Asian Paints’ ColourNext launches the Colour of the Year, ‘Cardinal’, and its forecast stories— ‘Feel More’, ‘Salt’, ‘India Everywhere’, and ‘Bad Taste?’

Asian Paints ColourNext, the definitive authority on colour and design trends in India, has unveiled the 22nd edition of its acclaimed Colour and Material Intelligence forecast. For over two decades, Asian Paints has led the industry, leveraging its expertise in colour, materials, and design to forecast trends that capture the cultural and social pulse of the times. As the only initiative of its kind in the subcontinent, ColourNext introduces the Colour of the Year, Wallpaper of the Year for 2025 and four trend stories, offering a visionary roadmap that will shape the future of design and décor for the year.
Colour of the Year for 2025 is ‘Cardinal’, chosen for its complexity of being human. In an era where authenticity is valued more than ever, Cardinal reflects the desire for deeper connections—with ourselves, our emotions, and the world around us. It evokes the warmth of nostalgia, the mindfulness of the present, and the boldness of the future. Whether in interiors, fashion, or design, this dusky shade adds a layer of richness and introspection, making every space feel both personal and powerful. As the symbol for emotion, it is a colour that is immersive, mystical, pensive, imaginative and thought-provoking. Cardinal urges us to embrace the spectrum of our feelings—from joy and vitality to stillness and contemplation.

Tobacco glazed Chinese Barni Jar- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974

Le Club armchair- Poliform (Mumbai)

Reproduced Jeanerret Kangaroo chairs- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Naga Bench-Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Moda sofa from Camerich- Defurn
Ceramic urn- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Nama wardrobe- Red Blue & Yellow
Wallace armchair- Poliform

River Riverie Green rug from Empirex collection- Hands Carpet
2+1 rectangular coffee table- Red, Blue & Yellow
Objects on shelves- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
‘Spring Tune’, the Wallpaper of the Year for 2025, is a poetic expression of nature’s quiet elegance, blending art and nostalgia into a timeless visual symphony. Inspired by the serene corners of an ancient Indian courtyard, ‘Spring Tune’ unfolds like a poetic reverie, where each blossom whispers a story of stillness and grace. Delicate stems and patient petals rise from attar bottles, reaching towards an infinite sky– one that belongs everywhere and nowhere, just like the warmth of a home that feels lived in forever. Beneath their branches, in air humming with possibilities, time slows down, inviting one to simply be.

Spring Tune
Speaking about ColourNext 2025, Amit Syngle, Managing Director and CEO of Asian Paints Ltd., commented, "For over two decades, ColourNext has been a pioneer in decoding India’s evolving design landscape, providing a definitive direction for colour and material innovations through rigorous research and analysis. The ColourNext forecast is a reflection of the cultural, emotional, and aesthetic shifts shaping our world. The Colour of the Year, Cardinal, along with the four design directions for 2025, encapsulate these transformations, providing designers and creators with a spark of inspiration. At Asian Paints, we remain committed to leading industry conversations and pushing the boundaries of design, ensuring that colour not only enhances spaces but also shapes experiences, inspires innovation and influences creative expression.”
Since 2003, Asian Paints' ColourNext has set the benchmark for colour forecasting, driven by extensive research and collaboration with leading institutions and industry experts. Through interviews, and workshops, ColourNext gathers insights that are both highly anticipated and industry-defining. Recognised as the subcontinent’s foremost authority on colour and material intelligence, ColourNext is grounded in rigorous research methodologies and colour psychology principles. Its insights are shaped by professionals across architecture, art, interior design, fashion, sociology, media, and FMCG. Year after year, ColourNext continues to expand its impact, shaping the future of colour and design with unmatched depth and precision.
The four accompanying forecast design directions for 2025 are ‘Feel More’, ‘Salt’, ‘India Everywhere’, and ‘Bad Taste?’, each offering a unique perspective on rediscovery and originality. Each of the stories spell a narrative that connects with individuals differently.
Feel More
In a world with increasing algorithmic-sameness, people are opening up to experiences that can potentially range from awe-inspiring to triggering just to feel ‘something’ – a brave return to the visceral, tactile and immersive. In 2025, we’re getting increasingly comfortable with acknowledging big feelings and dealing with them. This manifests as a courageous exploration of experiences, lifestyles and even family situations that don’t meet the norm. We’re not hiding the grey parts of our life but making it a part of our visible and invisible identity– with complex layers and colourful details. Our created environments are sensorially lavish and self-assured in its individualistic absurdity.

The Hand of Adam side table- Atelier Ashiesh Shah
Drumstick table- Hatsu
Kenna Ivory Gold rug- Hands Carpet

English child’s rocking horse- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Teakwood Country Console- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Clay vase on side table- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Ceramic vase on console- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Side Table- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Meld Green rug from Urbane II Collection- Hands carpet
Salt
Salt, a mineral omnipresent in our daily lives, is being rediscovered as the biomaterial of the future– available in abundance with extraordinary potential. With its crystalline beauty and delicate strength, salt carries a story forged over millennia. At a time when global sustainability goals are driving a shift towards abundant, natural resources, salt emerges as an emblem of possibility, proving that the simplest materials can inspire awe and wonder. From its ability to diffuse light and its antibacterial properties to its carbon-neutrality, salt’s innate versatility makes it a bridge between the elemental and the ethereal, poised to influence diverse industries. The forecast palette captures the shimmer of the crystals in milky tones with a surprising blue from the vibrant hue of Iranian salt.

Rosewood pop up Jewellery chest from Bhatkal- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Tobacco glazed Chinese jar lamp over the chest- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Blue & white vintage ginger jar table lamp- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Asian Rattan box- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Colonial Queen Anne Legs Birdcage- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974

Gobekli multi rug from One Love Collection- Hands carpet
Kenna Ivory Gold rug- Hands Carpet
Elan sofa by Camerich- Defurn
2+1 coffee table- Red Blue & Yellow
Art from Red Blue & Yellow
Floor lamp- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Long English Country console- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Wooden head on console- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Reproduced Jeanerret Kangaroo chair in second room- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Tobacco glazed Chinese Barni Jar - Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
India Everywhere
Indian design is striding confidently on the global stage, without the exotic catch-all identity but one with room for paradoxes and multitudes. Once boxed into narratives of craft, exoticism and mass-manufacturing, India now presents itself with a global design language, where heritage is reimagined, not over-explained. As creative and design education flourishes, production and innovation accelerate, Indian genius is being celebrated globally. A sophisticated and colour-confident palette with high contrast and unlikely juxtapositions captures this moment. Folklore and tradition can be, but not necessarily, woven fluently into contemporary design, echoing immediate recognition while still carrying the weight of provenance.

Carved Ventialtor- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Naga bench- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Reproduced Jeanerret Kangaroo chair- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Objects on shelves- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Box Jute rug- Hatsu

Drumstick table- Hatsu
Box Jute rug- Hatsu
3some seating- Red Blue & Yellow
Bad Taste?
Luxury no longer whispers; it roars. The aesthetic once dismissed as “bad taste” has risen as a bold rebellion against the restrained elegance of traditional old money luxury. This movement celebrates flamboyance, audacity, and unapologetic self-expression; rejecting muted palettes and understated designs that have long been hallmarks of the elite.
Instead, it embraces a visual language dripping with glitz, glamour, and deliberate excess — a joyous ode to the unapologetically nouveau riche. This aesthetic shift reflects a deeper societal transformation. With trust in traditional power structures and the exclusivity of generational wealth eroding, new definitions of luxury are emerging—playful, warm, authentic and infinitely more inclusive. Gold accents, animal prints, and vibrant designs now carry the torch of self-expression, signaling a break from the austere rules of ‘good taste’ dictated by the old guard. It’s not about expensive items; it’s about embracing chutzpah and an attitude that is unfazed by criticism, reconfiguring luxury into a statement of individuality.

Colonial Queen Anne Legs Birdcage - Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Floor lamp- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Reproduced Jeanerret Kangaroo chair- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974
Teakwood country console- Mahendra Doshi Est. 1974

Naga chair- Atelier Ashiesh Shah
Italy multi rug from One Love Collection- Hands Carpet
All images by Asian Paints
^{Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Asian Paints by Times Internet’s Spotlight team}