The Interior Design Blog
Dulux Colour of the Year 2027: Soulful Sage™
Why green is having its moment For 2027, Dulux has chosen Soulful Sage™ as its Colour of the Year, and we can see exactly why. Green has always had a strong connection to nature, calm and wellbeing, but Soulful Sage feels more sophisticated than a typical botanical green. It is soft, elegant and versatile, with enough depth to make an impact while still sitting beautifully in the background. Dulux describes it as a colour that evokes the senses, with references to the feeling of a healing herb garden, a taste, a scent and a sense of restoration. That makes it especially relevant for interiors designed around comfort, connection and atmosphere. For hospitality and commercial interiors, that is incredibly useful. A colour that works hard One of the most interesting things about Soulful Sage is its ability to behave almost like a neutral. It can take centre stage, or it can sit quietly behind natural timber, upholstery, stone and metal finishes. That versatility makes it ideal for: Restaurants Pubs and bars Hotels Workplaces Education Healthcare Leisure spaces It gives designers the opportunity to create interiors that feel calming and considered, without becoming bland. The 2027 colour stories Soulful Sage sits at the heart of the wider Dulux ColourFutures™ 2027 collection, which has been developed around three distinct emotional directions: Glow, Light and Lift. Glow The Glow colour story is all about warmth and familiarity. Dulux combines clay, terracotta, stone, earthy browns and soft pinks with Soulful Sage to create spaces that feel grounded, authentic and comforting. For hospitality, this is probably the most naturally inviting palette. Think: warm timbertan leatherterracottaaged brasssoft sage wallswarm neutral upholstery This is the sort of palette that works beautifully in pubs, restaurants, hotel lounges and boutique hospitality interiors. Light The Light story is quieter and more understated. Neutral browns, soft greys and muted blues are combined with Soulful Sage to create calm, visually balanced schemes. This lends itself particularly well to workplaces, hotels, wellness environments and more minimal hospitality interiors. The overall effect is pared back, soft and uncluttered. For furniture, we would pair this with pale oak, neutral fabrics, soft grey upholstery and simple silhouettes. Lift The Lift colour story is much more playful. Yellow ochres, soft pinks and Soulful Sage work together to create a more expressive and energetic interior. This palette is ideal for cafés, casual dining, creative workspaces and leisure environments where there is more freedom to introduce personality. It feels cheerful without becoming overpowering, and gives designers plenty of opportunities for colour blocking, upholstery accents and feature furniture. Why this matters for commercial interiors The Dulux 2027 story isn’t really about one paint colour. It is about how colour can affect how people feel within a space. The themes behind the collection focus on: feeling groundedreducing visual cluttercreating room to breathebringing warmth and comfort back into interiors That direction feels particularly relevant right now. Commercial interiors are increasingly moving away from spaces that feel overly styled or visually noisy. Instead, we are seeing more emphasis on calm, natural materials, softer palettes and interiors that feel comfortable and human. Soulful Sage fits perfectly into that movement. The furniture connection From a HIGH Contract Interiors point of view, this is where the palette becomes really exciting. Soulful Sage works beautifully with many of the finishes already being used across commercial furniture, including: natural oakblack timbercane and rattantan leathersoft beige upholsteryrust and terracotta fabricsmuted blue-grey finishesbrass and bronze metals It also pairs particularly well with mixed-material furniture schemes. For example, a sage backdrop with oak seating and tan upholstery creates a completely different feel to sage paired with black metal and darker timber. The colour stays the same, but the atmosphere changes entirely. A strong direction for hospitality For restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels, we think Soulful Sage is particularly strong because it feels timeless. It does not rely on being bold to make an impact. Used well, it can create warmth, softness and depth without overwhelming the interior. And because it works across the Glow, Light and Lift palettes, it gives designers a lot of flexibility. A pub could take it in a warm, earthy direction. A café could make it playful. A hotel could make it calm and sophisticated. A workplace could make it light and restorative. That versatility is exactly what makes it such a useful commercial colour. Our view Soulful Sage feels like a natural progression from the greens, warm neutrals and earthy tones we have already been seeing across hospitality interiors. But the 2027 palette pushes it further. It is softer, more emotional and more connected to how people actually experience a space. And when paired with the right furniture, finishes and lighting, it has the potential to create interiors that feel genuinely warm, calm and memorable. At HIGH Contract Interiors, we’re looking forward to seeing how Soulful Sage and the wider 2027 palette start appearing across hospitality and commercial projects. If you’re planning a refurbishment or new interior and want help sourcing furniture to complement your colour scheme, we’d love to help.
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Why Great Interior Design Is About More Than Making Spaces Look Beautiful
When most people think about interior design, they picture colours, fabrics, furniture, lighting, and decorative finishes. They think about how a space looks. But great interior design is about far more than aesthetics. The most successful interiors don't simply look beautiful. They influence how people feel, behave, interact, spend money, and remember an experience. Whether it's a hotel, restaurant, office, healthcare facility, or retail space, interior design has the power to shape human behaviour in ways many people never realise. In commercial environments, good design is not just an artistic exercise. It's a business tool. First Impressions Happen Fast Research suggests people form an opinion about a space within seconds of entering it. Before they've tasted the food, spoken to a member of staff, or experienced the service, they have already started forming judgements. Questions are being answered subconsciously: Does this place feel welcoming? Does it feel trustworthy? Does it feel premium? Does it feel comfortable? Would I want to spend time here? Interior design plays a major role in answering these questions. The choice of materials, lighting, layout, furniture, colour palette, and even acoustics all contribute to a customer's first impression. Design Influences Spending Behaviour One of the most overlooked aspects of interior design is its influence on spending. Consider two restaurants serving identical food at identical prices. One feels warm, comfortable, and inviting. The other feels cold, noisy, and uncomfortable. Which one is more likely to encourage customers to stay for dessert, order another drink, or return for a future visit? The answer is obvious. Great hospitality design encourages guests to linger. It creates comfort and enjoyment, increasing the likelihood of additional spending and repeat business. Design can directly influence revenue. The Psychology of Comfort Comfort isn't just about having a soft chair. It is the result of many different design decisions working together. These include: Furniture ergonomics Lighting levels Temperature perception Noise levels Spatial planning Colour selection Material choices When these elements are carefully considered, people feel relaxed and comfortable without necessarily understanding why. Poor design often has the opposite effect. Guests may feel unsettled, distracted, or eager to leave, even if they cannot identify the cause. Great Design Improves Productivity The impact of interior design isn't limited to hospitality. In workplace environments, design can significantly affect employee wellbeing and productivity. Factors such as natural light, acoustics, furniture selection, biophilic elements, and workspace layout all influence how effectively people work. Employees who feel comfortable and supported within their environment are often more engaged, more productive, and more likely to enjoy coming into the office. As businesses increasingly encourage staff back into workplaces, the importance of thoughtful office design has never been greater. Creating Memorable Experiences People rarely remember every detail of a space. What they remember is how the space made them feel. Think about the best hotel you've ever stayed in. You may not remember the exact carpet design or paint colour, but you probably remember feeling relaxed, cared for, and comfortable. The same applies to restaurants, bars, and leisure venues. Great design creates emotional connections. And emotional connections create loyal customers. Design Can Solve Problems Good interior design isn't simply decorative. It solves problems. For example: Improving customer flow through a restaurant Increasing seating capacity without feeling crowded Reducing noise levels Enhancing accessibility Supporting staff operations Improving wayfinding Encouraging collaboration in workplaces The best design solutions often go unnoticed because they work so seamlessly. The Importance of Designing for People One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is designing spaces around trends rather than users. A design that looks fantastic on social media may not function effectively in reality. Successful commercial interiors always start with understanding the people who will use them. Questions should include: Who are the users? How long will they stay? What are they trying to achieve? What experience do we want them to have? The answers shape every design decision that follows. Beauty and Function Must Work Together The most successful interiors balance aesthetics and functionality. A beautiful restaurant that is uncomfortable will struggle. An efficient office that feels uninspiring may fail to attract employees. A luxury hotel that lacks practical storage can frustrate guests. Great design sits at the intersection of beauty and performance. Neither should exist without the other. Why Interior Design Matters More Than Ever Today's customers have more choice than ever before. Hotels compete not only with other hotels but with serviced apartments and short-term rentals. Restaurants compete not only on food quality but on experience. Workplaces compete for talent by offering environments people genuinely want to spend time in. Interior design has become a competitive advantage. Businesses that invest in thoughtful design often see benefits far beyond aesthetics, including improved customer satisfaction, stronger brand perception, higher spending, increased loyalty, and better operational efficiency. Final Thoughts Interior design is often viewed as a finishing touch. In reality, it should be considered a strategic investment. Great design influences behaviour, shapes experiences, supports business goals, and creates environments that people want to return to. Yes, beautiful spaces matter. But the best interior design does much more than look good. It works hard behind the scenes, influencing how people think, feel, and interact every single day. The Interior Design Blog by HIGH Contract Creating spaces that perform as beautifully as they look.
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