Dulux paints have been decorating British homes since 1931, when the Naylor Bros paint company and Nobel Chemical Finishes joined forces to launch a new and improved paint formula. As it was based on lead-free paints developed in the US by the DuPont company, they dubbed their new product Dulux - a portmanteau of 'DuPont' and 'luxury'.
The Dulux Heritage collection, first introduced in 1990, draws on colours from key periods in history to create a palette that works for modern homes while remaining authentic to its roots in the parlours, drawing rooms and bedrooms of British homes through the ages.
What is Dulux Heritage?
First launched as a range in 1990, and as a standalone brand in 2021, Dulux Heritage is a collection of premium paints inspired by periods in British history, from the Georgian period to the start of World War Two.
The collection was developed in conjunction with historian Patrick Baty, an expert on period paints. Each colour has been chosen not only for historical significance and authenticity, but for versatility which allows it to complement contemporary and traditional schemes alike.
What finish is Dulux Heritage paint?
Dulux Heritage comes in a choice of two finishes: velvet and eggshell, each designed for use on different surfaces. Dulux Heritage Velvet is a matt emulsion finish, with the addition of finely ground particles in the mix to give a slightly textured 'velvety' finish that looks perfect on walls.
Dulux Heritage Eggshell provides a finish with a slight sheen and is intended for use on wood and metal. There is also a white undercoat for preparing wood and metal surfaces for painting.
What colours are in the Dulux Heritage range?
There are currently 112 colours in the Dulux Heritage range, all developed with the aim of combining tradition with contemporary style to create timeless tones.
To make it easier to plan your palette, the Dulux Heritage website lets you view all available shades arranged by tones or colour groups as well as the traditional colour-by-colour chart.
We've picked out a few of our absolute favourite shades to help get you inspired:
Dulux Heritage colours: our favourites tones
Sage Green
Sage greens are everywhere right now - these tones evoke the natural world to create a soothing setting, while remaining subtle enough to act as a neutral backdrop. With its blue undertones, Dulux Heritage's Sage Green sets a calm and cool tone that will work with a variety of spaces, from a traditional country kitchen to a contemporary bedroom scheme.
Oxford Blue
A rich azure tone named after the university's official colour, Oxford Blue looks great as a bold base tone, but is also strong enough to work for a feature wall.
Dulux's take on Oxford Blue is inspired by the deep navy blues often found in grand homes during the Georgian period. We love this one paired with clean white detailing for a crisp contrast that really pops.
Stone Green
Greys have long been a dominant colour in decor schemes, but recently we've seen a shift towards variations like greige (grey-beige) and grey-greens like Stone Green, shown above. The muted green tones within the grey lend a nature-inspired relaxed feel to any space.
Plus, if you're looking for Farrow & Ball dupes, Stone Green makes convincing dupe for F&B's Mizzle.
Potters Pink
Potters Pink takes its inspiration from the pale flower pinks popular in Edwardian decor, but is subtle enough to complement any room. Lean into the femininity by pairing with other pinks - perfect for a bedroom - or style alongside grey notes for a sophisticated living room scheme.
Forest Grey
Bringing similar vibes to Farrow & Ball's classic Down Pipe, Forest Grey is a deep, dreamy shade reminiscent of an iron-grey sky. Style with other moody, nature-inspired tones, like olive, brown, slate and beige, for an elevated scheme with a touch of mystery.
Chalk White
Clean and crisp, Chalk White looks incredible on its own or as a contrasting colour set against deep shades, like burgundy, lead grey, bottle green or the Oxford Blue mentioned above.
Mallard Green
A luxurious, ultra-dark green that would look at home in a grand Victorian drawing room, Dulux Heritage's Mallard Green might seem best suited as an accent colour, but shades like this can also be used to paint whole walls, even including ceilings, turning a room into dark and dramatic jewel.
Midnight Teal
A regal deep blue with green undertones, Midnight Teal is a complex and grown-up shade that makes a statement wherever it's used. We also highlighted Midnight Teal as a fantastic dupe for Stiffkey Blue in our round-up of high street alternatives to Farrow & Ball colours.
Flax Seed
Soft cream tones have been a staple of interior decor for hundreds of years as a warmer alternative to plain white, and Dulux Heritage's Flax Seed continues that tradition. Neutral enough to work with any decor style, it's a perfect base tone for a whole room, while its subtle character also makes it suitable as an elegant, understated accent colour.
