Spring Towards An Earthy Palette from Dulux

Spring will bring with it a slightly masculine air this year as we throw open our doors and windows and bring a little of our surroundings inside. It's the forecast from leading colour experts at Dulux who predict earthy browns and greens will be the hero colours for the 2015 spring season.

'Think about a formal room or a casual sanctuary and create the mood of a library or space to escape," Dulux Creative Consultant and Stylist Bree Leech says. 'The ambience won't be strictly traditional in style; but rather will have a sophisticated mix of old and new items, with plenty of plants to bring nature inside."

They say reducing our impact on the earth continues to be a crucial community goal as we aspire to get in touch with nature on a more personal level.

Responding to the trend, the Dulux Earthwerks palette, includes the range of greens we might discover in our own landscapes, forests and gardens and explores our desire to have greenery in our homes and workspaces. There are nature-inspired greens, from soft silvery greens through to moss and sage leaf and beautiful earthy sepia browns and ochres.

'Natural colours such as green and neutrals with green undertones will be pivotal this spring," Dulux Colour Expert Andrea Lucena-Orr says.

'This includes earthy colours, such as Dulux Federal Fund and Dulux Peppercorn Rent; and brighter shades, such as Dulux Gooseberry Fool and Dulux Domain. Even the most neutrally toned home can benefit from splashes of colour."

Style tips for spring 2015 from Bree Leech, Creative Consultant and Stylist for Dulux

Create a stylish, sophisticated and moody feel by pairing brown with a limited palette of neutrals, such Dulux Domino and Natural White.

Add a highlight of green to brown schemes to lift the mood and provide a point of interest.

Green and brown are great together but choose one as the hero and the other as a support. Colours can be lost when applied in equal amounts.

Brown is a nostalgic colour; keep it contemporary by mixing nostalgic pieces, such as art and antiques, with modern furniture, lighting and accessories. Adding a touch of pink to an all-green colour scheme can give it a modern edge and draws on inspiration from spring blooms.

For a touch of luxury, add metallic highlights of gold and brass, either in your accessories or using a special finish such as Dulux Dusty Gold Design Metallic.

On-trend interior colours for Spring 2015

Domino: The perfect charcoal or 'near black" which works with many other hues and can be used anywhere inside or outside the home to create a moody ambience.

Peppercorn Rent: A dark deep mesmerizing brown perfect to enhance a living room or bedroom and inject a warm sense of nurturing and security.

Canadian Pine: A gorgeous deep green perfect for casual and formal living spaces, as well as bedrooms, which works well alongside browns, beiges and soft blues and greens.

Grape Leaf: An earthy green that will enhance any space in the home and will naturally project the feeling of relaxation and tranquility.

Natural White: A crisp, clean contemporary white that will feel fresh and bright and will present underlying warmth.

Deduction: This mid based green has a slight yellow/green undertone which schemes well with natural, earthy colours such as deep browns, charcoals, stones and burnished oranges.

Above all, homeowners should remember a fresh coat of paint is a simple and inexpensive way to add colour, personalise or create a place to feel comfortable, inspired and happy.

For more colour or painting advice view the Dulux -how to projects' online www.dulux.com.au