To really come alive, neutral and tonal colour schemes need texture and variations in gloss levels. This can be from very subtle (a soft linen curtain) to more dramatic (a lambs wool cushion or chunky knit throw). It can involve glossy surfaces like glass-topped tables, high-gloss finished furniture or glass vases. Rough textures tend to add warmth and intimacy to a room while glossy surfaces may make a space feel sleek and more aloof. A careful combination of both can look amazing. Rough texture will deepen the colour of the object, while gloss will lighten and brighten it by reflecting the light. As anyone who pores over home decorating magazines will know, you don’t have to actually run your hand over that weathered timber or feel that cut pile carpet between your toes. Texture is also a visual sensation – we know what it will feel like just by looking. Pattern Pattern can be used in mostly neutral schemes to provide similar visual relief to texture. Wallpapers, fabrics, cushions, rugs, artworks and accessories are all ripe opportunities to add pattern. As a general rule, larger patterns are visually calmer, and smaller ones are visually busier. Any pattern in a room will be naturally eye-catching so on the one hand, pattern is great to perk up a lifeless corner, but on the other, be wary of overdoing it. While mixing patterns can be done with a careful eye (often by using common colours), it’s often best to stick to one style – all florals, all tropical and leafy, all geometric. Clockwise from top left: Resene Quarter Rice Cake in a design by Nobbs Radford Architects. Resene Colorwood Pitch Black wall with Resene Delta and Resene Quarter Delta tables, styled by Claudia Kozub. Resene Alabaster in a room by Indie Home Collective. Resene Alabaster adding texture, gloss pattern and top tip To create great texture for your walls, check out the many anaglypta wallpapers available at Resene ColorShops. The textural patterns range from subtle and natural, to quirky and geometric. Paint over the pattern in your chosen Resene colour. Resene Colorwood Pitch Black Resene Delta Resene Quarter Delta Resene Quarter Rice Cake | 17