The return of spicy reds

From the Resene decorating blog

Red, with all its associations of passion, power and personality, is a colour that resurfaces again and again as a hot design trend.

No longer consigned to feature walls from the 1990s, big and bold contemporary Resene reds can be layered throughout an entire room to build a dramatic, yet inviting, look. Heat things up with one of these spicy red schemes at home or the bach.

Gather some African inspiration

The shades of red in favour right now are strikingly rich true reds, which when contrasted with other bold shades and natural textures, can easily be used to create an exotic Moroccan-inspired.

On this side of the world, with our clear, bright, natural light, we have long favoured bluer, deeper reds such as Resene Half Pohutukawa, Resene Dynamite and Resene Salsa. Try pairing them with a truer red, such as Resene Poppy or Resene Jalapeno, and the overall effect will be much less overwhelming and, in fact, can open the room up visually. Further layering rosy terracotta tones like Resene Raging Bull, Resene Moccasin and Resene Red Herring can work together to create a frame which can be filled with contrasting tones and textures.

Furniture and accessories in natural tones and textures like rattan and sisal work perfectly with these dramatic background colours and add a sense of a lightness and simplicity without sacrificing style or elegance. Try painting vases or other small accessories in a creamy white like Resene Elderflower to help them stand out against the dramatic reds, and play up the bluer tones of the reds, try painting key pieces of furniture like a table, headboard or sideboard in deep sapphires like Resene Wishing Well, Resene Bewitched or Resene Indian Ink.

To finish the look, keep timber neutral by protecting it with Resene Colorwood Natural natural wood stain to accentuate the organic elements in the space and leave the impression of a casual vibe for a look that’s fit for the bach or a home with an indoor-outdoor flow.

The future is feminine

Build a lady-like look with a rich red walls in Resene Pohutukawa or Resene Code Red and accent it with pretty pinks like Resene Shilo or Resene Sorbet. A floor in an antique white like Resene Poured Milk or Resene Rice Cake will help to balance out the boldness, and you can layer in a few barely there blushes such as Resene Ethereal and Resene Pot Pourri.

While this combination may be stereotypically feminine, it’s also very sophisticated. To play up the femininity, try echoing rounded shapes throughout the space by choosing furniture and accessories with curved elements to them, add in some florals, either through some on-trend artwork or printed cushions, and go for soft luxe textiles like velvet. To play it down, stick to rectilinear and squared forms and switch out the pink for a blush neutral like Resene Shabby Chic, Resene Despacito or Resene Crowdpleaser and opt for textiles in heavier weight cottons or linen.

Top tip: In rooms that use fully saturated colours, it’s a good idea to incorporate some mirrors into the space to reflect more light around the room.

Bring in sky blue

While it may, at first, seem like an odd match, sky blue is a great match for vibrant reds. Try pairing walls in Resene Slipstream with an accent wall in Resene Red Berry. Or, go for an even deeper pair like Resene Mystery with Resene Burnt Crimson or Resene Moby with Resene Hot Chile.

To balance out the hot-meets-cold contrast of these combinations, keep floors neutral in a cool grey like Resene Grey Seal or a warmer one like Resene Urbane. Go for grey with major pieces of furniture as well – try shades like Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Quarter Baltic Sea – and soft furnishings in soft strawberries, like Resene Wafer or Resene Paper Doll. Then, add in accents like vases, plant pots, and picture frames in a bright white like Resene Alabaster.

Other colours to blend with the bold new reds:

• Opt for a classic green and red combination and go for a deep blue red such as Resene Code Red or Resene Shiraz as the dominant colour and use grey-greens such as Resene Grey Olive or Resene Cargo as your accent colour. Alternatively, go for warmer, deep greens like Resene Permanent Green or Resene Family Tree.

• Add vibrant mustard yellows such as Resene Thumbs Up or Resene Cleopatra, or mellow golds such as Resene Hot Toddy or Resene Swiss Caramel – both in layered paint tones and accessories. These shades work especially with brighter, tomato-tone reds such as Resene Whizz Bang or Resene Jalapeno.

• Try a deeper burgundy, or even brown-toned shade such as Resene Lonestar or Resene Scoria with deep muddy creams like Resene Double Parchment or Resene Sea Fog and mix in plenty of natural textures. Or, for something completely different pair them with accents in dusky, khaki greens such as Resene Waiouru, Resene Untamed or Resene New Leaf.

• Other unexpected colour combinations for reds are layered intensities of bold fuchsias, such as Resene Virtuoso and Resene Love Me Do, particularly with bluer toned reds, and different shades of vibrant orange such as Resene Daredevil with yellow-toned reds such as Resene Del Toro.

April 30, 2019

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