Meet Flourish: A Rich, Sensual Palette for 2022

Jessica Hodges

Manager - Interior Design

Here’s how and where to use these decadent colours in your home.

Fun and adventure may feel like distant memories right now, but according to the colour experts at Dulux, they’re exactly what we’ll be seeking in the year ahead. Flourish is one of three trending palettes in the Dulux Colour Forecast for 2022 and it’s filled with bold, sensual hues such as petrol blue, desert red and vintage gold that are guaranteed to spice up your interiors.

“It’s a look for those who want to rewrite design rules,” says Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux Colour and Communications Manager. “As we move towards more freedoms, these colours enrich our feelings of empowerment and spark our imagination.”

Tempted to try it? Here’s how and where to use these decadent colours in your home.

Flourish colours: Fun and a vintage vibe

If you feel yourself stifling a yawn every time you look at your plain, neutral-coloured walls and furnishings, Flourish may just be the palette you need in your life. It’s bold, brave and speaks of travel and adventures in distant lands, with colours such as dusty pink, petrol blue and purplish brown, interspersed with pops of antique gold and burnt coral.  

There’s also something of a vintage vibe to this look – it calls to thoughts of worn, leather chesterfields, antique-finish mirrors, and overstuffed banquette seating you might find in a ‘70s bar.

Dip into these colours and you’ll create an interior that feels warm and intimate, with an interesting story to tell.  

Where to use Flourish colours

Add an element of surprise to a powder room with a deep, petrol blue on the walls such as Dulux Kenepuru Sound or a greenish-charcoal such as Dulux Dark Door. Pair deep colours like these with warm metallics in tapware and handles such as copper or bronze to balance the dark.

Make your bedroom feel cosy and enticing with an earthy, pinkish neutral on the walls such as Dulux Basic Coral, paired with a velvet bedhead in coral or dusty rose. Or add a touch of fun to the back of shelves or door edging with accents of warm plum, such as Dulux Murray Red. Or make a statement by adding it to your front door!

With its cosy and intimate feel, this palette also works a treat in spots where you entertain or relax with friends and family, such as the lounge or dining room. Consider a deep, greenish-blue on the walls and fireplace surround, such as Dulux Benang, accompanied with lighter accents such as Dulux Gold Vintage or a warm white such as Dulux White Dune Quarter.

What to pair them with

A highly individual look like this calls for decadent fabrics, such as velvet, silk and leather, dramatic, curvy sofas and banquette seating, and one-off vintage finds such as a quirky upholstered armchair in a look-at-me stripe, a sculptural, mid-century floor lamp and antiqued picture frames.

Add in touches of natural stone and oxidised metallics, such as a marble-topped coffee table or an oxidised brass planter or two, for a contemporary edge.