going dark Right: Resene Nocturnal walls and Resene Viktor floor; styled by Vanessa Nouwens. Far right: Resene Baltic Sea walls; styled by Gem Adams. Many of us think of neutral as whites or pale colours but very dark colours are can also be neutral. The classic example is, of course, black. These examples, mostly from the Resene Whites & Neutrals collection, highlight the different types of dark neutrals and their effects: •  Blacks. Just like whites, there are many, many different ‘blacks’. Some have a touch of brown, some green and some blue. •  Charcoals: Such as Resene Gravel, Resene Double Stack and Resene Tuna. Flinty and sophisticated, these colours provide a cool, urban edginess. •  Deep, deep brown: Like Resene Bokara Grey, Resene Oilskin and Resene Mondo. If true black feels too severe and cool, these types of colours have a soothing warmth… like coffee or chocolate. •  A touch of green: Some of the darker neutrals in the Resene colour collections have an edge of green, making them earthy and interesting, for example Resene Swamp, Resene Tapa or Resene Masala. These colours give a more earthy twist to darker neutrals, and can look quite different from room to room depending on the light. •  A hint of blue: Close to the charcoals, these colours are steely and stormy, adding mystery and moodiness. Check out Resene New Denim Blue, Resene Coast and Resene Raven. Ideal on their own or to anchor a scheme, dark neutrals provide a soulful backdrop for brighter, more intense feature colours. Add drama by using a sharp accent colour. Team dark neutrals with cream or crisp white trims. This works especially well with older homes, where skirtings, architraves and cornices will be highlighted by the contrast with smoky dark walls. Dark colours make a room feel more intimate and cosy – great for bedrooms, media rooms or large living spaces. A far wall can appear closer when painted in a dark colour, or use a dark wall colour to offset a beautiful sideboard, mantelpiece, free- standing bath or upholstered chair. Dark walls also work well in a matte finish rather than low- sheen, giving a rich velvety look. Try Resene SpaceCote Flat. The right light Make sure your lighting is up to the task. Dark walls absorb light, so you may need to beef up your lighting to compensate. Spreading the light around the room, rather than having one central ceiling fixture, achieves a more even effect and gives you flexibility. Resene New Denim Blue Resene Swamp Resene Gravel Resene Oilskin 12 |