Top tip: If you’re keen on using a range of colours or have elements that are colourful (like a patterned wallpaper), one way of tying these together is to add a good dose of an ‘achromatic’.That’s black or white, or colours close to them, such as charcoal, pale grey or cream. 5 Understanding colour When choosing colours keep three things in mind: Colours look different when • In different types of light • Next to different colours • Depending how much there is of the colour Muted colours are easier to live with but that doesn’t mean everything has to be pale. A deep charcoal blue can add drama but it’s a very easy colour to use and accessorise. The mistake most of us make is to not go ‘grey’ enough.What you thought was going to be a smoky blue turns out icy blue on your wall. Check the examples below and you’ll see that Resene Duck Egg Blue is quite grey, compared to Resene Quarter Frozen. Most decorators find pale neutrals or pastels easy to use – colours that have quite a bit of white in them. So instead of grass green, you would have soft sage. Instead of brown, it would be beige. Instead of banana yellow, it would be pale lemon, or muddy it up for a soft ochre. The common element, white, between all these colours means that you can successfully combine any pastels into a colour scheme.The addition of clean white also means that most pastels appear soft and fresh. Most of us instinctively know that bright colours are more in-your-face and therefore not as relaxing. These might be best limited to small features, such as a feature wall, furniture, artwork, splashback and accessories. Or use intense hues in areas that are occupied for short periods, such as hallways, bathrooms and entrances. Or on your front door. If you’re introducing a new colour to an existing scheme, it may be affected by other colours already in the room. If your room is full of blue accents, a new off-white will tend to reflect some of the blue tones. Dark blue placed next to white will seem much darker than if it is next to another dark colour. If you think a colour you are looking at on a Resene colour chart may be too dark for your interior, choose a lighter colour. Colours will look more intense when they are painted onto a large indoor area. How much there is of a colour affects how you see it.When used in large quantities or in a small room, strong colours will appear even stronger and more intense. If in doubt use a shade lighter than your original choice. When painting outside, the opposite rule applies ­ – if in doubt, choose a darker Resene colour as the sun will make the colour seem lighter. Surface textures also change the way you perceive colour. Smooth surfaces reflect light and heavily textured surfaces absorb light.The same colour painted in a gloss acrylic paint on a wall will look lighter than the same colour in a heavy woven carpet. Resene Duck Egg Blue Resene Quarter Frozen Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream | 7