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Cosy up to colour all year

From the Resene decorating blog

Bright, airy and beachy rooms are a delight in warmer months, but as the days and nights get cooler we usually want to feel a little more bundled up and cosy.

Colour is a simple way to achieve this, and while nobody expects to be repainting to suit every season, a bit of thought and planning can create cosy spaces that suit your lifestyle year round.

A fresh, cosy and warm interior

Rich cream adds freshness to this space while the deep blues and terracotta add cosiness and warmth. Rear wall painted in Resene Revolver with skirting in Resene Mulled Wine. Floor stain washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Left wall in Resene Astra with skirting and trim in Resene Half Gin Fizz, table base in Resene Teak and top in Resene Putty. On table: bottle in Resene Mulled Wine, mug in Resene Revolver, vase in Resene Astra, bowl in Resene Truffle, dark bowl in Resene Colorwood Deep Purple and books in Resene Cumin and Resene Revolver. Side table in Resene Colorwood Deep Purple, tall vase in Resene Mulled Wine, handled vase in Resene Cumin, console table and dish in Resene Astra, handled vase in Resene Putty, small vase in Resene Cumin, bottle in Resene Truffle, light pendant in Resene Cumin and picture frame in Resene Colorwood Deep Purple with overpainted art in Resene Half Gin Fizz, Resene Putty, Resene Mulled Wine, Resene Astra and Resene Cumin. Chair from Danske Møbler. Project by Moneuan Ryan, image by Bryce Carleton.

Working with versatile colours that work with a wide range of other shades can make it simple to change the feel of your rooms by simply switching out decor pieces in different shades and styles. You can also make good use of texture, patterns and lighting to continuously evolve the feel of your spaces without taking on constant large redecorating projects.

Create a cocoon

Almost any room can be made to feel cosy, with the right colour scheme and it needn’t mean switching to dark and moody shades, Resene Colour Expert Amy Watkins says.

“Try taking a muted or pastel colour like Resene Contented and using it on the ceiling as well as the walls,” she says, to give that sense of being surrounded by the colour, without being overwhelmed by it.

Using colour on your ceilings changes the way light reflects bounces around the room which also helps create a cocooning effect. You can maximise this idea by using flat paint like Resene SpaceCote Flat which can also reduce the amount of light reflection from your painted surfaces.

top tip  Low sheen paints such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen are also great at camouflaging imperfections in your walls like dents. Talk to your Resene ColorShop experts about the best level of gloss for the look you want and the condition of your walls.

The ultimate expression of this cocoon approach is to try colour drenching a room. Another type of monochrome design, colour drenching is all about painting your whole room in one shade – the walls, ceiling, floor, and trim areas. You can even include tables, shelving and other furniture, decor and furnishings.

You can be brave and bold by colour drenching with a deep shade for the ultimate cosy space – it can be a great option for cosy guest bedrooms, powder rooms or media rooms. Try a deep charcoal like Resene Fuscous Grey or try a less achromatic option with deep rich reds, blues or greens like Resene Avant Garde, Resene Tangaroa or Resene Palm Leaf.

Add one or two accent colours in a pastel like Resene Cosmos and Resene Oxygen or off-white neutrals like if you want to break the look up with soft contrast, rather than a bold bright that might compromise the effect of your colour-drenched cosy cocoon.

Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey suggests trying chocolatey tones as another way to make your space feel cosy but also modern and up-to-date. “Consider chocolate blacks such as Resene Dark Chocolate or Resene Bokara Grey. They’re colours with good depth.”

Deep browns such as Resene Cioccolato or Resene Milk Chocolate add the same sense of drama as blacks and charcoals but with extra richness. They also work well with versatile contrasts in tan and beige like Resene Sour Dough and Resene Okey Dokey to add lightness that works well when you want your cosy spaces to work in summery months as well.

A games room painted in deep green and edged grey

Deep green edged grey creates immediate cosiness and comfort in this games room. Walls painted in Resene Dark Slate, with floor in Resene Blanc, Resene Triple Blanc and Resene Woodsmoke. Lettering in Resene Nirvana, Resene Rulebreaker, Resene Awaroa Bay, Resene Grenadier, Resene Epitome and Resene Fandango, coffee table in Resene Duck Egg Blue, side table in Resene Awaroa Bay, lamp base in Resene Pavlova, shade in Resene Epitome, side table vase in Resene Fandango with bowl in Resene Aoraki, coaster in Resene Grenadier, coffee table vase in Resene Big Stone and bowl in Resene Epitome. Sofa from Danske Møbler, throw from Foxtrot Home. Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.

Sunbaked warmth

A colour palette that works extremely well to convey sun and warmth in any season are those in the peach to terracotta range. These colours like Resene Tuscany, Resene Sunglo or Resene Alert Tan, immediately make you think of the sun and warm, baked earth making them cosy in a way that remains connected to outside and summery days.

They also often work well with a range of greens from earthy Resene Quarter Karaka, to muted Resene Avocado and rich blue-green Resene Tarawera to emphasise that cosy comfort that can come with being in nature.

Warm up with layers

Neutral layers are one of the most versatile colour palettes to work with, allowing to create rooms that feel both cosy in winter and airier in warmer months.

Lean into darker, bolder neutrals like Resene Triple Spanish White or Resene Triple Blanc and layer them with their eighth, quarter, half and double strengths to create a look and feel that is easily adaptable to make it cosier or cooler.

Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey also suggests trying off-whites with a subtle grey undertone, such as Resene Athens Grey, Resene House White or Resene Merino, as a versatile base for interiors, that will work well with cosy charcoals and greige as well as lighter shades.

For added colour, to pair with your neutrals, Meryl suggests the dusky terracotta pink of Resene Soiree or Resene Amaranth for a muted ochre brown.

“All these rich dark colours look stunning with touches of copper or brass metallic, which brings in additional dimension and texture to the finished design.”

Meryl also suggests embracing the idea of a statement wall to elevate cosy spaces with more colour: “Having a bolder colour on just one wall can be a manageable way to change out seasonal shades, without a huge expense, if you like variety and change.”

Texture and pattern add to the cosiness of this room

Texture and pattern add to the cosiness of these layers of colour.

Wall painted in Resene Apple Blossom. Upper wall topcoated in Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Solitaire. Stars and dado rail in Resene Solitaire, tabletop stained in Resene Woodsman Bark with stars in Resene Manhattan, decking in Resene Woodsman Tiri, tray in Resene Cinnamon and lanterns in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect. Cushions from Yuva. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Colour drenched walls create a closed in cosy feel

Colour drenched walls create a closed in cosy feel in this dining nook, while brighter contrasts keep it feeling lively and ready for all-seasons.

Walls and trellis painted in Resene Licorice, table in Resene Half Solitaire, chairs in Resene Envy and trolley in Resene Summer Green. Deck stained in Resene Woodsman Natural. Tall vase and tealight holder in Resene Rose Of Sharon, planter and bowl in Resene Blue Chalk, large low bowl in Resene Palm Green and sign in Resene Blue Chalk, Resene Licorice and Resene Envy. Glassware from Nood, tablecloth from H&M Home. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Wintry neutrals

Meryl suggests neutrals and whites which can morph between cool or warm as stunning background colours for all seasons.

“They can balance the darker, richer tones autumn and winter bring, while keeping rooms bright and fresh for summer.”

Painting your walls in a white which has some depth or a hint of yellow undertone, such as Resene Spanish White or Resene Solitaire, will lend rooms an overall feeling of warmth for those winter days, she says. “Especially when layered with pattern and texture. They can then be easily manipulated to feel cool and crisp when switching out to summer decor.”

Texture to finish

If you’re creating cosiness through colour, particularly if you’re using deep and stormy shades, adding texture is a smart way to keep the space visually accessible and stop it from feeling oppressive or overwhelming.

Texture can come in many forms from tactile patterns and shapes via trellising and wood battens, rough plastered finishes or fabrics with a coarser finish like wool and linen. Texture can also be a purely visual thing that helps break up a large swathe of intense colour, without interrupting its overall impact.

Textured wallpapers in a block colour like the linen-look finish of Resene Wallpaper collection 39648-1 can be an effective approach, as can adding a sponged or limewash effect to your walls using Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with your chosen Resene colour.

This kind of weathered effect helps make large colour blocks feel a little more relaxed, adding that perfect sense of lived-in cosiness.

Colours mentioned in this blog...

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Resene Breathe Easy

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Products mentioned in this blog...

Products marked as "coming soon" may not yet be available in our online ColorShop, however, they can be purchased in-store at your local Resene ColorShop or reseller.

December 02, 2024

If you need help getting starting or deciding on the colours that best suit your home, come in and visit your local Resene ColorShop, Ask a Resene Colour Expert free online or book a Resene Colour Consultation free instore or virtually or a paid home visit in selected areas.

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