With fashion continuing to be a dominant influence on paint colours, what is trendy on the catwalk often transfers to the walls of Australian homes. “Many colours that start out in the fashion world end up in interiors,” says Andrea Lucena-Orr, colour planning and communications manager for Dulux Australia. “This is especially so where European design is concerned, as Australia follows Europe and its colour forecast very closely.”

As a result of fashionable European influences which have been featuring shades of blue, the Dulux Colour Palette for 2008/09 is showcasing a range of themes on the colour. Lucena-Orr says blue made a clear emergence as the must-have colour for homes as part of the fashion-inspired Dulux roadshow ‘Surrounds — from runway to wall. “There is an overwhelming blue influence coming through from the European catwalks. Almost in defiance of previously unthinkable colour matching, this includes exciting mixes of aqua with electric blue and greens.”

Nuray Akdogan, marketing manager for Bristol Paints, agrees blue is gaining in importance in Australia and suggests this could be as a result of people taking inspiration from the country’s unique landscape. “We have seen the droughts, for example, have a recent influence on us to use more blues, alongside more blue/green watery tones in our own homes,” she says. “However, whilst Australia is a keen follower of European style, we are certainly keen to put our own interpretation on the latest fashionable colours.”

Speaking on behalf of the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute, Kim Chadwick of Blend Colour Marketing and Design, says: “Australia has a different light and lifestyle which dictates our colour preferences. Our range of climate is reflected in colours that are popular today, including greys, steel blues and teal mixed with caramel and honey colour, natural timbers, stone coloured neutrals, textured blacks, stark but dimensional whites, olive greys and rust.”

With moves by the fashion world to embrace the technological explosion, Lucena-Orr highlights Dulux’s new Galactic Pace Palette, which is “full of a thrilling blend of metallic silvers with deep charcoals and denim blue”.

Staying neutral

Neutrals are still proving big news for interiors, says Akdogan. “However, they have now moved from the cream or yellow-based whites to whites and neutrals with stone and grey undertones. With our love of open plan homes, we like to use neutrals to give a sense of flow and unity, but then use more saturated colours, including yellows, oranges and reds, for feature walls and furnishings.”

Lucena-Orr says one of the most noticeable trends from this year’s Dulux Colour Awards — which showcase the creative use of colour in architecture and interior design — was how neutral interiors have become. “We found that the colour Dulux Namadji was a stand-out colour, which was duplicated on many colour boards,” she says. “This colour is a neutral deep grey. When entrants did use colour, it was done very smartly and with more in-depth thought behind it. Even though the main scheming was neutral, there were ‘spot’ colours such as oranges and reds to bring out particular features.”

Prue Myers, group colour manager for Taubmans, says neutral palettes remain strong but are becoming more complex. “Neutrals that have become more grey and stone-based will be layered from the ‘barely there’ hint of silver grey or ecru to the deeper tones of coffee and taupe.”

Chadwick says that neutral shades, limewashes and paler colours also continue to be popular for exterior settings such as in the garden. Alongside monotone bricks in beige or black, and sometimes a feature-coloured front door, she says roofs are now darker and flatter, with charcoal and black roof tiles and corrugated steel still the biggest selling colours.

Back indoors, both Dulux and Bristol say yellow now features more prominently than it has done for some years — especially in bright, golden tones. Together with China reds and saffron oranges, these hues relate an influence from the traditional colours of the Orient and the new emerging designers from Asia who are keen to make their mark on the western world. “As ambassadors of the East, they are placing a contemporary, Oriental twist on the world of fashion, which is prevalent as we look to the 2008 Beijing Olympics,” Lucena-Orr says.

A silver lining

Bristol and Taubmans say metallics are gaining in popularity as a finish, as are satin and matte paints on walls — and sometimes with a high gloss for sheer impact, says Akdogan. Lucena-Orr says metallic textures are becoming particularly popular for silver, gold and pewter tones in interiors. Rust is also a favourite for finishes due to its natural look and also, believes Chadwick, “because some Australians have grown up with the notion of rusty old tin roofs.”

Wendy Rennie, concept and colour manager for Haymes Paint, believes the natural look is a desire that is here to stay because of people’s love of anything imitating nature. “It also ties in with the increasing need to maintain environmentally friendly living, and this equates to buying natural looking products.”

Lucy Sutherland, marketing manager at Porters Paints, agrees. “People are incorporating more natural-type textures into their homes like rusted walls and rich, aged copper paints, but anything ‘eco-friendly’ is now proving very popular. Patterns are also being re-introduced through the resurgence of wallpaper, with ornate patterns in botanical prints and gorgeous luxurious metallics.”

Alongside rust and textures, Dulux and Taubmans report low sheen water-based finishes that are easy to clean are also setting trends. “Our new water-based Enamel Trim addresses the need for a solvent-free paint which is better for the environment and performs just as well, if not better than an enamel paint,” says Taubmans’ Myers.

Dulux continues to launch eco-friendly products, including the water-based enamel, Aquanamel, which can be used on any interior/exterior surface where solvent enamels would have traditionally been used. The product also comes in all of the Dulux colour range.

There are exciting times ahead with various new colour innovations leading the paint market. Bristol has launched its new A3 size colour swatches — negating the need for sample pots — whilst Taubmans’ innovative way of testing colour in homes moves away from the conventional sample pot to an all-in-one colour sampler that contains 50 ml of paint with its own applicator. Meanwhile, Porters’ new range of Chalkboard paints incorporate colours which allow people to write quotes or ‘to do’ lists on their walls.

With the trend for colour changing almost on a seasonal basis, interior trends do, fortunately, tend to have a little more longevity.

Louise Durack

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