Dulux Colour Fix

Our homes are our sanctuaries in these challenging times, but stare at the same four walls for long enough and boredom quickly sets in. There's no quicker or easier way to re-energise a tired interior than colour. From changing the mood of a room to defining your work and relaxation zones, colour does it all.

"People often think of colour as a huge commitment, but it's really not," says Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux Colour and Communications Manager. "You can give a room a whole new look in just a couple of hours – whether it's a bold colour on the walls or a punchy little accent in a nook or the back of shelves – and easily switch things up again when you're ready to create something new.

"A colour update can empower your sense of falling in love with your home once again. And best of all, it won't cost you the earth," she says.

To show just how easy it is to transform a space with colour, stylist Julia Green gave a bedroom three very different looks using palettes from the 2021 Dulux Colour Forecast. "A bedroom is a great place to start your colour adventure as it's such a personal space," says Lucena-Orr. "And as it's all about relaxation, it makes sense to give your bedroom a different feel to the 'working areas' of the home, such as the kitchen or home office."

The Dulux Colour Forecast 2021 comprises three soothing palettes inspired by nature and moments of stronger colour to uplift and brighten our outlook – think soft, earthy neutrals alongside pops of coral and stormy blue. "There's no right or wrong way to use these colours in your home," says Green. "It's about expressing your personal style and creating a space that nurtures, inspires and feels truly your own.

"Here, we focused on quick and simple updates you could do in a day or less. We kept the budget in check by working around what was already there – the bed, carpet and curtains and brought the room up-to-date with on-trend colours, comforting textures and artwork.

"For the first look, we used the colours in the Reset palette," she says. "This look is perfect if you're more comfortable with white walls and like the idea of introducing brighter colours in your fabrics, bedding and accessories.

"We chose Dulux Wash&Wear in Natural White™ for the walls – a warm white that pairs beautifully with the existing carpet and makes the room feel bright and open. A dramatic, coastalinspired artwork gave the room a new focal point and provided the colour cues for the rest of the scheme. We drew tones of burnt orange, deep blue-green and mustard and used them in the bedding and a striking pendant light," she says.

"The Retreat palette was the inspiration for our second set-up. Here, we wanted to show just how powerful colour can be in changing the mood of a space. We painted the walls a deep, warm grey – Dulux Wash&Wear in Teahouse – and instantly turned this bland room into a sophisticated and tranquil space. Touches of crisp white on the ceiling, door frames and pendant provided contrast and light.

"To keep with the classic, tailored vibe, we chose a palette of deep navy, dusty blue and ochre for the rest of the scheme. We added a luxurious bedhead to provide a relaxing spot to sit up and read and layered the bed high with linens in classic pinstripes and chambray blue. In our projects, we always love adding one or two touches of the unexpected as they really energise a space – here, it's a rustic, fringed throw on the end of the bed and a graphic, contemporary artwork," she says.

"For our third look, we turned to the earthy colours in the Nourish palette to create a cocooning and restful feel. The scheme centres around a plush, upholstered bedhead in mossy green and whimsical, botanical-print bedlinen, which we contrasted with a soft clay hue on the walls and ceiling – Dulux Wash&Wear in Skip To.

"To keep the focus on the cosy bed set-up, we opted for minimalist artwork and used simple timber frames to create a tonal effect against the clay-coloured walls. Texture was added with a ribbed timber side and accessories with matt finishes," she says.

IMAGE CREDIT: DULUX AUSTRALIA COLOUR FORECAST 2021. STYLIST: JULIA GREEN. PHOTOGRAPHER: ARMELLE HABIB.