Decorating
Decorating With Australian Bush Colours
When compiling a colour palette for your interior, gather inspiration from our country’s richly coloured and diverse landscape
The rugged beauty of the Australian landscape can be re-created in even the most urban surroundings. Draw inspiration from the unique shades of native elements, such as the flame-orange hues of the desert, olive greens of eucalyptus trees, or the dusty pinks that pop up in the sky at twilight. Combine these punchy shades with complementary earth tones to bring warmth and richness to even the simplest interiors.
2. Outback green and inside gold combo
The golden hue of native banksias and Goodenia wildflowers adds some real sizzle to the kitchen’s interior. Evoking optimism, lightness and a bit of fun, these glossy surfaces turn the kitchen into a busy, energetic workspace. The colour also pops when set against a fresh green backdrop as seen in this home, which has a natural connection to the outdoor area.
HOW TO APPLY IT: Mustard yellow works as a strong feature, but the colour can be toned down by minimising its coverage – a golden front door, a floor rug or even scatter cushions could make a strong statement without overwhelming. With a natural flow to the outdoor area, a lilly pilly hedge works as a block colour. Architectural plants such as agaves and yuccas are also impressive, with a wide range of texture, colour and size on the market.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Huntley Fields‘ from Haymes for the outback green and ‘Summer Splash’ from Taubmans for a gold tone.
The golden hue of native banksias and Goodenia wildflowers adds some real sizzle to the kitchen’s interior. Evoking optimism, lightness and a bit of fun, these glossy surfaces turn the kitchen into a busy, energetic workspace. The colour also pops when set against a fresh green backdrop as seen in this home, which has a natural connection to the outdoor area.
HOW TO APPLY IT: Mustard yellow works as a strong feature, but the colour can be toned down by minimising its coverage – a golden front door, a floor rug or even scatter cushions could make a strong statement without overwhelming. With a natural flow to the outdoor area, a lilly pilly hedge works as a block colour. Architectural plants such as agaves and yuccas are also impressive, with a wide range of texture, colour and size on the market.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Huntley Fields‘ from Haymes for the outback green and ‘Summer Splash’ from Taubmans for a gold tone.
3. Gunmetal grey and red ember combo
Inspired by the sun-bleached, aged timbers that appear throughout the Australian landscape, silvery gunmetal grey provides coolness in summer, then holds the heat as the sun goes down. During winter, a gas fire is not only functional, its glowing embers make any space cosy and inviting and provide an intense contrast to the grey surrounds.
HOW TO APPLY IT: These moody tones create an illusion of space, making the combination ideal for a small cosy sitting room.
Rooms in 50 shades of grey
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Cinder‘ from Porter’s Paints for the grey and ‘Bright Ember’ from Haymes for the red.
Inspired by the sun-bleached, aged timbers that appear throughout the Australian landscape, silvery gunmetal grey provides coolness in summer, then holds the heat as the sun goes down. During winter, a gas fire is not only functional, its glowing embers make any space cosy and inviting and provide an intense contrast to the grey surrounds.
HOW TO APPLY IT: These moody tones create an illusion of space, making the combination ideal for a small cosy sitting room.
Rooms in 50 shades of grey
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Cinder‘ from Porter’s Paints for the grey and ‘Bright Ember’ from Haymes for the red.
4. Burnt orange and sandstone combo
Working as a powerful accent colour, burnt orange is influenced by desert soil, rocks and flora. It emits a glowing presence of strength and stability, and works seamlessly with the natural stone wall.
HOW TO APPLY IT: The back wall’s brilliant blaze gives the outdoor zone plenty of warmth and passion, while the sandstone element provides texture and movement. Its subtle retro feel can be treated as a guide when selecting materials and colours.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Orange Keeper‘ from Dulux for the burnt orange colour and ‘Quicksand’ from Taubmans for a sandstone hue.
Working as a powerful accent colour, burnt orange is influenced by desert soil, rocks and flora. It emits a glowing presence of strength and stability, and works seamlessly with the natural stone wall.
HOW TO APPLY IT: The back wall’s brilliant blaze gives the outdoor zone plenty of warmth and passion, while the sandstone element provides texture and movement. Its subtle retro feel can be treated as a guide when selecting materials and colours.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Orange Keeper‘ from Dulux for the burnt orange colour and ‘Quicksand’ from Taubmans for a sandstone hue.
5. Charcoal grey and ochre combo
Here, the native colour palette brings a touch of the outback to the living area in this Melbourne home. It evokes the reddish-brown hues of Uluru, all positioned under a midnight sky. The floor rug’s different colours can actually affect the owners’ moods – the red tones provide energy and vibrancy, while the rich browns give solidity, making the space uplifting but stable.
HOW TO APPLY IT: The vibrant colours of rust and ochre are easy on the eye, while the surrounding greys have a cooling effect. It provides a perfect balance, and it works a treat in any social space, such as a living area or playroom.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Charcoal‘ from Porter’s Paints for the grey and ‘Olga Sands’ from Taubmans for the ochre shade.
Here, the native colour palette brings a touch of the outback to the living area in this Melbourne home. It evokes the reddish-brown hues of Uluru, all positioned under a midnight sky. The floor rug’s different colours can actually affect the owners’ moods – the red tones provide energy and vibrancy, while the rich browns give solidity, making the space uplifting but stable.
HOW TO APPLY IT: The vibrant colours of rust and ochre are easy on the eye, while the surrounding greys have a cooling effect. It provides a perfect balance, and it works a treat in any social space, such as a living area or playroom.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Charcoal‘ from Porter’s Paints for the grey and ‘Olga Sands’ from Taubmans for the ochre shade.
6. Wattle and white combo
In this minimalist dining space, a framed artwork is a nod to Australia’s national floral emblem, the golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha). It signals freshness and positivity, and allows the room’s white elements to be stylish yet understated.
HOW TO APPLY IT: When a large artwork dominates a room, other items in the room, such as vases and dinnerware, need to follow the tonal hues. If that’s a little intimidating, just stick with clean white for kitchenware and accessories.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Sunbound‘ from Dulux for the yellow shade and ‘Iris White’ from Haymes for the white.
In this minimalist dining space, a framed artwork is a nod to Australia’s national floral emblem, the golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha). It signals freshness and positivity, and allows the room’s white elements to be stylish yet understated.
HOW TO APPLY IT: When a large artwork dominates a room, other items in the room, such as vases and dinnerware, need to follow the tonal hues. If that’s a little intimidating, just stick with clean white for kitchenware and accessories.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Sunbound‘ from Dulux for the yellow shade and ‘Iris White’ from Haymes for the white.
7. Wheat and walnut timber combo
The soft neutral tones of wheat (mural) and walnut (timber MDF panels) in this kitchen are reminiscent of the raw, arid landscape of central Australia.
HOW TO APPLY IT: Both functional and decorative, these surfaces bring warmth and depth to the kitchen. Another bonus is that these tones are solid and timeless – just like Australia’s outback.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Wicker Basket‘ from Taubmans for the wheat yellow and ‘Cinnamon Tea’ from Haymes for the walnut colour.
The soft neutral tones of wheat (mural) and walnut (timber MDF panels) in this kitchen are reminiscent of the raw, arid landscape of central Australia.
HOW TO APPLY IT: Both functional and decorative, these surfaces bring warmth and depth to the kitchen. Another bonus is that these tones are solid and timeless – just like Australia’s outback.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Wicker Basket‘ from Taubmans for the wheat yellow and ‘Cinnamon Tea’ from Haymes for the walnut colour.
8. Dusty pink and sky blue combo
There’s a certain braveness needed when adding dusty pink to an exterior, but the shade works beautifully with the native colour palette of this home, and contrasts particularly well with the bright blue sky above. Found in the purple spectrum, dusty pink draws inspiration from distant mountains at sunset, and jacarandas and agapanthus in spring.
HOW TO APPLY IT: When used as an external wall or panel, dusty pink can work as a stand-out accent colour, complemented by other bush tones, particularly in olive-greys and browns. Or it can set up a contrast against blue skies in fair weather or dark grey when storms roll in.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Blush‘ from Porter’s Paints for the dusty pink and ‘Blue Bay’ from Dulux for the sky blue.
There’s a certain braveness needed when adding dusty pink to an exterior, but the shade works beautifully with the native colour palette of this home, and contrasts particularly well with the bright blue sky above. Found in the purple spectrum, dusty pink draws inspiration from distant mountains at sunset, and jacarandas and agapanthus in spring.
HOW TO APPLY IT: When used as an external wall or panel, dusty pink can work as a stand-out accent colour, complemented by other bush tones, particularly in olive-greys and browns. Or it can set up a contrast against blue skies in fair weather or dark grey when storms roll in.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Blush‘ from Porter’s Paints for the dusty pink and ‘Blue Bay’ from Dulux for the sky blue.
9. Rusts and grey-green combo
A wall with a rusted-iron effect creates a country-style feel in an outdoor area. From different times of the day and from different angles, the mottled colours transform from dark brown to grey and green. Slightly weather-beaten and aged, the wall makes even a new zone look lived in. Line up grey-green pot plants along the base to add colour contrast and to create a living decorative trim.
HOW TO APPLY IT: A rust-effect paint (Porter’s Paints‘ ‘Liquid Iron and Instant Rust’) involves three applications – an undercoat, a black paint with iron fibres and an acid-based product. It’s important to be patient – the whole process can take quite a few days, and it needs to be hosed down at the end.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Ayer’s Rock‘ from Porter’s Paints for the rust colour and ‘Yucca’ from Dulux for the green.
A wall with a rusted-iron effect creates a country-style feel in an outdoor area. From different times of the day and from different angles, the mottled colours transform from dark brown to grey and green. Slightly weather-beaten and aged, the wall makes even a new zone look lived in. Line up grey-green pot plants along the base to add colour contrast and to create a living decorative trim.
HOW TO APPLY IT: A rust-effect paint (Porter’s Paints‘ ‘Liquid Iron and Instant Rust’) involves three applications – an undercoat, a black paint with iron fibres and an acid-based product. It’s important to be patient – the whole process can take quite a few days, and it needs to be hosed down at the end.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Ayer’s Rock‘ from Porter’s Paints for the rust colour and ‘Yucca’ from Dulux for the green.
10. Stone and ash combo
Here, stone surrounds the black fireplace while ash-coloured walls flow seamlessly through the landscape. Charcoal black armchairs complete the scene.
HOW TO APPLY IT: While it’s important to choose the right natural colour when designing a room, it’s also worth considering texture. When stone wall cladding is sawn it becomes smooth, making it irresistible to touch.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘White Chocolate‘ from Haymes for the stone tone and ‘Ghost’ from Taubmans for the ash.
TELL US
What are your favourite bush colours? Have you incorporated any into the colour scheme of your home? If so, please upload a picture in the Comments and share your ideas.
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Here, stone surrounds the black fireplace while ash-coloured walls flow seamlessly through the landscape. Charcoal black armchairs complete the scene.
HOW TO APPLY IT: While it’s important to choose the right natural colour when designing a room, it’s also worth considering texture. When stone wall cladding is sawn it becomes smooth, making it irresistible to touch.
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘White Chocolate‘ from Haymes for the stone tone and ‘Ghost’ from Taubmans for the ash.
TELL US
What are your favourite bush colours? Have you incorporated any into the colour scheme of your home? If so, please upload a picture in the Comments and share your ideas.
MORE
7 Ways the Great Australian Landscape Can Inspire Your Colour Scheme
Pro Panel: “The Colour to Watch Out for in 2016 Is…”
5 Fool-Proof Steps to a Spot On Colour Scheme
Blues and greens are an intrinsic part of Australia’s diverse bush environment, so why not replicate this palette in an urban residence? Here, the soothing olive-greens of melaleucas, and grey-blue of gumtrees bring a little of the country into the city.
HOW TO APPLY IT: To make this combo work in this kitchen, the two colours are positioned in different areas, rarely meeting. Also, various whites were introduce to lighten the room.
Timeless kitchen colour schemes
COLOUR MATCH: Try ‘Gully Green‘ from Dulux for the eucalyptus hue and ‘Currarong’ from Porter’s Paints for a bluegum shade.