The launch of award-winning interior designer, Arlene McIntyre’s, collection with Fleetwood is a celebration of not just colour but of her vision of creating spaces that resonate emotionally with the home owner
Hi Arlene! You have 30 new paint shades with Fleetwood, how did you approach creating these? Was there a particular mood or aesthetic you had in mind?
I suppose my philosophy centres on the idea that interior design should create a deeper connection to the spaces we occupy. This sentiment is often reflected in a curated palette, which combines soft, classic neutrals with bold accent colours, aiming to evoke a sense of calm while adding character to any room – and this is what I wanted to achieve with this collection. These new shades will offer a blend of timeless neutrals and striking hues. This combination allows for versatile design possibilities. From serene, understated environments to spaces with more dramatic flair that are both inviting and inspiring.
Can you take us through the creative process of developing the new shades, particularly in naming them?
These names were chosen to reflect the mood and inspiration behind each shade. I also wanted to ensure that the names align with the overall aesthetic vision of the collection while enhancing the emotional connection to the shades.
Is there a particular shade or two you find yourself personally most gravitating towards?
I am completely drawn to anything blue – truly, all shades of it. I find myself gravitating toward blue tones and often try to incorporate them somewhere in my interiors. Of course, it always depends on the client’s preferences, but if they love blue too, I think it’s a wonderfully versatile neutral. It has such a calming, restful quality and can work beautifully across so many different designs.
How would you suggest people incorporate the new shades into their homes?
One aspect that is vital to look at is the mood and lighting of the room; understanding how natural and artificial light interacts with paint colours is crucial. I’d always emphasise the importance of testing paint samples in the actual lighting conditions of your space.
And don’t be afraid to experiment, while neutral tones provide a timeless backdrop, you can also include bold accent colours to inject personality into a space. Whether through feature walls, furniture, or accessories, these accents can transform a room from ordinary to extraordinary. There is so much to play with.
In your line of work, do you find people get overwhelmed about the volume of paint shades out there?
It can be very daunting, but I’d simply suggest starting with the basics and ask yourself how do you want this space to make you feel. Focus on the mood – do you want it to be calm and cosy or energising and dramatic. This emotional anchor helps narrow the focus quickly, for example soft neutrals for calm, deep tones for drama. Once you have this perspective, then try to limit your options. Narrow it down to three to five shades per room and test them at different times of the day on multiple walls as natural and artificial light affect paint drastically.
How about tying paint colour into the rest of a room’s features, such as furniture, art, textiles?
Look at your statement pieces and choose elements you love. This could be a sofa, rug, a piece of art. This piece should anchor the colour scheme. You can pull one dominant and one subtle colour from it to guide your paint choices. Don’t forget to look at the whole picture and try not to choose paint in isolation. If you can, try creating a mini palette of fabric swatches, flooring samples and finishes. Look at them all together and see what tones work and speak to you. Remember your wall colour should support these pieces and never fight with them.
Do you have any nuggets of wisdom on small changes people can make to create visual impact in a space?
This can be achieved by colour drenching a space in a deep tone. Instantly this will make a space feel more dramatic and defined. Colour drenching can often make a small space look larger.
How do you see colour trends evolving over the rest of 2025 and beyond?
Deep, luxurious tones are at the forefront. Expect to see chocolate browns, forest greens, and burgundy reds used to create cosy, dramatic spaces. While bold colours are trending, I still love warm neutrals, warm whites, soft taupe, and light oak tones as a timeless foundation. Blue has emerged as a key colour for 2025, celebrated for its versatility and calming presence. From soft sky blues to deeper navy shades, blue is being used across various design elements to inject colour while maintaining a serene look and feel.
The Arlene McIntyre Paint Collection is exclusive to Prestige by Fleetwood in selected Fleetwood stockists. Find your nearest stockist on fleetwood.ie.
