Expression of you: an interior designer on curating a paint palette that evokes your own story, using Dulux Heritage

There’s something very special about colour and how it can be used to evoke a feeling or relive a memory or even create a new sensation that resonates with who you are. And that’s the beauty of the new premium Dulux Heritage range and its collection of 112 colours – the palette offers the potential to create expressive schemes that are every bit you. 

For interior designer Christian Bense, it’s an evocative colour scheme of Dulux's Olive Tree and Masters Gold that defines his own space. Take inspiration from Christian's space, and his advice for using colour in your home, to define your own personal and sophisticated palette. 

Paint with feeling

Drawn to the sumptuous shades and finishes within the Dulux Heritage range, interior designer Christian Bense is one of three tastemakers to curate a luxurious colour palette as part of the Evoke Your Senses series. 

‘So often we think of paint as just a colour – we underestimate the texture and the luxuriousness that paint itself can bring to a room,’ says Christian. For Christian, his chosen palette – Red Ochre , Masters Gold, Green Marl and Olive Tree – was inspired by his South African roots. 

‘My inspiration is drawn from the texture in fabrics. Coming from South Africa, there’s a lot of heritage in fabric, pattern and print, and the indulgent colour combination I’ve chosen demands to be touched.’ Every colour in the Dulux Heritage range is certainly a pull on the senses, with each one having  a beautiful velvet matt finish.

Perfect palette

For Christian’s palette, he plays on the effects of green: ‘To me, Dulux Heritage’s Olive Tree is more grey than green,’ he shares. ‘And when paired with bronze accents it feels quite edgy. But if you pair it with a cream linen shade, it would draw out the green tones and create a softer mood. In this room, I’ve contrasted it with Masters Gold on the window frames as I think that contrast is the first step to curating luxury.’  

You’ll soon see that with the versatile Dulux Heritage colour collection creating a palette that is beautiful and best reflects you is simple. And, thanks to its expertly created formulation, made with the finest grade ingredients, the paint delivers on performance as well as visual beauty, so you can trust it will last. The emulsion is  easy to apply and, when dry, leaves a velvet matt finish that is durable and so perfectly smooth to the touch that it’s practically strokeable.

Hero colour

If you want to be bolder with colour in your home, what’s the best way to get it right? ‘I suggest using a strong colour as a neutral rather than as an accent,’ says Christian. 

‘In the same way that we use light colours as a base for most rooms, layering the colourful items, such as art, furniture and window treatments, on top – do the same, but just flip the layering process. Go for the colour on the wall and layer in the “light” to break it up,’ he continues. 

If you think creatively about colour you can make a statement that you’ve not experienced before. New rules like this are a great way to experiment. ‘Don’t just sideline colour as an accent,’ Christian says. ‘Let it be the headline act.’ And with Dulux Heritage you can.

See more of our tastemakers' palettes over the next month and find inspiration for your palette at  duluxheritage.co.uk You can also buy a tester pot at the website and it will be delivered to your home.

Dulux Heritage velvet matt is approximately £41 for 2.5ltr (pricing is at the discretion of the retailer)  and is available at Homebase and independent retailers.