Steady as she goes

Since the beginning of the decade, colour trends have been subjected to unprecedented volatility. Not only have some colour families been undergoing significant shifts in tone and value from one season to the next – something that typically occurs over a much longer timescale – but newly emerging trends have been breaking through at a surprising frequency. After years of constant fluctuations, trends became exhausting for many designers and clients to keep on top of. But finally, the market seems to be correcting itself and we’re seeing clear signs of stability across the majority of the spectrum.

A key driver of this stabilisation is the growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental consciousness. As awareness about climate change and ecological impacts heightens, so too has the appetite for designing with longevity in mind. In the same stroke, there has been a move towards adopting colour palettes that symbolise a connection with nature. Earth-toned greens, browns, beiges and natural wood tones are becoming mainstays, reflecting a desire for harmony with our surroundings and the greater environment as a whole. These hues in and of themselves evoke a sense of stability and permanence, countering the rapid colour trend changes we’ve witnessed over recent years.

Economic factors also play a critical role. In periods of financial instability and uncertainty, there is often a collective yearning for comfort and security. Dependable colours such as blue, soft white and taupe offer timeless appeal that transcends economic fluctuations and provide a safe and versatile foundation that can adapt to various design styles.

Similarly, certain cultural shifts have contributed to the stabilisation of colour trends. A renewed appreciation for heritage and authenticity is driving the use of classic colours and traditional hues that have stood the test of time. This return to roots offers reassurance within the spaces where we live, work and play amidst a fast-changing world rife with conflict and unpredictability.

Finally, the steady progress of technological innovation is another consideration that is influencing current colour trends. As smart technologies become more and more integrated into our everyday lives, sleek colour palettes that complement contemporary, tech-savvy environments are becoming more desirable. This includes tonal monochromatic schemes that complement metallic finishes and underscore a future-focused yet understated elegance.

Though our long-range forecast – which looks at how trends will shape up 12-24 months from now – is when most hues will settle into a familiar groove, there are a few notable surprises in store for the near term. In the coming six to 12 months, you should still expect to see some new trends emerging – including one that’s set to become particularly prominent. During the same period, we’ll see the scope of other colour families that currently have a breadth of on-trend variants start to slim down to a more manageable selection of relevant shades.

For projects that will be completed over the next two years, pay close attention to the following Resene paint colours and wood stains that are poised to become mainstays.

The time is ripe for harvest golds

After being a barely perceptible part of the colour trend forecast for years, the appetite for yellow is about to go bananas. Yellow only started making a conspicuous appearance on the runway during this year’s major fashion week festivals, primarily in the form of buttery yellows like Resene Moondance, Resene Salomie and Resene Bardot. But by the end of this year, expect to see brassier ochre and gold variants such as Resene Papier Mache, Resene Teak, Resene Pirate Gold and Resene Hot Toddy joining those softer versions in a sharp rise to prominence.

In the design of physical spaces, yellow is often an overlooked option. Aside from bold bright yellows like Resene Bright Spark and Resene Happy, which can make an eye-catching addition to minimalist contemporary projects, softer yellows can be considered by some to be too sweet for ‘adult’ spaces. But as with most colours, how well a yellow can sit within a space all depends on how it’s used. An of-the-moment cornsilk yellow such as Resene Marzipan or Resene Golden Glow can be a sensational choice for a subtle accent colour when paired with a powder blue like Resene Comfortably Numb or a cargo green like Resene Go Ben within a base colour scheme of a chic cream like Resene Villa White, a classic black like Resene All Black and a mid-toned beige like Resene Half Canterbury Clay. Or for a touch of the unexpected, look to a strong magenta and a blackened blue like Resene Drop Dead Gorgeous and Resene Indian Ink as potential pairings.

Looking further ahead in the forecast, duller gold and ochre yellows that have an orange or green edge will begin to take hold – yellows that are objectively easier to incorporate into a broader range of design styles. Thanks to their green undertones, brassy golds like Resene See The Light and Resene Sunbeam blend brilliantly with warm avocado greens like Resene Nirvana, Resene Green Days and Resene Wasabi and grain and ginger browns like Resene Amaranth and Resene Salted Caramel. Plus, they work wonders with nearly any wood tone, from cool deep brown stains like Resene Colorwood Bark to warm medium browns like Resene Colorwood Matai to pale blonde hues like Resene Colorwood Rock Salt and can be paired with other earth tones such as brick browns and reds like Resene Tuscany and Resene Soiree and even slipper pinks like Resene Soul Searcher.

More often than not, when the Pantone Color Institute announces their annual colour pick, we don’t see a significant impact on colour trends until one to two years later. But at the start of this year, we were somewhat surprised to see how quickly the uptake of ‘peach fuzz’ proceeded. Perhaps we were simply ready to collectively embrace this hugely comforting hue, but more likely than not, the company’s forecasting team has recently recalibrated their approach. The thing about colour forecasters is that, when you’re constantly looking ahead to what’s next, you’re always aching to move on to something new. You can easily end up putting the cart before the horse even before the horse has had a chance to leave the stable.

This renewed interest in peaches like Resene Beethoven, Resene Dawn Glow and Resene Tacao has set the stage for the return of orange, which will resurface as an accent colour within the coming year – albeit to a far lesser extent than yellows and golds. While we don’t expect to see widespread adoption of this challenging hue, look to variations influenced by yellow, red or brown such as Resene Tequila Sunrise, Resene Tangerine, Resene Grenadier and Resene Kombucha for colour schemes that could benefit from a spritz of orange. Depending on the setting, ideal pairings include sophisticated beiges and taupes like Resene Double Biscotti and Resene Quarter Joss, medium greys like Resene Solstice and Resene Four Winds, icy blues like Resene Zircon, midnight blue-blacks like Resene Jaguar and bold blues like Resene Aviator.

Red remains hugely relevant

Arguably the most of-the-moment statement colour of the year, red continues to inspire passion among the many designers who can’t get enough of this smouldering hero hue. From powerfully potent scarlet and vermilion reds to jammy berry reds, fiery brick reds and deeply saturated burgundy and mahogany shades, you can’t really go wrong with any variation at present. While a pop of red will never cease to be a classic option, certain reds will continue to hold their popularity throughout the coming 18-24 months – namely, tomato reds like Resene Whizz Bang, vintner varieties like Resene Volcano and Resene Burgundy and subdued brick shades like Resene Thunderbird and Resene Fahrenheit.

So, while there will be fewer relevant types of red overall compared with what we’ve seen over the course of the past year, when virtually every variation was fair game, you can safely expect that red will remain a hugely important hue for a good while yet. Considered one of the most appetising colours around, red will always be right at home in a restaurant, bar or café. With the right client and project, a colour-drenched look where a sangria-like shade such as Resene Avant Garde has been taken from tip to toe makes an impact that’s tricky to top.

Clean greens start to sour

In terms of hues that have held steadfast through this time of tumultuous colour trends, there’s no colour that’s weathered the storm quite the way that green has. Throughout the past decade, we’ve witnessed pretty much every variant possible come to the forefront. While we have been busy surviving a global pandemic and trying to stay afloat through an economic recession, green has been there right alongside us going through its own share of changes: cooling off and warming up, dulling down and brightening up and being influenced by other popular hues.

When millennial pink first broke on to the scene in 2016, delicate peppermint greens like Resene Ottoman were there to balance it. During the most restrictive lockdown periods, gentle, softly greyed sage, nettle and olive greens like Resene Spanish Green, Resene Clover and Resene Seaweed were among the most desirable hues to have in one’s home – which was, of course, the centre of our universe at the time – thanks to the calming and serene energy they bring. Once we were free to roam again, the excitement of clean parsley greens like Resene Japanese Laurel were ready to match our energy and renewed zest for life. And now, bold blue-edged greens like Resene Boundless and Resene Home Run, sour acidic greens like Resene Karma, earthy avocado greens like Resene Wasabi, brown-greens like Resene Rewilding and Resene Tic Tac Toe, pale greens like Resene Aspiring and Resene Secrets and deep bush greens like Resene Waiouru and Resene Scrub are the ones that will be sticking by our side for the long run.

The sustained presence of green as a colour trend seems to underscore its symbolic association with environmental sustainability. And since most designers now seem to have an understanding of the positive psychological effects that verdant hues offer to their projects’ occupants, we anticipate greens will continue to remain an important colour trend for the foreseeable future as we look to prioritise being kinder to the planet and our mental wellbeing.

Dependable watery blues float on

In our colour forecast last issue, we singled out blue as a colour family that was entering a period of stabilisation – and that will continue to hold true. Timeless watery blues like Resene Ship Cove and Resene Polo Blue, pale blues like Resene Zircon and Resene Duck Egg Blue and navy blues like Resene Ocean Waves and Resene Carpe Noctem remain popular primarily due to their broad appeal, versatility and association with dependability and trustworthiness. However, they also make easy companions for many of today’s more challenging statement hues, which is likely why they are currently playing such a prominent role in the colour forecast.

‘Barbie Fever’ may have subsided but the popularity of pink has continued to hold strong over the past year. Muted peach pinks, pale pinks and magenta pinks like Resene Awaken, Resene Summer Rose, Resene Cest La Vie, Resene Valentine, Resene Lipstick and Resene Scrumptious are currently among the most on-trend variations for their ability to infuse spaces with warmth and youthfulness.

Shockingly versatile, muted pinks like Resene Awaken and Resene Summer Rose pair remarkably well with many popular neutral tones for a balanced and sophisticated look that’s brimming with warmth. Lipstick pinks with a magenta edge like Resene Lipstick offer an energetic and youthful pop with effortless appeal that makes spaces feel more dynamic and contemporary. This vibrant hue can serve as a striking focal point, bringing life and personality to both residential and commercial interiors.

Although these particular pinks are expected to remain consistent for the year to come, they will likely become less prominent as time goes on. With such a broad range of colours vying for attention in the colour forecast, something has to give – and it seems it may finally be pink’s turn to make way for newer trends to emerge.

Soft blacks blend the best of both worlds

While it never truly goes out of style, even black isn’t immune to the ebb and flow of colour trends. Recently, soft blacks like Resene Invincible, Resene Black Sand and Resene Night Magic have become increasingly preferable to truer blacks for interior decorating due to their ability to offer a subtler look. Unlike the starkness of true black, soft blacks generally contrast less with adjacent colours and their more nuanced tones tend to integrate better with a wider range of styles and colour pairings. This subtlety allows soft blacks to add depth and sophistication without overwhelming a space or clashing with other hues.

From warm wood tones to marble furnishings to metallic finishes, soft blacks also balance well with a variety of popular materials – offering a contemporary edge without sacrificing the warmth and character that’s essential to classic designs. Their softer appearance can enhance the ambiance of a room, adding a touch of elegance and mystery without feeling harsh or cold.

Warm neutrals will linger a while yet

Since the transition from cool to warm neutrals a few years back, beige, taupe, cream and brown continue to reign as the most popular neutral paint colours due to their versatility, warmth and timeless appeal. But rather than choosing strictly ‘neutral neutrals’, we are seeing more and more designers opting for variations with complex undertones that allow them to blend better with the pigments in their palette’s accent colours. Even in schemes that are primarily neutral, character neutrals with a red, yellow, green, violet or brown spirit seem to be preferable for building ‘quiet luxury’ and ‘liveable luxury’ looks. Though complex, colours like Resene Tua Tua, Resene Foundation, Resene Canterbury Clay, Resene Kia Kaha, Resene Domino, Resene Solitaire, Resene Creme De La Creme, Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Dover White, Resene Rebel and Resene Trek easily complement a wide range of interior styles and accent colours, making them go-to choices for designers and clients alike. These hues are incredibly easy to layer and can be used interchangeably in varying ratios across larger projects for a cohesive palette that doesn’t sacrifice interest or depth.

It is worth noting that, looking further ahead in the colour forecast, we do see taupe beginning to lose some traction to make way for the emergence of warm greys starting late next year. So if you have a need for taupe in the near-term, we suggest choosing greyer variations like Resene Truffle, Resene Cloudy and Resene Half Mondo for options that will have more staying power compared with browner varieties.

Purple has run its course

Aside from a few lingering hints of deep aubergine and whispers of grey violets and mauves, purples have just about dropped off the colour forecast horizon completely – which shouldn’t come as earth-shattering information. Considered one of the most polarising colours, purple can be a tricky hue to decorate with. Aside from darker shades like Resene Paua and Resene Plum, browner mauves like Resene Tenor and barely-there violet-edged greys like Resene Ghost – which have the potential to make lovely companion colours to some of the more prominent hues mentioned earlier – we expect only the most ‘purple passionate’ of clients will be keen to make a splash with this particular colour family over the next couple of years.

Colours mentioned in this article...

Product mentioned in this article...

Projects: Amber Armitage
Images: Wendy Fenwick

BlackWhite magazine

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