A Soft Summer
Dulux is championing uplifting, soothing colours in pastel greens, blues and pinks for interiors this summer, reflecting our desire for calm and optimism.
Dulux is forecasting that Antipodeans will embrace romantic tones and airy pastels for the long hot summer. “We’re looking to invite warmth, lightness and optimism into our homes,” says Lauren Treloar, the company’s colour and design manager. “And those tones promise to uplift, soothe and spark a hopeful outlook.”
A chief player, says Dulux, will be the Ethereal palette from its Colour Forecast 2026, a range which “offers a dreamy combination of colours that can be layered and combined to restore joy,” notes Treloar. Subtle shades such as Blue Shell, Tiamo, Soft Fresco, Aroma and Mask – variations of soft blues, greens and pinks – bring emotive qualities to spaces, transforming them into soothing sanctuaries.
“Blue Shell and Soft Fresco are ideal for smaller rooms, helping to create the impression of a more open, airy space,” says Treloar. “Pinks and greens pair beautifully together, with Silver Thaw working as a warm neutral alongside the depth of Tiamo for a grounded, calming effect. For those seeking a soft, tonal scheme, Aroma and Mask layer seamlessly to create a serene, harmonious look.”
“For those seeking a soft, tonal scheme, Aroma and Mask layer seamlessly to create a serene, harmonious look.”
“In the living room, we wrapped the curved walls in Blue Shell and painted the ceiling in Soft Fresco. That simple change instantly opened up the space.”
To bring the palette to life, Dulux teamed with long-time collaborator Bree Banfield to transform a largely neutral-toned family home into a pastel-filled haven. “In the living room, we wrapped the curved walls in Blue Shell and painted the ceiling in Soft Fresco,” says the stylist. “That simple change instantly opened up the space, making it feel cooler, calmer and more inviting.”
She leaned into the room’s existing forms, utilising its curves to enhance the soft character of the Ethereal range. Banfield continued the palette in the sinuous furniture pieces and tactile accessories, including a curvaceous occasional chair, a coffee table upholstered in a soft cream bouclé and pastel-toned sculptural ceramics.
“Colour drenching is a such a powerful way to uplift a space and make it feel larger and more unified.”
The team took a bolder approach in the main bedroom, enlivening the beige walls with a moody romantic pink, Mask. “Going from a very plain scheme to this deep pink has given the room such a dreamy, elegant feel. Colour drenching is a such a powerful way to uplift a space and make it feel larger and more unified.”
The green hues of the Ethereal range are echoed in the bedding and a striking floral headboard, supported by accessories in complementary tones. “Light, sunny colours like these are one of the easiest ways to create an uplifting, welcoming room,” she adds. “They make the whole mood lighter – exactly what we crave in summer.”
