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Just like fashion, paint colour trends change with the seasons. While no-one wants to repaint their entire house every year, small and stylish changes can keep your home’s interior looking current for little effort and outlay. Here’s what popular colours and tones we’ll see this summer and beyond, and how to work the must-have hues into your home.
The overarching theme in trending paint shades this season is warmth as we seek nurturing spaces, says Dulux colour expert Andrea Lucena-Orr. “We’re seeing fewer pastels and brights,” she says. “The colours are more muted this year, with palettes dominated by rich, warm neutrals like reddish browns, brown-based pinks, olive greens and muted blues.”
More than ever, we’re romanced by the hues of the natural world. Taubmans colour specialist Fiona Dawson says the biophilic trend is emerging. “To ‘bring the outside in’, play with different shades of green, plus blues and dusty pinks reminiscent of sunsets and sunrises,” she says.
White has long been considered compulsory for ceilings, but painting the ‘fifth wall’ in colour can transform a room, creating a cocooning effect. “Go with a lighter colour on the ceiling and darker on the walls, or one colour on both,” suggests Andrea. “The beauty of ceilings is they mainly only get diffused light, so even if you use the same colour, it will still look a little different.”
Take this interior design approach further by painting all woodwork – maybe even upcycling furniture – the same shade. ‘Colour drenching’ is where a single colour is applied across multiple surfaces, explains interior designer Charlotte Minty (@charlotte minty_interiordesign). “This is a cost-effective way to get a high-end look,” she says. “It can be used to great effect in smaller spaces, such as hallways and powder rooms.”
The antithesis of colour drenching is the feature wall, but there’s still space for this decorating staple, especially if you give it a stripy twist! “Stripes look amazing and add such a fun element to a room. Using good-quality painter’s tape, you can set up the wall and paint alternating shades of colour,” says Fiona. “This is especially loved for kids’ bedrooms.”
Pinstripe or chunky, horizontal or vertical, on one wall alone or even taken to the ceiling, there’s more than one way to experiment with stripes.
Lovers of white needn’t dive straight into the boldest hues – neutral colours are still having a design moment. “Explore tones of taupe, ivory or sand,” says Charlotte. “The change might be perceived as subtle, but the results can be transformational.” As you gain confidence, Andrea suggests starting in more private rooms: “The bedroom is a personal space – people won’t be going in and judging! If you want to use a darker colour, the fact that you’re mainly in there at night makes this an easier choice.”
Your home’s architecture can influence paint decisions, with the style of your home inspiring a particular palette, such as retro tones in a mid-century house or nautical blues in a Hamptons-style build.
Trending colours are not just for walls – upcycling furniture with paint is a low-risk way to experiment. “Bringing in trend colours could be as simple as a single element, like bedside tables or a coffee table, or even a frame on your favourite artwork,” says Andrea. “It doesn’t have to be a big change – those small volumes of colour add up to the sense that there’s something new and exciting happening.”
Before family and friends descend for the entertaining season (and before it gets too hot to raise a roller), give your home a new look with these simple painting projects.
Painting the front door is a one-day easy DIY project that pays enormous dividends. “It’s the first thing people see as they enter your property, so it’s a great welcoming device,” says Andrea.
From stair railings to outdoor furniture and even the clothesline, metal surfaces around your home can start to look shabby. “The White Knight Rust Guard range treats rust and protects your metal surfaces from future corrosion,” says Fiona Dawson. Rust Guard can also be tinted any Taubmans colour.
Refresh existing pots or planters for your front porch or backyard deck with a lick of paint. “Painting pots in current-trend colours is a really nice way to keep your home updated,” says Andrea.
Use your paintbrush on other decor objects and accessories around your home for a unique, creative twist. “Paint old candlestick holders or lamp bases or go to the op shop to collect pre-loved vases and trinkets for painting,” says Andrea. This is an inexpensive way to add eye-catching accents to a room, or to customise a Christmas table.
Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
Explore a world of colour in the Bunnings paint department.
Photo Credit: GAP interiors, Brigid Arnott
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
