Be inspired by global influences

From the Resene decorating blog

If your happy place is on some distant shore, bring a flavour of it to your home so that you can feel a little pick-me-up every day.

A Scandinavian inspired living room

This fresh living room scheme is a fresh take on Scandinavian home décor with walls in fresh blue Resene Jet Stream and classic mid-century inspired Scandinavian furnishings and graphic artworks. This colour could also be adapted for a Hamptons coastal home. Floor finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, window trims and skirting boards painted in Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue, coffee table in Resene Colorwood. Natural wood stain and Resene Aquaclear Satin (top) and Resene Enamacryl tinted to Resene Half Black White (legs), coasters in Resene Half Resolution Blue and Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue, mug in Resene Hot August, DIY artwork in Resene Tuscany and Resene Half Black White (stripes) and Resene Nero and Resene Half Black White (circle), vases in Resene Half Black White, Resene Nero, Resene Tuscany, Resene Hot August, Resene Half Resolution Blue and Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue. Marimekko cushion and lumbar cushion from Città, brown cushion, lamp and stool from Freedom. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton.

Many of us have been missing travel and while the borders are gradually reopening, many will be hesitant to restart their former passion for investigating foreign shores. But never fear, armchair travel is always here and it doesn’t have to be restricted to books. Many of Resene’s paint colours and prints in the Resene Wallpaper Collection have global influences.

It’s easy to elevate your home with the flavour of your favourite destination. Of course, like any decor theme, you can keep it simple and subtle or you can sing your cultural influences loud and proud.

Oh the places you’ll go

The world is literally your inspirational oyster. Scandinavian and Mediterranean countries feature interiors that are crisp and welcoming, thanks to monotone colour palettes and a big use of white. But if you have a penchant for colour, you can draw inspiration from places like Morocco, Mexico or India. If you have a coastal home or want a coastal theme, you could think about coastal areas of the United States that are known for their design flair like The Hamptons or Cape Cod or evoke the tropical colours of the Pacific islands or the Caribbean.

American Coast

Many coastal destinations in the United States have distinct styles. The Hamptons style is light, bright and whitewashed with a sophisticated beachy vibe that gently whispers easy living. Think clear ocean blues and crisp whites. For a subtle nod to this theme, opt for a pale blue on the walls as a backdrop, such as Resene Solitude. To embrace the style wholeheartedly go for navy blues like Resene Bunting.

You can also try using a variety of blue hues. Whatever blue you go for, team it with a perfect crisp white.

Other coastal destinations in the US are evoked with Resene Cape Cod (dark grey), Resene California (orange) and Resene Oregon (a light ginger-brown wood stain which adds colour to timber while allowing the natural grain to show through).

Australia

Give a nod to the red earth of the outback with Resene Ayers Rock or reminisce about times spent at Sydney’s famous beach with Resene Bondi (blue). Outdoors try Resene Woodsman Uluru – a fresh natural earthy tone wood stain that’s for weatherboards or fences.

Coastal style homes are popular in Australia, but similarly to New Zealand, it’s best to opt for a slightly darker off white to combat the bright light. Try Resene Villa White, Resene Double Merino or Resene Double Alabaster or Resene Triple Sea Fog.

A Japanese inspired wallpaper design

The wallpaper in this entranceway takes you back to Kyoto with its stylised print featuring cranes which are considered to be the bird of happiness, depicted in Japanese art, literature and mythology.

It is Resene Wallpaper Collection 409345 from the Japanese-inspired Resene Kimono Wallpaper Collection. Pair with skirting and door frames in Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta and flooring in deep Resene Colorwood Matai wood stain protected in Resene Qristal ClearFloor.

This fun mural brings Palm Springs to pool-side

This fun mural brings Palm Springs to pool-side using very on-trend millennial purple and dusky pink.

Mural painted in Resene Polo Blue (sky), Resene Paradise (pool and agave), Resene Rainee (highlights on agave), Resene Soothe (main wall and steps), Resene Swirl (left wall), Resene Martini (ground, step sides and door and window sides), Resene High Tide (door and window) and Resene Half Black White (pool edge). Patio pavers in Resene Concrete Stain Bleached Grey. Metal tray table in Resene High Tide. Large plant pot (with Bird of Paradise) in Resene Half Black White. Medium plant pot (with palm) is painted in Resene Polo Blue. Drinks tray in Resene Polo Blue. Vases and small pots in Resene Tuscany, Resene Rainee and Resene High Tide. Sun lounger and side table from Poynters, towel from Tessuti, bird of paradise and palm plants from Nood, sunglasses from Le Spec. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston. Image by Bryce Carleton.

France

If you’re a bit of a Francophile, you’re in good company. Many of us are obsessed with the country which means you’ll find it easy to find interior design shops with appropriate furniture, lighting and ornaments. In terms of a colour scheme, a white and pink and white palette will evoke the belle epoque. Go for a soft dusky pink like Resene Half Pale Rose.

Spain

Spanish interiors often feature an expanse of white with bold areas of red or gold-yellow. To echo the brown-red natural earth colour based on hematite deposits in Spain, try Resene Raging Bull and Resene Fahrenheit. For a Spanish yellow try Resene Fuel Yellow or Resene Lightning Yellow – these tones will also work in a Moroccan theme.

Mexico

If you love the colours of Mexico, you’re going to have some fun adding some Mexican flavour to your interior decor. For a warm and welcoming feel try mixing bright colours such as Resene Fountain Blue, Resene Gulf Stream (turquoise), Resene Whizz Bang (red), Resene Hot Chile (burgundy) and Resene Bright Spark (yellow).

A Pasifika and Morocco inspired lounge

The tones of red and blue in this sitting area lend an exotic Pasifika look, by way of Morocco. Upper wall painted in Resene Poppy while the lower wall is in red-maroon, Resene Dynamite. The floor is painted in Resene Wishing Well with the floor pattern in Resene Time After Time. Table in Resene Wishing Well, vase on shelf in Resene Moccasin, vase on floor in Resene Raging Bull and wine box in Resene Colorwood in Resene Natural. Chair from Indie Home Collective, slippers from Paper Plane, artwork, bowl, rug and lamp from Father Rabbit, cotton stems, branches and throw from Flux Boutique, cushion from Freedom. Project by Gem Adams, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Morocco

The yellow golds popular in Spain are also used in Moroccan interiors but the predominant colour is orange. Try Resene Casablanca – a Bogart yellow orange from the Kasbah. The two colours are often used together along with dusky or muddy pinks such as Resene Blanched Pink or Resene Vanilla Ice.

Look at the whole picture

Designing a home inspired by places you’ve travelled works best when you create an overall mood so as well as getting the right colour combinations, think about other elements like lighting, artwork and rugs. Also, consider the surroundings of where you live and the era and architecture of your home. Try to find inspiration from places that mesh. For example, if you have a coastal home, you might take inspiration from a beach destination. If you live in the city, you might consider more urban influences. Think about using colours like Resene Gravel (dark grey), Resene Half Napa (smoky grey beige), Resene Smoky Green and Resene New York Pink.

Top tips

Pay attention to the furniture, textiles and other trimmings you are using in your scheme to make sure it all fits together. If you have a favourite artwork or ornament from your travels, you can use it as the base for your whole colour scheme.
Add plants and make sure they also give a nod to the destination you have in mind. If you’ve added Mexican flair, why not try some cacti or architectural succulents. If it’s a beachy vibe, go for broad-leaved palm-like plants.
Remember to buy some Resene testpots from your local Resene ColorShop to trial your ideas, especially if you are using a number of different colours together.
Adding more texture to a space is a great way to up the interest in a room. Tongue-and-groove panelling and battens are easy DIY projects that are highly fashionable ways to add dimension to your walls and ceilings.

The best thing about decorating your home with your favourite travel destination in mind is you can enjoy holiday hues every day.