Colour connections inside and out

When you think about interior colours for different rooms, you are also thinking about how natural or artificial lighting will affect that colour, as well as whether you want the room to feel warmer, cooler, brighter, darker, larger or smaller.

“Once you have had a think about what colour you might like in that room, then look to the garden to see if there is a colour that can be added or repeated inside,” Meryl says.

“Our focus on wellbeing and valuing nature is bringing with it a trend for more colour and vegetation in the garden, including natural weeds and wildflowers. That gives plenty of scope for accent colours within the home.”

She suggests trying those organic botanical shades as accents on everything from walls and furniture to cabinetry and decor objects.

“And if lots of colour in the garden or home is not your thing, complex earthy palettes, with structural elements and lots of texture, both inside and outside, will help to create cohesion between the house and garden,” Meryl says.

Try on-trend earthy shades like Resene Domino, Resene Piazza or Resene Desert Sand.

Exterior contrasts

When it comes to choosing paint or stain colours for your house that suit your garden, whether it’s your house exterior or areas like fences and decks, the sky's the limit.

Sometimes literally, says Megan, citing the vivid cobalt blue, known as Majorelle Blue, of the famous Yves Saint Laurent house in Marrakesh which makes for a vibrant backdrop to the tropical desert garden. To try that bold look at home experiment with Resene Plan B or Resene Cobalt.

Dramatic contrasts between a home’s exterior and the garden are becoming more and more popular, but, says Megan, you don’t need to go to bright extremes to get a high impact finish.

She points to the rise in popularity of dark and black exteriors which look fantastic paired with sage or bright greens, and deep reds in the garden. Try Resene Invincible or Resene Bokara Grey then add pots and colour accents dotted through the garden in Resene Green Days, Resene Pacifika or Resene Pohutukawa.

When it comes to decking and fences, Megan suggests trying darker wood stain colours that have an organic, earthy note, such as Resene Crowshead or greyed brown Resene Iroko, that will connect your wood surfaces with the garden.

If you have a coastal property, she advises trying washed stains like Resene Woodsman Greywash to give surfaces that sea-bleached silvered look to match the surroundings.

Bolds or brights aren’t for everybody and Meryl says opting for popular neutrals is a smart way to make your house a subtle, complementary backdrop if you want your garden to be front and centre.

Top tip:  When choosing a colour for your exterior consider going for a strong shade as sunlight can make some shades appear much paler.

Accessorise

If you don’t have the time, space, budget or inclination to re-work colour schemes inside or out for more colour connection, you can still build cohesion with the addition of small accent pieces like planters and ornamental pieces, Meryl says.

Features like furniture, trellis and planters are usually easy to paint with Resene testpots, and will add enough colour to reflect hints of your indoor palette outside. To soften concrete surfaces Megan also suggests painting on games like hopscotch or even twister-style games to add colour, as well as fun activities for the kids.

Megan’s top tips for planters are to put some thought into how many you have, and keep to a limited colour palette. “If you have two of something the same there is immediately a formality about it, even if the design is quite casual. If that doesn’t appeal opt for two similar planters in different sizes which will look intentional but not as formal.

“Try painting them in colours that are tonally related to your interiors, or your garden, rather than the same.”