2027 DECORATIVE FINISH TRENDS

In 2027, the finishes people ask for will be the ones that feel grounded, tactile and made by hand. Interiors are moving away from flat, perfectly uniform surfaces towards texture, warmth and individuality, and this year's colour forecasts point the same way: calm natural tones, deep mineral greens and metals with real age to them. Dulux's 2027 colour forecast describes a balance of calm and energy, and a shift away from perfection-driven, digitally curated spaces towards rooms that feel human and restorative. That sits comfortably with how we work at Renaissance Décor. Across the high-end residential and commercial projects we complete throughout Melbourne, architects, designers and homeowners are asking for surfaces with depth and character rather than colour alone. Here are the six decorative finish trends we expect to lead the way in 2027. 1. Texture Takes Centre Stage Texture has been building for some time, and in 2027 it moves from accent to main event. Rather than perfectly flat walls, designers are embracing subtle movement, variation and visible craftsmanship. Finishes such as Marmorino, Venetian plaster, clay plaster and textured lime-based finishes create surfaces that change throughout the day as natural light moves across them. From softly polished finishes to more pronounced rake and skip-trowel effects, texture lets a wall become part of the design rather than a backdrop to it. 2. Calm Stone, Soft Green & Forest Tones Cool greys and stark whites are continuing to give way to warmer, more organic palettes, and the 2027 forecast leans into natural stone and deep, leafy greens. Think stone and warm mineral neutrals, a soft, muted green for lighter spaces, and a deeper forest green for rooms that want to feel enveloping and calm. The forecast links this direction to mindful living and quiet, restrained interiors built from natural materials. It also reflects how people are living. With life so hectic, more of us are looking to nature to feel recharged, and we increasingly want our homes to offer the same sense of calm. These colours work particularly well with decorative plaster, because the natural movement and tonal variation within the finish creates far more depth than a standard painted surface. The result is an interior that feels calm and timeless rather than trend driven. 3. Aged Brass, Bronze & Burnished Copper Metal is where the 2027 forecast gets its richness. Its palettes feature time-worn brass, restrained dark bronze and deep, burgundy-toned copper, all chosen for character rather than shine. That matches what we're seeing. Bronze, brass, copper, iron and aluminium coatings can transform architectural elements, cabinetry, rangehoods, fireplaces, furniture and feature surfaces. Rather than highly polished, perfect metallics, the movement is towards aged metals, oxidised effects and custom patinas that develop a sense of depth and history. These finishes are most effective when used selectively. A single brass fireplace surround or a bronze rangehood creates a strong focal point without overwhelming the rest of the design. At Renaissance Décor, we are one of the only applicators of metal finishes in Melbourne using Lustre FX products, giving architects, designers and homeowners access to genuine aged brass, bronze and copper effects applied by specialists. 4. Clay & Microcement in Softer, Warmer Tones As interiors turn to natural materials, clay plaster is set to become an important finish in Australian homes. It creates a soft, tactile surface with natural tonal variation and an understated appearance, and it pairs beautifully with timber, natural stone and linen. For designers after something less polished and more grounded, clay offers an entirely different aesthetic to traditional decorative plaster. Clay also speaks to the desire to feel recharged. Clay minerals carry a natural negative charge, and a clay-finished room becomes a sanctuary in your home, a calm place to retreat to from a hectic day. We apply clay finishes using Clayworks products, so that softness and tactility is achieved with quality, specialist-applied materials. Microcement and Micro Topping continue to be a major feature of contemporary interiors. Their seamless appearance works across bathrooms, floors, walls and other architectural surfaces, and the lack of grout lines creates a clean, cohesive look alongside stone, timber and custom joinery. We're also seeing clients move beyond traditional concrete greys towards warmer, stone-like tones that sit naturally within the new palette. 5. Beyond the Feature Wall Decorative finishes are no longer reserved for a single feature wall. Increasingly, we're applying them throughout entire spaces: across walls and ceilings, around fireplaces, over rangehoods, through staircases and onto architectural curves and custom joinery. Using one finish across multiple surfaces creates real continuity within a home. It also lets curved walls, staircases and ceilings become part of the overall material story rather than separate elements, and it makes pairing a plaster with a single metal accent feel deliberate and layered. 6. Craftsmanship Over Perfection Perhaps the biggest shift is a renewed appreciation for the handmade nature of decorative finishes. The forecast speaks of spaces that feel human, built up in layers over time, and that is exactly the quality hand-applied plaster, clay and metal finishes bring. Unlike manufactured surfaces, they naturally contain subtle variations. No two walls, and no two projects, are exactly the same. Rather than trying to eliminate those differences, designers are embracing them: the movement, texture and variation created by the applicator are what give these finishes their character. In a world of mass-produced interiors, that individuality has become part of the luxury. Looking Ahead to 2027 The finishes we expect to define 2027 aren't about following one colour or one style. They're about texture, natural materials, craftsmanship and spaces with individuality. Whether it's the subtle movement of polished Marmorino, the seamless appearance of microcement, the raw beauty of clay or the depth of an aged brass or bronze patina, decorative finishes allow designers and homeowners to create surfaces that become an integral part of the architecture. At Renaissance Décor, our team specialises in bespoke decorative finishes for high-end residential and commercial projects across Melbourne, Bayside and the Mornington Peninsula. With years of specialist experience, we work alongside builders, architects, interior designers and homeowners to develop finishes suited to each project. All of our products are made in Australia. Planning a project for 2027? Contact Renaissance Décor to discuss Venetian plaster, Marmorino, microcement, clay plaster, metal coatings and patinas, and other specialist decorative finishes for your upcoming project. Colour direction referenced from the Dulux Colour Forecast 2027 (www.duluxpowders.com.au/colour-forecast-2027).