Dulux’s colour forecast takes a journey across the globe, incorporating design shows, social, cultural and environmental trend forecasts, as well as personal interviews with leading worldwide experts from a variety of style, design and architecture backgrounds to come up with the trends in colour that we can expect for the year ahead.

The move to warming tones of yellow and orange are predicted by experts to be the key antidote to the shadows cast by the global financial crisis. Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux’s Colour Forecaster, says, “The mood of the world undeniably influences our colour selections. The need for a renewed reassurance, harmony and tranquility in an unstable economic climate are mirrored by the desire for freedom, revival and bold abandon.”

Andrea continues, “The spectrum of yellow tones spans from bold, bright sunshine and canary yellows which spell optimism, renewed vitality and revival, to deep reassuring mustards and natural, earthy oranges. Nostalgic creamier tones evoke comforting imageso fhistory and the past whilst light and lemony hues create a feeling of space and freedom from the conines of daily struggles.”

Elisabeth Condemine, Founder & CEO of Paris company, Colour & Marketing concurs, “Yellow is making a comeback after 20 years of being unfashionable. It’s a response to the economy and one crisis after another.”

Elisabeth also says that the economic crisis is good for the home “This isn’t about hiding from your social life, but instead of spending money in restaurants people are cooking for friends and family at home. The biggest social phenomenon in France at the moment is the open table every week, or huge picnics where people SMS a place to share food with friends or even strangers”, she says.

Spain is having a particular influence  on predicted colour trends. Award winning UK interior stylist Marissa Daly from Homes  & Gardens Magazine UK considers Spain as one of the greatest sources of colour influence across Europe at the moment. “There is a huge resurgence in Spanish handicrafts and traditions as well as contemporary design.

The Dulux Colour Forecast 2011 comprises six inspiring colour palettes with 104 different hues including three new colours; Symphony Red, Forest View and Stone’s Edge.

The new Dulux colour palettes are available now from all Inspirations Paint & Colour stores. To locate your nearest store visit InspirationsPaint.com.au or call 1300 INSPIRE (1300 467 747).