If you’ve ever thought about refreshing your home, then you’ve almost certainly thought about paint colours. Not only is painting relatively easy to DIY, it has the potential to transform the entire look and feel of a house – without costing a fortune.
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While some renovators get excited at the thought of endless paint samples and swatches, others will find the process a little more daunting. After all, isn’t white just white? If you find yourself in the latter camp, you may find narrowing your search to a list of Australia’s most popular paint shades much more manageable.
If you’re renovating to sell, the right paint colour can attract a larger pool of buyers. If you’re simply transforming a house into a home, the right paint colour can make a small room feel bright and open, or make a large room feel cosy and intimate. The right paint colour can also impact mood. A lick of paint can turn a drab bedroom into a cosy cocoon, or a dull home office into a hive of productivity.
We’ve spoken to the colour experts at Dulux, Haymes, Benjamin Moore and Taubmans to uncover both Australia’s best-selling paint colours as well as some insight into why these particular shades are picked out by home renovators time and time again.
Popular Dulux paint colours
Shades of white that ‘go with everything’ dominate Dulux’s list of best-selling paint colours. Selecting the right shade of white can be a challenging task, but the key is to think about the undertones: cool, neutral or warm.
Not sure whether your home will have a warm or cool colour palette? Selecting a shade of white with a neutral base is a safe option, says Dulux Colour and Communications Manager Andrea Lucena-Orr.
“If you want your selected white to work with both cooler and warmer undertones, you can’t go past working with a neutral white. Dulux Natural White, Snowy Mountains Half and Casper White Quarter can work with many different colours and undertones,” she says.
Cool whites
- Dulux Lexicon Quarter
- Dulux Lexicon Half
- Dulux White on White
Warm whites
- Dulux Antique White USA
- Dulux Whisper White
- Dulux Hog Bristle Quarter
Neutral whites
- Dulux Natural White
- Dulux Snowy Mountains Half
- Dulux Casper White Quarter
White is a foolproof option, but if it isn’t quite right for your project, selecting a versatile, neutral shade is a great alternative.
“If you want your walls to have a little more depth, try the beautiful neutral greige in Dulux Tranquil Retreat or the lighter greige in Dulux Terrace White,” says Andrea.
Neutral colours
- Dulux Tranquil Retreat
- Dulux Terrace White
- Dulux Domino
Popular Haymes paint colours
Warm whites have risen to the top of Haymes’ list of best-selling paint colours in recent years, says Haymes Paint Colour and Concepts Manager, Wendy Rennie.
“Liveable white is the new base white, especially when we are searching for the perfect white with subtle, warm undertones.” Liveable White and Pulp White 1 (“a warm, organic white that pairs beautifully with ochres, tans and natural finishes such as wood, leather and linen”) were both best-sellers for Haymes in 2022.
She says Haymes Paint data also indicates that “we are shying away from greys and leaning more towards bone and earthy neutrals.” In fact, Wendy was inspired to create Sand Haze, one of Haynes’ best-selling shades of brown, after taking a road trip around Australia.
“It lends itself beautifully to natural finishes and furniture pieces,” she says. “It’s an essential shade to add to a space in which you desire to feel safe, as browns evoke sensations of security and comfort.”
Cool white
- Greyology 1
Neutral white
- Modesty White
Warm whites
- Pulp White 1
- Gradient 1
- Liveable White
If your aim is to inject colour into your home, Haymes’ list of popular paints shows earthy colours and pastel shades are popular go-tos. Arboretum, a sophisticated shade of green, was a popular choice.
“Green is well-known for its ability to foster balance and tranquillity, making it a popular feature colour,” says Wendy, adding, “especially as we see an inclination toward creating ‘wellness rooms’ and spaces specifically designed to foster relaxation.”
On the flipside, bold colours such as Debonair, a vibrant shade of blue, were also a popular choice. “Strong blues like Debonair are known to incite motivation and happiness within the home. This colour became a popular choice for creating home office spaces, childrens’ homework nooks, or art and craft corners,” says Wendy.
Colours
- Arboretum
- Sand Haze
- Shell Pink
- Debonair
- Marble Mist
Popular Benjamin Moore paint colours
North American paint brand Benjamin Moore only launched in Australia in 2021, but their premium paint range is already becoming a fast favourite among renovators. Their list of top-selling shades includes whites, neutrals and soft colours that are easy to live with.
For the perfect warm white, select ‘Simply White’, which has a “pleasing warmth without being too creamy.” If you’re selling a property and want to capture broad market appeal, consider their ultimate shade of greige, ‘Revere Pewter HC-172’.
Warm whites
- Simply White OC-117
- Cloud White OC-130
- Swiss Coffee OC-45
Neutral white
- Chantilly Lace OC-65
Cool whites
- White Dove OC-17
Neutrals
- Revere Pewter HC-172
- Coventry Gray HC-169
Colours
- Quiet Moments 1563
- Kendall Charcoal HC-166
- Hale Navy HC-154
Most popular Taubmans paint colours
Shades of white also top Taubmans‘ list of best-selling paint colours, says Taubmans Colour Expert, Fiona Dawson.
“Our most popular colours always surprise and delight us, it’s exciting to see how homeowners gravitate towards different whites for their spaces.”
Fiona recommends taking inspiration from the room you’re painting when you’re trying to decide between a cool, neutral or warm white.
“They all play a role depending on the type of room you are looking to paint. Natural light, artificial light and how the room is used can all factor into the type of interior colours which get chosen,” she says.
Neutral whites
- Cotton Sheets
- Crisp White
- Cotton Ball
- Miss Universe
- Cradle White
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