COLOURFUTURES 2021
INTERNATIONAL COLOUR TRENDS
TM
AkzoNobel Decorative Paints
Global Aesthetic Center
Rijksstraatweg 31, 2171 AJ
Sassenheim, The Netherlands
Tel + 31 (0)71 308 2229
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We have reproduced paint colours as faithfully as printing will allow. However, the shape, size
and lighting of a surface can influence the appearance o
f the final colour.
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Content – AkzoNobel Global Aesthetic Center + 31(0)71 308 2229
COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2021
THE EVOLUTION
OF COLOUR TRENDS
BRAVE
GROUND
Dulux Professional’s Global Aesthetic
Center is committed to helping specifiers
choose the right paint colours for every
project. Each year, Dulux Professional
invites a group of top architects, editors,
designers and analysts to gather and share
their global trend knowledge. Our colour
experts then use these insights to identify
the Colour of the Year and build four new,
easy-to-use paint palettes around it.
TM
Dulux Professional Colour of
the Year 2021 is Brave Ground .
It is a warm, natural neutral that
connects back to the earth,
offering a sense of stability and
rootedness that perfectly reflects
the mood of the moment. It’s a
versatile colour that lets other
shades shine, so it’s perfect for
incorporating into a wide range
of colour schemes.
TM
LAST YEAR
2020 marked a
new decade, a new dawn,
which led Dulux Professional to develop
palettes around a fluid tone, inspired
by the morning sky. This evoked wonder
in hospitality spaces; innovation in
offices; creativity in residential settings;
healing for healthcare and stimulation for
educational environments.
THE WORLD TODAY
We’ve seen unprecedented global change.
This has destabilised us, but also brought
us closer together. It has focused our
minds on what really matters – standing
up for what we believe in; connecting
with others; valuing past knowledge and
working to find smart and sustainable
solutions for the future. Adapting to new
circumstances is daunting, but being
brave enough to take one small step can
set us on the right path. All we need is the
courage to embrace change.
PALETTES
People want to understand how they can
protect the things they care about and
make a difference. They want to restore
the natural balance, repair the world
and ensure a sustainable legacy for their
childre
n. This leads us to the natural
tones of Dulux Professional Colour of the
Year 2021, evoking stability, growth and
potential. A bolstering, balancing shade,
it also provides a connection back to the
earth and offers us a firm foundation.
Above: our experts consider the trends that will influence the
Dulux Professional colours for 2021
3
Cover top left image: Palace of Justice, Córdoba, Spain
Architects: Mecanoo and Ayesa Photographer: Fernando Alda
WHAT DOES THIS
MEAN FOR COLOUR?
We have created four distinct
paint colour palettes to support
the Dulux Professional Colour
of the Year. There are on-trend
looks to elevate spaces in every
sector, from hotels to healthcare.
These easy-to-use palettes
provide a comprehensive set
of complementary colours that
will help specifiers around the
world deliver inspiring results
that will boost their reputation,
impress their clients and surpass
users’ expectations.
3
INTERIOR PALETTES
EXPRESSIVE COLOURS
BOLD AND INDIVIDUAL
TIMELESS COLOURS
TRUST COLOURS
CLASSIC AND MODERN
WARM AND UNIFYING
EARTH COLOURS
SIMPLE AND NATURAL
STAND-OUT SPACES
UNIFYING SPACES
BALANCED SPACES
RESTORATIVE SPACES
Use this palette to add verve and vitality to a space. Bold
reds and softer pinks bring warmth and personality, giving
scope for creativity and zoning. It’s a palette that energises
and surprises with pops of colour, held together by
grounded neutrals. Perfect for adding a personal stamp to
a residential or hospitality project, this bold palette can
help people think differently and spark new ideas.
With its warm, harmonious tones, this palette can help
create a sense of unity and community. The soft, neutral
greys and browns work in combination to create a
supportive space where people can feel connected and be
open. It’s a unifying scheme; perfect for places where
people want to collaborate, communicate and make new
connections, in a residential or office environment.
A combination of soft yellows and browns, this pale
tte
mixes classic colours with contemporary neutrals to create
a calm, balanced feel. Made up of warm tones that would
work in a modern or traditional setting, it’s a palette that’s
ideal for hospitality or education projects. Energising
without being overpowering, it can help create a positive
and inspiring backdrop to set any space up for the future.
Blues, greens and browns… this palette is made up of
muted earth tones that work naturally together. Echoing
the shades of the outside world, these are authentic and
grounding colours that provide a connection back to the
earth and remind us of the need to protect it. Bringing a
sense of the outside in, this palette is a natural choice for
restorative spaces in health or office environments.
4
AN.02.77
67RR 66/044
NN.00.76
30GG 61/010
EN.01.81
10YY 72/021
F4.06.78
30YY 67/084
G0.03.81
90YY 73/040
R6.06.73
70BG 56/061
J5.03.71
45GY 55/052
D5.10.65
70YR 45/133
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
E0.04.67
90YR 48/062
F4.04.73
30YY 56/060
E5.03.82
00YY 74/053
G0.16.68
50YY 49/191
T0.10.70
14BB 55/113
T4.04.66
30BB 45/049
X5.07.71
70RB 54/110
CO.10.60
12YR 40/146
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
E4.10.40
94YR 17/076
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
F8.31.69
45YY 51/365
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
T4.16.56
30BB 33/163
B1.25.43
90RR 20/296
C5.39.34
30YR 14/365
D0.20.26
50YR 10/151
F1.04.56
15YY 33/043
E5.37.44
00YY 21/321
E4.22.49
00YY 26/220
N1.09.46
50GG 23/085
S2.18.28
90BG 11/101
A5.33.39
70RR 17/372
B8.38.44
10YR 21/436
E5.15.25
00YY 09/087
D9.19.42
80YR 19/177
F1.34.58
20YY 36/370
D0.22.41
50YR 18/223
T3.04.12
30BB 05/022
T1.23.25
27BB 10/138
Image top left: Unsplash
CN.01.81
30YR 73/034
5
EXTERIOR PALETTES
EXPRESSIVE
COLOURS
TRUST
COLOURS
WARM AND UNIFYING
This palette is perfect for bringing energy and personality
to a project with the opportunity to use bold pops of colour
against warm neutrals. It’s a palette that works well for
hospitality and residential buildings.
6
EARTH
COLOURS
CLASSIC AND MODERN
A selection of global earth tones that work together
naturally, this palette can effectively unify different
architectural elements and create a harmonised feel for
office or residential projects.
CN.01.81
30YR 73/034
C0.10.60
12YR 40/146
F1.04.56
15YY 33/043
EN.01.81
10YY 72/021
D5.10.65
70YR 45/133
B8.38.44
10YR 21/436
D9.19.42
80YR 19/177
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
C5.39.34
30YR 14/365
E4.10.40
94YR 17/076
E5.15.25
00YY 09/087
SIMPLE AND NATURAL
Classic tones of ochres, yellows and neutrals, this palette
can create a balanced and positive backdrop for hotel,
leisure or education spaces with colour that’s energising
but not overpowering.
Images this page – left: Unsplash; right: Palace of Justice, Córdoba,
Spain; architects: Mecanoo and Ayesa Photographer: Fernando Alda
Images right: Unsplash
BOLD AND INDIVIDUAL
TIMELESS
COLOURS
Ech
oing the blues, greens and browns of the world around
us, this palette can bring a natural, organic feel to the most
contemporary buildings. Authentic and calming, these
tones work well for office or healthcare environments.
G0.03.81
90YY 73/040
F4.06.78
30YY 67/084
T4.04.66
30BB 45/049
J5.03.71
45GY 55/052
G0.16.68
50YY 49/191
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
N1.09.46
50GG 23/085
F1.34.58
20YY 36/370
E5.37.44
00YY 21/321
T3.04.12
30BB 05/022
T1.23.25
27BB 10/138
7
EDUCATION
HOW BRAVE
GROUND AND
ITS PALETTES CAN
TRANSFORM
EVERY SECTOR
OFFICES
TM
Dulux Professional Brave Ground is
an enabling and versatile colour that
lets other shades shine. Used with its
four supporting palettes, it can
transform a building in a variety of
ways – creating atmospheres that
range from dynamic and energising
to calm and restorative.
RESIDENTIAL
TM
8
Images top & bottom two: Shutterstock
HEALTHCARE
HOSPITALITY
9
TIMELESS
COLOURS
EDUCATIONAL SPACES
To maximise learning and fire the imagination, educational environments
need to be inspiring without being overpowering, creating the perfect
backdrop for concentration and fresh thinking.
11
G0.16.68
50YY 49/191
E5.03.83
00YY 74/053
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
F8.31.69
45YY 51/365
Images: Shutterstock
1. https://news-archive.salford.ac.uk/news/articles/2015/well-designed-classrooms-can-boostlearningprogress-in-primary-school-pupils-by-up-to-16-in-a-single-year,-research-reveals.html
BALANCED SPACES
Colours: A collection of soft
naturals and yellows,
these tones work with Dulux
Professional Colour of the
Year 2021 to create an
inspiring, neutral scheme,
offering balance, positivity and
a firm foundation for learning.
Relevance: Well-designed
classrooms can boost learning
by 16%. Calm, neutral tones
are recommended for walls to
maximise performance1.
Result: An adaptable palette
that elevates modern and
traditional buildings, providing
a warm and e
nergising
backdrop for classrooms and
public education spaces.
11
Images: Shutterstock
G0.03.81
90YY 73/040
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
F8.31.69
45YY 51/365
13
EARTH
COLOURS
RESTORATIVE SPACES
Colours: Blues and greens set
against Brave GroundTM, this
natural palette connects us
back to the earth, making us
feel rooted and calm.
OFFICE SPACES
In our increasingly digitised world, we need work spaces that can
help us unwind and feel calm; places that encourage us to make
connections and work together to spark new ideas.
15
S2.18.28
90BG 11/101
T4.04.66
30BB 45/049
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
Image Bottom right: Unsplash
2. https://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/burn-out/en/
Mecanoo
Relevance: In May 2019, the
World Health Organization
recognised burnout as an
occupational health issue2.
People are rethinking the way
they live and work, revaluing
natural resources and looking
for ways to combat stress.
Result: Calming colours that
can help redu
ce stress and
bring the feel of nature into
increasingly tech-driven spaces,
whether in commerical working
environments or home offices.
15
TRUST
COLOURS
Colours: Earth tones from all
over the world, these colours
harmonise with Dulux
Professional Colour of the Year
2021 and bring unity.
Relevance: Building human
connection at work is key for a
successful business3, and people
are seeking conducive spaces
that encourage it.
Result: A unifying palette that
can bring together disparate
elements of a building. Its warm
tones work well in communal
areas – meeting and conference
rooms, reception areas, lounges
and cafeterias; anywhere people
want to encourage connection
and ideas-sharing.
16
Images Right & Bottom left: Unsplash
3 https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/cz/Documents/human-capital/cz-hc-trendsreinvent-with-human-focus.pdf
UNIFYING SPACES
NN.00.76
30GG 61/010
EN.01.81
10YY 72/021
F4.04.73
30YY 56/060
E0.04.67
90YR 48/062
E5.15.25
00YY 09/087
COLOUR OF THE YE
AR
E7.10.53
18
10YY 30/106
EXPRESSIVE
COLOURS
RESIDENTIAL SPACES
At home, people want décor that feels individual, inspiring and
energising to boost creativity and free thinking. They also need warm
and inviting areas where they can connect with friends and family.
X5.07.71
70RB 54/110
D5.10.65
70YR 45/133
CN.01.81
30YR 73/034
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
Image Bottom right: Unsplash
4. https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2019/05/15/originality-dying-how-social-media-hindering-selfexpression
STAND-OUT SPACES
Colours: An empowering
palette that provides scope for
creativity and individuality.
Warm naturals and Brave
GroundTM give balance and allow
vibrant and subtle shades of
pink and red to shine.
Relevance: More than
95 million images are uploaded
to Instagram every day4. People
are looking for stand-out living
spaces that will help them
achieve more cut-through.
Result: A dynamic, inspirational
and upbeat palette that can
bring energy, positivity and
personality, he
lping to elevate
spaces in residential
projects – inside and out.
19
TRUST
COLOURS
UNIFYING SPACES
Relevance: Social interaction is
important for people’s health
and wellbeing5, whether it’s
physical or digital. People are
seeking spaces at home where
they can feel connected.
Result: A unifying palette that
can bring together disparate
elements of an interior scheme
or a building. Its warm, inviting
tones work well in communal
areas, such as living or dining
rooms where people entertain,
gather and share ideas.
20
Image Botom left: Unsplash
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6603716/
Colours: Earth tones from
around the world, these colours
harmonise with warm, neutral
Brave GroundTM and create a
sense of unity.
E4.10.40
94YR 17/076
D0.20.26
50YR 10/151
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
21
10YY 30/106
HEALTHCARE SPACES
E5.03.83
70BG 56/061
Images Left & Top right: Shutterstock
Image Bottom right: Shutterstock
In buildings where the focus is on health and wellbe
ing, people need
soothing, restorative spaces that give them a connection to the
outside world, allowing them to regroup and recuperate.
T4.16.56
30BB 33/163
23
EARTH
COLOURS
RESTORATIVE SPACES
This restorative palette can help patients unwind and
feel in touch with the outside world while they’re
recovering. It can also add a natural feel to what can
be a sterile, artificial environment.
J5.03.71
45GY 55/052
T4.04.66
30BB 45/049
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
Images: Left & top right: Shutterstock Image Bottom right Unsplash
6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959378013000575
Colours: Echoing the tones of
the natural world, these colours,
used with Brave GroundTM, can
help people feel rooted, calm
and connected.
Relevance: Studies have shown
that green or natural
environments are positive for
physical and mental wellbeing6.
Dulux Professional research also
shows that a monochromatic
colour scheme, made up of
green or blue, reduces visual
str
ain in treatment rooms.
Result: A restorative palette
that can create a calming feel in
wards and waiting rooms,
helping to alleviate stress for
patients and visitors alike.
25
EXPRESSIVE
COLOURS
HOSPITALITY SPACES
Colour is one of the most visible design elements of a hotel or leisure
space, and the CF21 tones are perfect for boosting buildings in this sector.
Expressive colours can help give personality to public areas, while the
Timeless palette can offer a balanced backdrop for communal settings.
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
C0.10.60
12YR 40/146
CN.01.81
30YR 73/034
C5.39.34
30YR 14/365
Images: Bottom right, Unsplash
7. https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2019/05/15/originality-dying-how-social-media-hindering-selfexpression
STAND-OUT SPACES
Colours: Bold and knockedback pinks and reds, balanced
with warm neutrals and Dulux
Professional Colour of the
Year 2021, this palette can
bring verve and vitality.
Relevance: Social media is
becoming increasingly visual
(more t
ain in treatment rooms.
Result: A restorative palette
that can create a calming feel in
wards and waiting rooms,
helping to alleviate stress for
patients and visitors alike.
25
EXPRESSIVE
COLOURS
HOSPITALITY SPACES
Colour is one of the most visible design elements of a hotel or leisure
space, and the CF21 tones are perfect for boosting buildings in this sector.
Expressive colours can help give personality to public areas, while the
Timeless palette can offer a balanced backdrop for communal settings.
COLOUR OF THE YEAR
E7.10.53
10YY 30/106
C0.10.60
12YR 40/146
CN.01.81
30YR 73/034
C5.39.34
30YR 14/365
Images: Bottom right, Unsplash
7. https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2019/05/15/originality-dying-how-social-media-hindering-selfexpression
STAND-OUT SPACES
Colours: Bold and knockedback pinks and reds, balanced
with warm neutrals and Dulux
Professional Colour of the
Year 2021, this palette can
bring verve and vitality.
Relevance: Social media is
becoming increasingly visual
(more t
... ascunde