Dulux recently unveiled its annual Colour Forecast for 2025, which sees uplifting and soothing colours come to the fore within homes and commercial spaces, in response to recent periods of uncertainty.
Three distinct palettes – Still, Recollect and Emerge – demonstrate how colours with warm, brown undertones play an important role in evoking a sense of nurture and positivity. In 2025, Dulux predicts that rich burgundies and wine hues will become more prominent, alongside an increased use of green including olive, sage and vibrant yellow-green.
Dulux colour and communications manager, Andrea Lucena-Orr explained the meaning behind the Still, Recollect and Emerge palettes.
“As a counteract to the fast pace of life, the Dulux Still palette encompasses slow design with an appreciation for the beauty of the mundane and the comforting everyday rituals of life. Our need for living in the present goes hand in hand with our increased desire to have a greater connection with nature. As a result, the subdued palette is filled with calming neutrals with brown undertones, as well as mid-tone shades as that exude warmth and a sense of ease,” she told Retailbiz.
“Rapid advances in technology has led to a rise of deep fakes and misinformation leaving us longing for authenticity and certainty. The moody and luxurious Dulux Recollect palette embodies this connection to heritage and nostalgia, leading to interiors that feel cosy, safe and familiar.
“Providing a renewed sense of hope across our global and local communities, the Dulux Emerge palette is a trend that embraces self-expression, understanding and acceptance. Influenced by shared housing arrangements, skill-sharing initiatives and activities such as clothing swaps that promote altruism and environmental stewardship, interiors take on their own eclectic style to celebrate connection.”
These colours can easily be integrated into commercial spaces such as hospitality and retail environments, according to Lucena-Orr.
“Retail is updated regularly and needs to think about trends and how colour can accentuate products as best as they can. Hospitality venues need to keep current and simply changing colour can help to do this without having to blow the budget. Sometimes even the smallest amount of change such as painting the reception desk in a hotel or updating walls in a restaurant can create a different feel,” she said.
“Colour can play a huge role in elevating the customer experience as it has an effect on our emotions. It can also help bounce more light around a space, especially if you use a lighter or warmer colour. It can also make a space feel moody and cocooning which is great for hospitality where you want people of stay for longer periods.”
Lucena-Orr shared the following advice for businesses: “While it’s important to consider design trends, you also need to understand the look and feel and the ambience you are trying to create for customers.
“It depends on your type of business, for a bar that mainly opens at night darker colours might be more alluring, however for a café that serves coffee and lunches maybe a brighter palette is more suitable. For retail stores the background colours should highlight products and make customers feel welcome.”
Image credit: Dulux Colour Forecast 2025 – Still Palette.
Design: Dulux Colour forecaster & stylist, Bree Leech.
Digital imagery: Clinkr Studio.