purple-based blue Dulux Lake Tarawera.
Visually, the trend features soft rounded forms and expressive collections of decor crafted with modularity and curves. These shapes and freeflowing lines add to the light-hearted and whimsical atmosphere of the trend. AI is used to positively influence imagery in artwork, alongside quirky florals in a mix of pastel and bolder hues, which serve as focal points.
Recollect
A longing for authenticity and certainty as we seek solace in the familiar underscores the moody and luxurious Dulux Recollect palette, with interiors that feel safe, cosy, and secure.
Walls feature yellow-based greens, soft oranges, and a vibrant coral, such as Dulux Zingiber, Dulux Auburn Flair, and Dulux Bucklands Beach, alongside rich plum and grape shades as accent colours on trims or plush velvet furnishings. Providing contrast to brown-based tonal schemes will see small bursts of bright red come through in Dulux Devils Staircase as a fun accent.
The second-hand influence is key for this trend, with furniture and decor elements spanning from the 1950s to the 1990s coming through. Textured and opulent fabrics including crushed velvet, chenille, and damask feature in bold clashing patterns — diagonal stripes, diamonds, checks, and nostalgic florals. Unique stone with interesting veins and colour, mirrored finishes, and high gloss solid furniture pieces are central elements to the trend, adding a touch of modern glamour and intrigue.
Still
As a contrast to the fast pace of life, the Dulux Still palette is all about slow design with an appreciation for the mundane and comforting rituals of everyday life.
A desire to live in the present is innately linked to a connection with nature, and it is in this subdued palette of calming neutrals and brown undertones, as well as mid-tone shades, which exude warmth and ease, that comfort is articulated.
Demonstrating a broader cultural movement towards sustainability and a renewed appreciation of traditional craftsmanship, Still is full of thoughtful and considered materiality choices. It combines organic biophilic shapes, with chiselled, imperfect forms that are natural and unrefined.
Utilitarian furniture adds a monastic quality but is complemented by textural finishes that achieve a warm minimalist feel. Celebrating the mundane, artwork embraces still life compositions evoking a sense of understated luxury.
Lighter neutrals in the palette include Dulux Kaikorai Valley and Dulux Clay Pipe with Dulux Epsom working harmoniously as a soft accent shade against darker hues in the palette. A mellow terracotta and brown help ground the palette and sit alongside pale buttery yellows such as Dulux Shelly Beach.
Order free Dulux Colour swatches online at dulux.co.nz/colourforecast
Styling: Bree Leech Images: Lisa Cohen
Featured artwork. Emerge: Pétale #10 by Jean Paul Mangin, Piña Pineapple by Adrianne Dimitrakakis, Four Corners by Clare Brodie. Recollect: Floral Study on Stripes by Ali McNabney-Stevens. Still: Frayed by Maryanne Moodie, Chewed by Sasha Vatoff.
