Tips for updating your interior colours

Disillusioned with your home after a long winter stuck inside? Get the paint out and change up your colour scheme! It can be multiple rooms or just the one but freshening up your spaces will reinvigorate them in an easy, cost-effective way and can be done over a weekend, especially now that the weather is getting warmer.

In terms of choosing a Resene colour, if you’re struggling, keep in mind that different rooms and different architectural styles require a little consideration. The below are just a few tips on how to update your rooms, but if you need more advice, head into your local Resene ColorShop for insights from the experts.

Bathrooms

Cooler tones such as light greens and blues create a tranquil, airy oasis – Resene Transcend and Resene Relax work well here They can be given a modern approach by incorporating natural materials, like sustainable wood finishes or accents for the flooring, cabinetry or as a feature wall. Adding greenery also adds visual interest and helps to purify the air.

Earthy combinations like green and brown connect the bathroom to the outdoors and evoke a natural and soothing space, further adding to the biophilic interiors trend – this scheme works particularly well if you have a lush green outlook. Try Resene Bud and Resene Foundation.

Wall painted in Resene Cut Glass, slatted screen in Resene Half Black White, vanity in Resene Bermuda Grey and ladder in Resene Silver Chalice. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.

Ceiling painted in SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Ravine, walls in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Quarter Tea, arch in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Cashmere, lower wall and wall panel in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Vantage Point and stool in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Sante Fe.

Bedrooms

Your bedroom is your sanctuary, and the right colour scheme can help you relax, destress and even sleep better. Popular hues for bedrooms include blue, green, white, black and pink. Pink is becoming more common as a neutral because experts say it is a colour that evokes calm, nurturing emotions. It’s a physically calming colour but is also playful and nostalgic, taking us back to our childhoods. So if you’re the sort of person who ends each day as a stress ball of tight muscles and frazzled nerves, then a soft, muted pink could work for you. Try Resene Eighth Biscotti or just a hint of pink such as Resene Half Sauvignon.

What about white

Choosing the right white depends on the aspect of the room, the architectural style and adjacent colours. It’s a myth that white can brighten every room – if there is little natural light, it can just feel cold and uninviting. Whites need lots of natural light to cool the effect and play with luminance. Warmer whites like Resene Bianca and Resene Rice Cake are trending, and their deeper variants can work for cooler spaces, while texture, pattern and deeper neutrals for accents will help to visually warm a white room.

Muted sunset and ocean tones invoke calm and relaxation. Wall painted in Resene Sakura, jug vase in Resene Fountain Blue and painted books in Resene Fountain Blue and Resene Hot Toddy.

Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Black White, trims and joinery in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss in Resene Black White and ceiling in Resene Ceiling Paint in Resene Quarter Black White.

Heritage homes

Character homes can cope with a good dose of drama – modern and old look great together and can really add to the wow factor, especially with dramatic colours. The Resene Anaglypta Wallpaper Collection features vintage and contemporary textured patterns which can be painted any colour you want. Darker colours on walls and ceilings evoke a sense of cosiness, and this works particularly well for stand-alone rooms such as a TV room or powder room.

Fully drenched

Colour drenching is a stylish trend, which means painting everything in the room the same colour – walls, woodwork, ceiling and even furniture. If you’re going to try this style, it’s always good to mix up texture to create interest and varying the sheen levels will help to create a subtle shift in colour and texture.

Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen is a durable paint which gives a silky appearance to walls, and being low sheen it is less reflective, therefore creating a more enveloping atmosphere.
Resene SpaceCote Flat has a matt finish which gives a beautiful velvety appearance and is great for hiding imperfections – especially good for ceilings and feature walls.
Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss and Resene Enamacryl gloss are variants of the waterborne enamel family – they are harder wearing and most suitable for cabinetry, furniture, woodwork and doors.

The flatter the finish, the more the paint finish will nestle into the background. The glossier the finish, the more it will stand out. You can use this to draw attention to features in the room and help to camouflage areas you don’t want others to notice.

Visit your local Resene ColorShop to see large swatches of colours in their in-store colour library. Try out different combinations until you find the one that best suits your project. If you need some help narrowing down your colour choices, the Resene ColorShop staff can help or you can ask a Resene Colour Expert for advice. Use the free Ask a Resene Colour Expert service online, or book a Resene Colour Consultation free in-store or virtually (a charge applies for home visits).

The TV room in this 1920s farmhouse is painted in Resene Atomic, which gives it a cosy and inviting feel. Ceiling painted in Resene Ceiling Paint in Resene White.

Colour drenching in spiced terracotta shades adds immediate cosiness. Walls, console table and large candleholder painted in Resene Cinnamon, dining table in Resene Mai Tai, mirror in Resene Alabaster, small candleholder in Resene Calico and large pot in Resene Manhattan. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image Bryce Carlton.