Muddy pastel shades derived from nature and living matter are set to inspire interior design trends in 2016.

Unveiling the Colour Trends for Summer 2016, Dulux reveals delicate hues such as greys, dirty pinks, nudes and natural greens will add an earthy feel to home interiors. Dulux’s Summer palette inspired Bio Fragility from the 2016 Dulux Colour Trends, ‘Design Age’, celebrates the perfection of imperfections and is heavily influenced by the concept of bespoke creation.

Calling on nature not just to inspire but to collaborate, the subtle hues of the palette are influenced by flesh tones, lichen, moss and stone.

Dulux Colour Expert Andrea Lucena-Orr says the key colours of summer such as Dulux Mangaweka, Old Eagle, Silkwort, Partita and Snow Season, create a beautiful, tranquil setting for the home. She explains that the summer palette for 2016 is quite neutral and has easy-to-use colours that most consumers would feel confident using in their homes.

Observing that the palette has evolved from a more pastel feel of last year, offering subtle muted undertones with a certain earthiness, Andrea says homeowners can create a relaxed interior with beautiful detail by introducing these gentle hues that add a touch of colour without overwhelming the space. Interest can be added using unexpected mixes of warm and cool shades together.

For a mini summer makeover, Andrea advises a lighter shade such as Dulux Partita with Snow Season Quarter in smaller applications to complement colours in soft furnishings such as cushions and ceramic items. Neutral accessories work really well with these more subtle and muted shades as well as soft and subdued combinations.

Dulux’s Summer colour predictions are based on extensive research into global design, colour and finishes inspired by trade shows, fashion, technology, media and trends agencies.

Andrea’s top tips for homeowners using colour this summer:

Always consider the lighting in the space to ensure you are making the most of natural daylight to create a beautiful summer experience.

Remember to review existing furnishings to ensure these colours will work with fittings that cannot be changed easily and look to your surrounding environment and colours in your garden for inspiration.

Image: Photographer: Lisa Cohen, Styled by Bree Leech and Heather Nette King for Dulux Colour Trends 2016 - Bio Fragility Palette