The Culture of Colour – Decoding Trends with Dulux Colour and Communications Manager Andrea Lucena-Orr

Launched in 1999, the annual Dulux Colour Forecast is widely regarded as the de facto colour handbook for designers and stylists. Dulux Colour and Communications Manager, Andrea Lucena-Orr describes how the 2024 edition sets forth a cornucopia of mid-tone colours that evoke sentiments of warmth, nostalgia and self-expression, reflecting a sensitivity among Australians to personalise their homes through colour.

The Dulux Colour Forecast did not start out as a colour guide. It began as an annual discourse to the media and the brand’s specifier market. Having worked on the annual forecast with Dulux since its starting point 25 years ago, Andrea shines a light on the inception, evolution and future of the Dulux Colour Forecast, as well as what to expect from this year’s edition. “Each year, we would evolve the programme and share it with a larger audience,” notes Andrea of the forecast. The rise of social media in the late 2000s served as a watershed for the Dulux Colour Forecast, helping it gain wider currency and engaging designers in a new and exciting way.

Having worked on the annual forecast with Dulux since its starting point 25 years ago, Andrea shines a light on the inception, evolution and future of the Dulux Colour Forecast, as well as what to expect from this year’s edition.

Over the years, the forecast has successfully captured the cultural zeitgeist, reflecting and occasionally even shaping designers’ perceptions and colour preferences. “Colour trends are greatly influenced by significant cultural and social events. Colour in interiors is an evolution and we see small iterations year on year with some new colours being added and others fading away. The big changes are noticeable when you look back five years or more,” shares Andrea. She considers no change too big or small. Be it global financial crises, natural disasters, political instability, advances in technology or the impact of climate change, each event has the capacity to alter interior colour trends in some way.

As Andrea recalls, the past 25 years have produced many memorable colour palettes. “I loved the 2013 Dulux Colour Forecast when we started to work more with Bree Leech, also when we worked with wonderful designers such as Mim Fanning, Bonnie & Neil and Edwards Moore. It was so refreshing to see how different designers interpret and interact with colour,” she reflects.

“Colour trends are greatly influenced by significant cultural and social events. Colour in interiors is an evolution and we see small iterations year on year with some new colours being added and others fading away. The big changes are noticeable when you look back five years or more,” shares Andrea.

The palettes for 2024 – Solstice, Journey and Muse – are of particular note. Inspired by an inner desire for optimism and joy, they are characterised by mid-tone colours that stand for warmth, nostalgia and self-expression. “Post the pandemic, the importance of connection has increased, particularly to our homes, and, as a result, our interiors have become more exciting and are beginning to feature uplifting colour schemes and textures that fill us with hope and positivity. Also, to entice staff back into offices again, many businesses are making workspaces more homey and inviting. Colour can play a big role in boosting sentiment and improving productivity,” Andrea observes.

As for the next big colour trend for 2024, Andrea expects reddish browns, olive greens and warm colours with a yellow or pink undertone to become highly favoured in design circles. “2024 is all about a balanced interior, with a move towards richer colours and an overall sophistication of spaces. As Australians become increasingly confident with colour, and step away from the muted and cocooning hues prevalent in 2023, mid-tones are predicted to make their mark as the most popular colour options for consumers and designers alike,” she concludes.