Each year, popular paint brand Dulux captures the essence of emerging design trends by announcing the Colour of the Year. For 2025, it’s all about bringing optimism into your home with the vibrant yellow shade, True Joy™. The colour aims to uplift and energize your space, encouraging you to embrace life with enthusiasm. In this blog we explore the inspiration behind the colour and how you can incorporate it into your home.

The Inspiration Behind ‘True Joy’

Each year, top designers, architects, editors, and thought leaders from across the globe join forces with the paint brand to select a colour that resonates with the collective mood worldwide. After years of uncertainty, there is a growing desire to break free from old patterns and confidently jump out of our comfort zones. This is the basis of why an uplifting yellow was selected as colour of the year for 2025. A shade that represents moving forward and encouraging you to fill your homes with creative optimism.  

According to Dulux's Creative Director Marianne Shillingford, yellow was selected because of its ability to evoke feelings of happiness and energy. Often associated with sunshine and warmth, yellow can be an emotional boost in any space, encouraging confidence and creativity​.

6 Ways To Incorporate Into Your Home

If you’re excited to bring a burst of positivity and warmth into your home, True Joy™ might be the perfect fit. Here’s a few ways you can introduce the colour into your space.

1. Create Statement Walls

A statement wall is an ideal way to bring True Joy™ into a room without overwhelming the space. Try using it as a focal point behind a sofa in the living room or on a feature wall in the bedroom. This can anchor the room, allowing you to add complimentary colours that play off the vibrant yellow.

2. Accentuate Architectural Features

If you want to start off introducing this vibrant colour subtly, then True Joy™ works perfectly as an accent colour for architectural features like window frames, doorways, or alcoves. Painting a window recess or a built-in shelf in True Joy™ can draw the eye and create a subtle yet striking effect. 

3. Paint Your Ceiling

The ceiling is an unexpected place to introduce colour but ideal if you’re ready to make a bold statement. Painting your ceiling in True Joy™ can bring a sunny, sky-like effect that brightens up the whole room. It can make waking up in a bedroom feel like a new experience every day​ and instantly uplift your mood.

4. Pair with Neutrals for Balance

If you’re wondering what colours combine with this shade then True Joy™  pairs beautifully with neutral tones like grey, beige, and white. For a modern, balanced look, consider a room with True Joy™ walls complemented by natural wood furniture and soft, neutral textiles. This allows the yellow to stand out while maintaining a sense of calm and sophistication.

5. Opt For Dopamine Decor

In recent years, "dopamine decor" has gained popularity, where vibrant, clashing colours are used intentionally to boost your mood. True Joy™ fits perfectly within this trend, encouraging homeowners to embrace colour to create the ideal happy home. Need some inspiration on colour combinations, check out our ‘5 Colour Combinations Guaranteed To Make A Happy Home’ blog.

6. Highlight Functional Areas

Add a splash of True Joy™ to functional areas like a home office or study nook. It’s a colour that encourages creativity and focus, so painting a desk area or a small wall near your workspace can help you feel more energized and motivated.

What do you think of Dulux’s Colour of the Year for 2025?