Colours of the year

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    True Joy named Dulux Colour of the Year 2025

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    Paint brand Dulux has revealed an “uplifting” bright yellow colour called True Joy as its Colour of the Year for 2025.

    True Joy was chosen for its bold and sunny disposition that adds a sense of cheerfulness to interiors, according to Dulux.
    Dulux has announced a bright yellow named True Joy for its Colour of the Year 2025″Dulux Colour of the Year 2025 True Joy is an uplifting yellow – a bright and positive colour that brings optimism, pride and imagination to homes and commercial spaces,” the brand’s senior colour designer Dawn Scott told Dezeen.
    “It was chosen to inspire people to leap out of their comfort zone, to just go for it and feel confident.”
    The sunny colour aims to evoke optimism and creativityDulux worked with trend forecast researchers ColourFutures to choose the 2025 Colour of the Year. The company’s analysis across design, architecture, journalism and technology found three trends to base the colour selection on.

    “This year, our global trend forecast highlighted three major trends: the excitement of making a joyful leap into the unknown, the celebration of handmade craftsmanship and the re-embrace of heritage,” said Scott.
    “These themes have informed our choice of True Joy, along with the colour yellow more generally, creating a collection that helps you design spaces where people can feel inspired to pursue new horizons, connect with human creativity and feel rooted in their identities.”
    Dulux collaborated with ColourFutures to chose the colourScott hopes the sunny hue will provoke feelings of human connection and motivate people to make bolder colour choices.
    “True Joy will likely define the year by resonating deeply with our collective desire for change and reconnection,” she said.
    Three colour palettes incorporating True Joy were created”As we move into an era dominated by technology and AI, this colour will inspire us to embrace new frontiers, encouraging spaces that are both adventurous and spontaneous,” Scott added.
    “It will also reflect our growing appreciation for human creativity and craftsmanship, grounding us in environments filled with earthy, handmade touches that reconnect us with our humanity.”

    Soft pink Sweet Embrace named Dulux Colour of the Year 2024

    Three complementary colour palettes were also revealed alongside True Joy to offer suggested colour pairings for interiors.
    The Bold Colour Story palette contrasts True Joy with bright blues and oranges, designed to be used in education and office interiors to encourage creativity.
    Dulux suggested pairing the bright yellow with neutral shades from the Human Colour StoryThe Human Colour Story features more neutral shades of wood and clay, aiming to reflect raw materials in artisanal craftsmanship and add warmth to education and healthcare settings.
    Deep tones of brown and green characterise the Proud Colour Story palette, which was created for hospitality and residential spaces to create a welcoming atmosphere.
    The Proud Colour Story combines True Joy with deep huesDulux’s Colour of the Year for 2023 was a pale yellow named Wild Wonder and for 2024, the brand chose a soft pink colour called Sweet Embrace.
    Scott described True Joy as a striking and exciting contrast to the subtler hues that came before it.
    The rich tones of the Proud Colour Story aim to create a welcoming interior”Where Sweet Embrace provided warmth and comfort, creating spaces that made people feel at ease during uncertain times, the yellow of this year encourages a joyful leap into new horizons,” Scott explained.
    “It’s a bold and uplifting colour that reflects a shift from seeking simplicity and calm to embracing adventure and creativity.”
    The photography is courtesy of Dulux.

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      Ten interiors tickled pink with Color of the Year Viva Magenta

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve cherry-picked 10 interiors clad in shades that recall Viva Magenta after American colour company Pantone named the bright pink hue as its Color of the Year for 2023.

      Pantone describes Viva Magenta as “a brave and fearless red shade that vibrates with vim and vigour” and reflects current attitudes towards experimentation and fearlessness.
      “It’s assertive but it’s not aggressive – we refer to it as a fist in a velvet glove,” said vice president of the Pantone Institute Laurie Pressman.
      Shades of bright pink magenta have been used by interior designers in the projects below to brighten up spaces in locations ranging from Copenhagen to Tokyo.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with sliding doors, lounges with suspended fireplaces and cottage interiors.

      Photo is courtesy of BHDMShoreline Waikiki, Hawaii, by BHDM
      The interior of the beachside Shoreline Waikiki hotel in Hawaii has a flamboyant colour scheme, giving it a jubilant feel that matches the island’s surrounding tropical flora and fauna.
      Redesigned by US studio BHDM for the “millennial-minded traveller”, the accommodation has a hot-pink carpet that stretches from the reception to the ground floor lounge and contrasts the brightly coloured yellow, teal, blue and red furniture upholstery.
      Find out more about Shoreline Waikiki ›
      Photo is by Tim LenzAtrium, US, by Smith Hanes Studio
      Rich tones of green, raspberry and gold collide with smooth terrazzo, shiny tiles and tropical wallpaper in Atlanta bistro and restaurant Atrium.
      Local architecture studio Smith Hanes Studio looked to the lines, patterns and shapes found in colourful French cafes and art deco buildings for the space, which is filled with an array of large leafy plants.
      Find out more about Atrium ›
      Photo is by James McDonaldFamily Kitchen, UK, by Mizzi Studio
      British design studio Mizzi Studio renovated this restaurant in London botanical garden Kew Gardens, creating a whimsical eatery that wouldn’t look out of place in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film.
      Designed to introduce young children to new foods, the space features playful decor such as an apple-shaped seat, giant timber-weaved fungi sculptures and a magenta-coloured Ethiopian Enset tree.
      Find out more about Family Kitchen ›
      Photo is by John ShortMaggie’s Centre, UK, by Ab Rogers Design
      At this Maggie’s Centre cancer treatment site in Sutton, England, patients can rest and convalesce in a pinky-purple-toned living area that studio Ab Rogers Design wanted to feel cheerful, yet sensitive.
      “Believing in colour’s sensual and psychological power, we coloured the surrounding rooms to suit the functions and activities they host,” said Ab Rogers Design founders Ab Rogers and Ernesto Bartolini.
      Find out more about Maggie’s Centre ›
      Photo is courtesy of Patricia UrquiolaRotazioni and Visioni by Patricia Urquiola
      The rust, mustard, dusty pink, baby blue, yellow and caramel block colours and black lines in these rugs by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola contrast the circular openings that punctuate the walls in this pared-back room.
      Made from Himalayan wool and silk, the soft rugs have been used to add depth and warmth to the space.
      Find out more about Rotazioni and Visioni ›
      Photo is by John ShortScape, UK, by Ab Rogers Design
      A ribbon of magenta pink courses through the central areas of Scape, a housing block that Hackney-based studio Ab Rogers Design refurbished for students in London’s East End.
      Vibrant colour-coding knits the buildings’ internal parts together, while the bedrooms are informed by the sleeping quarters of train carriages, with space-saving furniture such as cupboards that double up as desks and seating nooks nestled in the windows.
      Find out more about Scape ›
      Photo is by Shingo NakashimaToggle Hotel, Japan, by Klein Dytham Architecture
      Sandwiched between a raised expressway, a railway line and Tokyo’s Kanda River, Toggle Hotel was designed by Tokyo-based Klein Dytham Architecture to stand out from the neighbouring infrastructure.
      Inside each of the rooms, which guests are able to choose based on their colour preferences, the furniture, bedding, carpets and soft furnishings are all coloured in the same shade.
      Find out more about Toggle Hotel ›
      Photo is by Gianluca Di IoiaCasa Lana, Italy, by Triennale di Milano
      A plush pinkish-red carpet covers the floor of this model apartment, which was recreated within the Triennale di Milano as part of a permanent new installation.
      Originally designed by Memphis Group founder Ettore Sottsass for a friend, Casa Lana is arranged around a wooden enclosure with built-in shelving and sofas.
      Find out more about Casa Lana ›
      Photo is by MasquespacioResa San Mamés , Spain, by Masquespacio
      Valencia-based studio Masquespacio injected splashes of its signature colour-blocking style throughout Resa San Mamés, a 1,850 square-metre building that houses 351 students in Bilbao, Spain.
      In the main lobby, millennial pink paint clashes with the crimson tiles that line the walls, while soft furnishings and partitions were used to define zones elsewhere on the ground floor.
      Find out more about Resa San Mamés ›
      Photo is by Itay BenitHayarden school, Israel, by Sarit Shani Hay, Chen Steinberg Navon and Ayelet Fisher
      A rainbow of colours, including a bright pink that straddles fuschia and magenta, have been used to brighten up this two-storey school in Tel Aviv, which local designer Sarit Shani Hay, architect Chen Steinberg Navon and Ayelet Fisher overhauled in 2019.
      Situated in Tel Aviv’s Hatikva Quarter – a neighbourhood with a high number of asylum-seekers – the school has a house-shaped reading nook and colourful paintwork, which the team hoped would help to create an inspiring learning area for the children of refugees.
      Find out more about Hayarden school ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring Bauhaus-informed interiors, homes in converted warehouses and neutral living rooms.

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      This week we revealed Wild Wonder as 2023's Colour of the Year

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      This week on Dezeen, the Colour of the Year 2023 –  a pale yellow that is described as “a soft gold with hints of green” – was announced.

      To mark the announcement by paint company Dulux, we created a lookbook that showcases interiors that have used the pale yellow hue.
      Selldorf Architects has proposed a redesign of the Sainsbury WingThis week, architects, critics and academics raised concerns about the plans to remodel Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown’s postmodern Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery in London. They described the plans, which have been drawn up by Selldorf Architects, as an “act of vandalism”.
      In an opinion piece for Dezeen, Catherine Slessor wrote that “history now seems to be repeating itself at the Sainsbury Wing”.
      Workers at Atomik Architecture are balloting to strikeAlso in London, staff at architecture studio Atomik Architecture announced a “historic strike ballot”.

      Workers at the studio notified their employers that they were initiating a strike ballot to demand improvements to both their pay and working conditions.
      Lightyear developed “the world’s first production-ready solar car”Continuing our Solar Revolution series we interviewed Emanuele Cornagliotti, who is the lead solar engineer at car company Lightyear, which developed “the world’s first production-ready solar car”.
      Solar cars will be “normal within 20 years,” he told Dezeen.
      No 1 Poultry was the result of a King Charles interventionFollowing King Charles III becoming Britain’s new monarch, we took a look back at his impact on architecture while he was the Prince of Wales.
      In his previous role, Charles exerted significant influence on the built environment through campaigning, building traditional towns and torpedoing modernist projects.
      Dezeen Awards 2022 public vote opened this weekThis week we opened the Dezeen Awards 2022 public vote to allow readers to pick their favourite projects and studios. Readers can now vote for the best projects shortlisted in the architecture, interiors and design categories, as well as our media and sustainability categories.
      Voting closes on 10 October with winning projects receiving a special Dezeen Awards 2022 public vote certificate.
      Indian studio PMA Madhushala designed a brick and stone housePopular projects this week include an Indian home wrapped in a perforated wall of brick and stone, a hotel resembling an upside-down village in the Alps and a rammed-earth retreat in São Paulo.
      This week’s lookbooks showcased eateries that showcase the potential of terrazzo and kitchens with polished granite surfaces.
      This week on Dezeen
      This week on Dezeen is our regular roundup of the week’s top news stories. Subscribe to our newsletters to be sure you don’t miss anything.

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      Ten sunny interiors that make use of the Colour of the Year 2023

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve curated 10 interiors decked out in Wild Wonder after paint brand Dulux named the pale yellow hue as its Colour of the Year for 2023.

      Dulux describes Wild Wonder as a “soft gold with hints of green” that speaks to people’s desire for a closer connection to nature and better mental health in light of the recent period of upheaval.
      “As people search for support, connection, inspiration and balance in the world today, they’re diving into the wonders of the natural world to find it,” the brand explained.
      “Wild Wonder is a positive, natural tone that, by connecting us with the natural world, can help us feel better in our homes.”
      The optimistic hue, reminiscent of “fresh seed pods and harvest grain”, is particularly suited to brightening up living spaces – as seen below in an all-yellow Barcelona duplex and a renovated 19th-century apartment in Stockholm by Note Design Studio.

      But the colour can also be used to give a homely feel to commercial interiors, from a floating spa to a church-turned-coworking space, where it is often contrasted against shades of dusty pink or deep red.
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing residential atriums, floating staircases and kitchens with polished granite surfaces.
      Photo is by Note Design StudioHidden Tints, Sweden, by Note Design Studio
      Set in a 19th-century building in Stockholm, this kitchen envisioned by Swedish practice Note Design Studio is entirely enveloped in buttery yellow paint – covering everything from the walls and mouldings to the window frames.
      “Colour helps to emphasise the splendour in the detailing of the architecture,” interior architect Sanna Wåhlin told Dezeen. “In fact, the approach to colour in architecture in the old days was much braver than we see today. It deserves its place again!”
      Find out more about Hidden Tints ›
      Photo is by Felix SpellerCubitts Belgravia, UK, by Child Studio
      Child Studio reinstated many of the Georgian design features found in this 19th-century Belgravian townhouse when turning it into a shop for eyewear brand Cubitts.
      The London design firm painted its walls in a chalky yellow hue that was typical of the period and uncovered the original floorboards to create an “intimate and domestic atmosphere”, complete with a cast iron fireplace installed in the front room.
      Find out more about Cubitts Belgravia ›
      Photo is by José HeviaDuplex in Sant Gervais, Spain, by Arquitectura-G
      To make this duplex apartment in Barcelona with its convoluted floor plan and shadowy living spaces feel more bright and spacious, local practice Arquitectura-G introduced an all-yellow colour scheme that features throughout the home.
      It was even chosen for the metal grating used to form shelving in the kitchen, which was designed to provide storage without obstructing sunlight from reaching every corner of the space.
      Find out more about Duplex in Sant Gervais ›
      Photo is by Mikael LundbladCafe Banacado, Sweden, by ASKA
      Swedish architecture firm ASKA aimed to create a warm and peaceful atmosphere inside this all-day breakfast cafe, using sunny hues across its nostalgic checkerboard floors, storage walls and custom-made tables with integrated cutlery holders.
      “In order to create an environment that feels harmonious, we work with subtle layering and tone-in-tone methods,” said ASKA co-founder Madeleine Klingspor. “The same yellow is used on the walls, lamps, tables and floor but in different scales and intensity.”
      Find out more about Cafe Banacado ›
      Photo is by Jérôme GallandVilla Noailles gift shop, France, by Pierre Yovanovitch
      When overhauling the gift shop of the Villa Noailles arts centre in Provence, French designer Pierre Yovanovitch created a series of colour-block alcoves to “dramatise” the presentation of the products on offer.
      The mellow yellow backdrop of these wall niches stands in stark contrast to the salmon-pink walls and cobalt blue trims, nodding to the villa’s “cubist” garden designed by Armenian architect Gabriel Guevrekian.
      Find out more about the Villa Noailles gift shop ›
      Photo is by Dylan PerrenoudOrigin spa, Switzerland, by Bureau
      Blocks of pastel-toned tiles overlap across the different surfaces of this float spa in Geneva. The colour-blocking was specifically designed to evoke the vague spots and flashes of colour that can sometimes be seen behind closed eyes after looking at a light source.
      The interior was designed to reflect the visuals that guests experience in the spa’s sensory deprivation tanks, which are filled with warm salt water but completely devoid of light to create the feeling of floating weightlessly in space.
      Find out more about Origin ›
      Photo is by Rei Moon13 Square Metre House, UK, by Studiomama
      Custom-made plywood furniture fringes this tiny 13-square-metre home set in a former mini cab office, which “might be London’s smallest house,” according to architect Studiomama.
      Beyond providing crucial storage, the light wooden elements help to create a cohesive interior, while functional zones such as integrated sliding doors are highlighted in swatches of soft yellow, pink and blue.
      Find out more about 13 Square Metre House ›
      Photo is by Mikael LundbladMaria Nila salon, Sweden, by ASKA
      Undulating shelves of hair products wind their way around the perimeter of this salon by Swedish haircare brand Maria Nila in Stockholm to evoke dripping shampoo.
      The storage is rendered in pastel gradient colours informed by the brand’s packaging, which fade from ballet-slipper pink to a pale coffee colour and finally a washed-out yellow.
      Find out more about the Maria Nila salon ›
      Photo is by Carola RipamontiImarika boutique, Italy, by Marcante-Testa
      Another interior that showcases the perfect match between yellow and pink is this boutique in Milan, designed by Italian studio Marcante-Testa.
      Here, an understated daffodil-colour covers the walls, while pink clay was used to render partitions and rose-gold rails hold up the glass shelves displaying accessories.
      Find out more about Imarika boutique ›
      Photo is by Cándida WohlgemuthThe Ruby Street, USA, by Francesca de la Fuente and Working Holiday Studio
      An abstract wall mural by Los Angeles artist Dakota Solt ties together the baby blue, pink and tan furnishings in this co-working space with the pale yellow of the wood-panelled walls and the rattan pendant light.
      Called The Ruby Street, the shared office and events space is set in a former church in the city’s Highland Park neighbourhood, whose stained-glass windows were retained and paired with simple, contemporary furnishings.
      Find out more about The Ruby Street ›
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing residential atriums, floating staircases and kitchens with polished granite surfaces.

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      Wild Wonder named Colour of the Year 2023

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      Paint brand Dulux has revealed Wild Wonder, a pale yellow paint colour that it described as “a soft gold with hints of green” as its Colour of the Year for 2023.

      Wild Wonder was selected for its close association with nature. The brand said this echoes the global shift toward sustainability, reconnecting with the outdoors and wanting to be more grounded, particularly following the recent period of uncertainty.
      Wild Wonder is a golden green paint colour”Our relationship with the natural world feels more precious and precarious than ever,” said Dulux UK.
      “Wild Wonder is a soft gold with hints of green inspired by fresh seed pods and harvest grain,” the brand added.
      The colour was selected for its association with natureAs well as its affiliation with nature and raw materials, Wild Wonder is also intended to capture the collective quest for better mental health, which has become increasingly important in light of global events such as the climate crisis and coronavirus lockdowns.

      “As people search for support, connection, inspiration and balance in the world today, they’re diving into the wonders of the natural world to find it,” said the brand.
      “Wild Wonder is a positive, natural tone that, by connecting us with the natural world, can help us feel better in our homes,” it continued.
      “As well as understanding the value of nature more keenly, with climate change becoming a reality for all of us, we also feel the urgency of reconnecting with nature and the necessity of working with rather than against it.”

      Bright Skies named Colour of the Year 2022

      According to the brand, the colour can be used to add colour to areas in the house, such as living rooms, that require warmth and light. The brand also said that the hue is suitable for commercial spaces across all sectors including schools and hospitals.
      “Wild Wonder and four complementary, versatile colour palettes can be used to create stunning spaces across all sectors,” explained Dulux.
      The paint colour is suitable for all commercial sectors as well as residential interiorsDulux’s parent company AkzoNobel decided on the shade, which is the 20th colour to be chosen as a Dulux Colour of the Year, after a three-day workshop with a panel of industry experts from across the globe and months of researching with the paint company.
      Wild Wonder is a slightly more upbeat hue than Brave Ground, an earthy beige that Dulux selected as its colour of the year for 2021 against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.
      The colour is a marked change from last year’s sky blue colour Bright Skies, which the brand said captured collective desires for a fresh start.
      The images are courtesy of Dulux.

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