From vibrant to minimalistic, a diverse set of colour trends have been reshaping interior spaces across Australia in 2025, as seen in some of the latest design. 

Whether you’re designing a new home or renovating an existing space, choosing the right colours is crucial to creating a space that complements your lifestyle and reflects your personality. 

It’s in the new builds market where we particularly see trends emerging, with interior designers reflecting the latest styles that are capturing attention. 

Based on what they’re seeing from clients and customers, paint brands will also offer their insights, highlight trending shades to guide homeowners on how to infuse various spaces – be it living rooms, kitchens, or bedrooms – with personality and cohesion.  

And so far, the trends reflect a desire to bring warmth, nostalgia, and modern vibrancy into our homes.  

We explore four major colour trends that are defining interiors in 2025.  

1. Warm neutrals 

Often seen as the backbone of a room’s colour palette, warm neutrals offer a sense of peace and understated elegance.  

Wattyl refers to these as the “new neutral,” with shades like Warm Sand that complement natural, raw, and organic materials. This versatility makes them perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces alike. 

Dulux’s offerings, such as Mellow Beige and Clay Pipe are part of the brand’s Still palette, which is described as a collection of calming neutrals with a subtle warmth. 

Complementing this trend, Haymes Paint champions natural tones inspired by the diverse landscapes of Australia.  

Sand Haze, inspired by the Great Ocean Road, is described as a “neutral feel” but has a desaturated quality which gives it a calming effect.  

Taubmans also contributes to the warm neutral palette with options like Manhattan Snow and Stowe White, highlighting the enduring appeal and adaptability of warm neutrals. 

2. Earth shades

A growing emphasis on sustainability and biophilic design has brought earthy shades to the forefront of interior design.  

Haymes’ Daintree colour palette is inspired by one of the world’s oldest rainforests. While the dominant colour is green, there are a range of swatches with deep greens, mossy hues and earthy browns.  

For example, Contrast is a yellow/green colour reminiscent of the Eucalyptus flower.  

Dulux’s Clay Court, also part of its Still collection and Faded Terracotta, part of the Recollect palette, which reflects an eclectic style, are some earthy tones that possess a grounding quality, serving as a gentle reminder of the beauty and serenity found in the natural world. 

Terracotta is also a popular choice in new build colour palettes, with Murcia Residences in Queensland, for example, offering it as one of two styling options.

Wattyl’s focus on desert landscapes also introduces rich terracottas like Terracotta Tone, which offer depth and a full-bodied presence that both contrasts and complements softer tones.  

It’s also described as an ideal backdrop for artworks and furniture, working well with pink and lavender pastels and mustard yellow and deep burgundy reds. 

3. Rustic reds

Speaking of red, rustic reds can bring vibrancy and nostalgia to interior space. These shades create lively atmospheres that pay homage to craftsmanship and heritage, offering unique expressions as focal points.

Dulux’s Recollection palette includes Red Clown and Auburn Flair, reflecting a connection to craftsmanship and heritage, perfect for creating focal points that demand attention. 

As part of its 2025 colour forecast, the brand also noted that rich burgundies and wine hues will become more prominent throughout residential interior design.  

Haymes taps into landscapes inspired by Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, with deep reds that bring drama and warmth to any room.  

For example, Worn Red has soft orange undertones that works well for colour drenching.  

Taubmans has a range of reds suitable for any area of the house. Rebel Wine was listed in the brand’s 2025 Colour Trends guide as an ideal colour for living and theatre areas.  

4. Dynamic blues

Dynamic blues are emerging as a significant trend in 2025, offering a range of tones that infuse interiors with energy and a modern twist.  

Dulux’s Justice, part of the Emerge palette, a collection of soft and mid-tone hues, captures this trend with its contemporary feel, evoking a sense of serenity mixed with a bold statement.

Haymes Paint explores vibrant blues in its Colours of Australia collection, with hues like Mindful, inspired by the Fleurieu Peninsula, and Faded Blue, ideal for serene sleeping spaces.  

Sherridon Homes also shows off how blue can make a room feel both modern and comfortable, using it to great effect in a recent display for its Lakeport home design.

These blues are enhanced by their ability to integrate into fresh architectural designs, providing well-lit spaces with cool and calming presence. 

Are you interested in exploring the latest designs? Visit our New Homes section. 

The post The biggest colour trends taking off in 2025  appeared first on realestate.com.au.

A South Yarra house with a five-car garage is on the road to a $6.4m-$6.9m sale.

The four-bedroom pad at 61 Tivoli Rd was built circa-1885 and renovated by its owners two years ago.

Period features including leadlight windows, high ornate ceilings and an arched entrance hall have been retained at the double-fronted home.

RELATED: South Yarra: $40m-plus price expectations for swanky pad slashed by millions

Member of mega-wealthy biz family, lawyer Amanda Smorgon, lists South Yarra period house

Legal bigwig and top earner Gavin MacLaren puts South Yarra mansion up for sale

Marshall White Stonnington director Nicholas Brooks said one of the owners was an avid car collector and that other vehicle collectors have been attending inspections of the home, attracted by the amount of garage space that’s something of a rarity in South Yarra.

The abode’s kitchen is fitted with Gaggenau appliances including a steam oven, integrated Liebherr fridge and freezer, two dishwashers, a marble island bench and combined butler’s pantry and home office.

The open-plan living and dining room leads to a paved outdoor terrace with a barbecue, solar-heated pool and large spa.

Mr Brooks described the impressive set-up as much like a resort.

“The rear outdoor entertaining space is a big space with a beautiful built-in barbecue and pool,” he said.

“The first time I walked in, I could tell it was an entertainer’s home and that all the guests would congregate there.”

The residence also features a library and study with a marble fireplace and a main bedroom with its own marble fireplace, ensuite and built-in wardrobes.

In the basement level, there’s a home theatre, the fourth bedroom with wardrobes and an ensuite, a laundry with two drying cabinets and a wine display area.

Other highlights include a video intercom, hydronic heating, underfloor heating, airconditioning, heated bathroom floors, indoor and outdoor speakers and a powder room.

Mr Brooks said that Tivoli Rd was one of South Yarra’s most sought-after streets.

“It’s quiet street but with easy access to Chapel St,” he added.

Expressions of interest close at 3pm on May 26.

---

Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.

MORE: Tranquil Mount Martha escape that’s as sweet as honey

REIV: Melbourne’s best bang for buck suburbs revealed in median prices by the square metre

Chirnside Park home with pizza oven sold at auction — plus unusual, but amazing recipe tip

The post South Yarra: Five-car garage home that’s an entertainer’s paradise revs up buyers appeared first on realestate.com.au.

An Adelaide home has been slammed for it’s “scary” bathroom with the “weirdest note” after photos of it were posted online in an advertisement to rent out one of its bedrooms.

In photos of the Mile End property’s bathroom, a set of instructions can be seen stuck to the old shower, which appears to be riddled with mould.

“Please open and close these two doors softly …” one read, warning that if moved too quickly the pulleys would break.

“Please stand your back to tile walls/your face directly to doors – so water not drop (sic) to outside floor,” another read.

One of the messages also asked bathers to mop the floor if it was wet afterwards.

The advertisement for the property’s fully furnished “one double bedroom” with a vanity that has hot and cold water, a microwave, fridge and good internet was spotted on Facebook.

It was listed for $200 per week for one person or $280 for two.

Screenshots of the since-deleted advertisement were later posted to reddit, where they have been slammed by users.

“Australia, the country where landlords feel entitled to dictate which direction the tenant must face whilst showering,” one comment said.

“Did they turn a bathroom into a bedroom? Why the random sink? And a full size fridge in the room, did I read that right? Everything about this is horrific,” another said.

One person joked that “my prison cell was nicer”, while many others were concerned about the CCTV camera in the home’s kitchen.

“Sad part is people are jumping on these opportunities because there is nothing else,” one person said.

However, there were some who jumped to the defence of the person who posted the advertisement.

“Is this a landlord or a head tenant? If it’s a head tenant, they’re taking reasonable steps to look after the property so they don’t get breached or evicted,” one said.

“As for the CCTV, those things are great in case of a home invasion.

“Really, the only thing wrong with the place is that it’s $200 a week instead of $50 like it would have been 20 years ago.”

The post Adelaide’s shared rental home with ‘scary’ bathroom, kitchen camera appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Trust is a precious commodity in property management, but at Harcourts Solutions, they say it’s the foundation of what they do.    

Whether it’s landlords handing over the keys to their investment properties or tenants relying on timely support, the team strives to make people feel that they’re in safe hands.

That trust is backed by results. The Brisbane-based team has achieved a net promoter score – which is a measure of customer loyalty – well above the industry average. 

“What really stood out to us was how surprised our team was at how much our clients valued them,” Harcourts Solutions property management director Jodie Stainton told realestate.com.au.    

“They rated themselves much harsher than the feedback we received and that realisation – that they are genuinely trusted and appreciated – was powerful.”    

Now, their efforts have earned national recognition, with Harcourts Solutions named Property Management Team of the Year at the 2024 REA Excellence Awards.    

Ms Stainton said their approach was built on care, accountability, and a commitment to putting people first.   

Each member of the 29-strong team takes full ownership of their portfolio and manages it with transparency.  

And the results speak for themselves, with longer-than-average staff retention rates and low vacancy rates across their more than 2,200 properties.  

“We treat our team like the leaders they are,” Ms Stainton said.    

“They have autonomy, they understand every metric that affects their role from income to efficiency to satisfaction scores. It gives them confidence and real accountability.”   

Virtual tours have become a standard part of the Harcourts Solutions toolkit, with more than 800 listings featuring high-quality digital walk-throughs.  

These tours not only improve the quality of tenant applications but also enable pre-approval before physical inspections, giving the team a competitive edge in a fast-moving rental market.    

But beyond the operational metrics and digital innovations, Harcourts Solutions has also been leading with heart. 

Last year, the team launched an initiative that encouraged landlords to donate a day’s worth rent to charity, dubbing it ‘Christmas Day’s rent’.  

Harcourts matched the amount of the management fees, raising about $6,500 for Orange Sky Laundry. 

Orange Sky is a national charity supporting people experiencing homelessness and hardship through access to free laundry, warm showers and genuine conversation.  

“It was something I’d always wanted to do, and the team got behind it wholeheartedly,” Ms Stainton said. 

“We’re now writing this in our management agreements, so we’re expecting to raise over $20,000 this year.”  

For the team, the initiative was also personal. Given Australia’s housing crisis, property managers found themselves saying no to vulnerable people in desperate need of shelter.

Giving back to those at risk and experiencing homelessness was a way to channel that emotional toll into something hopeful and constructive.   

“It was a really hard time for our team, constantly turning people away,” she said.  

“Supporting Orange Sky felt like a way to give something back and to do something meaningful.”   

Looking ahead, the team is ready to grow, with plans to scale to 5,000 properties under management and continue developing industry-leading training systems to help its people.

“We’re not afraid of change, we embrace it,” Ms Stainton said. 

“Our team has an agile mindset and they’re willing to test, to fail, and to learn fast, so that’s a big part of what sets us apart. People first is not just a value for us, it’s how we run our business.”

The post The winning formula behind this property manager’s success appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Selene, a provider of industry leading loan servicing, diligence and title solutions, today announced the appointments of Jocelyn Martin-Leanoas President, Selene Finance and Doug Whittemore as Chief Strategy and Growth Officer for all Selene Holdings’ business lines, effective immediately. In these roles, Martin-Leano will oversee all Selene Finance operations and Whittemore will focus on Selene’s product development and company growth, as well as client and industry relations.

Martin-Leano most recently served as President of Rushmore Loan Management, where she led the growth and operational transformation of the servicing business. Her career includes leadership roles as COO of Genworth US Mortgage Insurance and President of Irwin Home Equity Corp, a home equity bank subsidiary. She has guided firms through various business cycles from start-ups through M&A.

“I am delighted to welcome both Jocelyn and Doug to Selene,” said CEO Joe Davila. “Jocelyn is a renowned and respected leader in the mortgage services industry. She has an impressive background in scaling businesses, driving innovation and delivering results in complex, highly regulated environments. Jocelyn’s expertise in leading the growth and operational transformation of servicing businesses will be a tremendous asset to Selene as we continue to build on our solid foundation and drive the innovation and high performance our clients and customers value.”

Whittemore brings 25 years of experience leading strong-performing teams, including roles at U.S. Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Mr. Cooper and Citibank, where he led major strategic initiatives across both domestic and international markets.

“Doug, a seasoned veteran in the industry, brings over two decades of leadership experience in mortgage banking, default servicing operations and strategic growth. His experience leading major strategic initiatives will play a crucial role in Selene’s continued advancement in innovation to meet the needs of today’s market and tomorrow’s opportunities.”

“Jocelyn and Doug are powerhouse additions to the senior leadership team at Selene,” Davila added. “The combination of these two talented leaders signifies an exciting time in the evolution of Selene as we embrace the outstanding opportunities to grow and to better serve our clients.”

Martin-Leano served as Chairperson of the National Mortgage Servicing Association, an influential industry trade group, from 2022-2024. She also received the 2024 Five Star Lifetime Achievement Award and was named an Industry Titan by National Mortgage Professional Magazine.

Whittemore served on the boards of the Veterans Financial Services Advisory Council and the Five Star Institute Editorial Board. He is also the co-founder of The Ruth Cheatham Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting adolescent cancer survivors through scholarships and educational programs.

About Selene

Selene delivers dynamic and extraordinary solutions tailored to maximize investments in homeownership, through its subservicing, diligence and title services.

Founded in 2007 to provide creative loan-resolution strategies, Selene has evolved to become a top tier mortgage subservicer and diligence company, who provides services to both the performing and non-performing loan market.

Selene focuses on multiple product capabilities that include new originations, reperforming loans and non-performing loans for government agencies, private investors and loan originators. Selene’s platform is centered around proprietary technology, an experienced management team and a focus on mitigating losses while ensuring a seamless borrower experience.

Click Here