Dulux Colour Trends 2023: Connect, an Earthy, Cosy Palette.

The Dulux Colour Forecast 2023 is here! In the first of a three-part series, meet Dulux Connect, a cocooning palette that’s all about the connection with nature.

At Carlisle, we always look forward to the release of the annual Dulux Colour Forecast, as it gives a peek into the colours we’ll be loving in our homes in the year ahead. The forecast for 2023 doesn’t disappoint, with three gorgeous palettes that are guaranteed to bring a sense of joy and serenity into our living spaces. 

First up, the Dulux Connect palette – a collection of earthy, natural tones of moss, wasabi, sandstone, muddied yellow-green and burnt charcoal that blur the lines between inside and out.

“Connect speaks of calm, comfort and an honest approach to living, and brings in many of the pastimes we experienced during lockdown, such as hiking, cooking, quilting and gardening,” says Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux Colour and Communication Manager. “Muddied yellow-green has a nostalgic, country-house feel, cinnamon is grounding, whilst rich, purple-brown adds an indulgent and contemporary twist.”

Here, our expert interior designers share some easy ways you can incorporate these cocooning colours into your home. 

Create a feature wall

Set the scene with a feature wall in one of the Dulux Connect colours. Add impact to your hallway with a V-groove panelled wall in rich charcoal such as Dulux Namadji, evoke a sense of calm in your living room by painting the wall above your fireplace in Dulux Wasabi (a soft yellow-green), or warm up your bedroom with a feature wall behind the bed in Dulux Cinnamon Sand (a brown-based orange).

If you opt for a deep-tone feature wall, look to balance it with a warm white, such as Dulux Whisper White, on the other walls to keep the room feeling bright and open.

Add natural textures 

Emphasise Dulux Connect’s earthy feel by pairing the colours with a medley of natural textures. Think stone-look tiled floors and benchtops in the kitchen, a display of handcrafted, matt-finish ceramics on an open shelf in the living room or kitchen, and highly textural fabrics, such as woven linen, cotton, hemp, and fine woollen knits across the cushions, throws and window furnishings in your bedroom and living spaces. 

Mix old and new

This look embraces the wabi-sabi philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection, giving spaces a relaxed and inviting vibe. Consider a worn leather sofa or a faded tartan rug for your living or family room, thrifted lighting and accessories, and touches of naturally weathered brass in tapware, handles and lighting.

Keep it simple 

Seek out furniture in natural materials, such as a rustic, timber dining or coffee table, dining or occasional chairs with woven rattan backs, and deep, curvaceous sofas for the living room that cry out to be curled up in (book or glass of red in hand!). Complete the look with simple window furnishings, such as linen sheers in an earthy hue, which gently filters light into the room. 

Add colour in unexpected spots 

You’ll find that a touch of colour from the Connect palette somewhere you don’t expect it can be surprisingly impactful. Consider adding a dash of Dulux Research (olive) to your skirting boards, a bedhead in Dulux Cinnamon Sand in your child’s bedroom, or the edge of a door frame or the back of shelves in a grey-green like Dulux Apparition.