Cosy colour that works all year

From the Resene decorating blog

When we think about autumn, or more wintry, colours to be used inside our homes, most of us immediately and, not surprisingly, think of warmth.

Rich browns, toasty neutrals, burnt and spicy terracotta and even stormy charcoals all speak to us of hunkering down in comfort and warmth, making them perfect shades to embrace in your home. The good news is, with the right combinations and contrasts you can create an autumnal interior that will still feel uplifting, comfortable and light, come summer.

Dining room with dark blue and contrasting creamy yellow hues

This dark-light combination of blue and creamy yellow adds both warm and light to this dining area, transcending any sense of different seasons. Right wall painted in Resene Revolver with skirting in Resene Mulled Wine, floor stain colour washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, left wall in Resene Astra, with skirting and trim in Resene Half Gin Fizz, dining table legs in Resene Teak, tabletop in Resene Putty, milk bottle in Resene Mulled Wine, mug in Resene Revolver, vase in Resene Astra, light bowl in Resene Truffle, dark bowl in Resene Colorwood Deep Purple, books in Resene Cumin and Resene Revolver, side table and picture frame stained in Resene Colorwood Deep Purple, tall vase in Resene Mulled Wine, dish in Resene Half Astra, console table in Resene Astra, handled vase in Resene Putty, pendant light and vases in Resene Cumin, bottle in Resene Truffle, large book in Resene Teak, small book in Resene Half Gin Fizz, overpainted artwork in Resene Half Gin Fizz, Resene Putty, Resene Mulled Wine, Resene Astra and Resene Cumin. Project by Moneuan Ryan, image by Bryce Carleton.

Anchor in neutrals

Very few of us are going to go to the expense and effort of redecorating every season, so Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey suggests putting some time and thought into choosing your colour scheme will help ensure it can be adapted to how you want your house to feel at different parts of the year.

“Transitioning from summer to autumn need not be a major task if you use colours that can be easily adapted from one season to the next,” she says. “Adding layers of texture is also a good way to change the look and feel of a room, particularly if you want to add a sense of warmth in cooler seasons.

“It can be organic texture like wool, or beautiful wood grains or you can start adding layers of surface texture using products like Resene Sandtex mediterranean effect, which adds a scrumptious texture to walls.”

If you don’t want to go to the effort of adding texture to a whole wall, or room, use Resene Sandtex on small areas like around a fireplace, on a mantle or around a bookshelf. It’s a particularly effective way to break up a room, if you have a monochrome or very simple palette.

top tip Another way to add a sense of texture to your space is to try a limewash or sponged paint effect using Resene FX Paint Effects Medium. Paint your surface in a basecoat of your chosen colour, then mix a second topcoat colour with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium and apply. Always test on spare wood or wall board before applying to walls.

“Texture just adds visual warmth, especially if you’re working with whites or pale neutral colours,” Meryl says.

Another way to add warmth to a neutral or minimalist colour scheme is to find shades which can morph between cool and warm, she adds. “Not only do these neutrals help make summer feel like it’s lingering in your home as long as possible, but they will transition more easily if you want to change some of your interior colours to warmer tones in cooler months.

Lounge with earthy yellow walls and pops of red and purple on accessories

Switching out bold pops of unexpected painted colour on vases, art and furniture is the fastest, most cost-effective way to adjust your colour palette to suit the seasons.

Wall and skirting painted in Resene Gingko, floor stain colour washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, candle tray in Resene Panorama, side table, tall vase and small book in Resene Waiouru, console table and tumbler in Resene Revolver, pedestal vase in Resene Vibe, flat round vase in Resene Chapta And Verse and DIY artwork in Resene Vibe, Resene Revolver and Resene Waiouru. Couch and cushion from Danske Møbler. Project by Moneuan Ryan, image by Bryce Carleton.

Sitting area with rich red and orange layers and textured floor cushions

Visual texture and layers of rich colour bring warmth to this seating area perfect for any time of year.

Upper wall in Resene Apple Blossom and Resene Quarter Solitaire mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium, lower wall in Resene Apple Blossom with stars in Resene Solitaire, tabletop stained in Resene Woodsman Bark, with stencilled stars in Resene Manhattan, breeze blocks in Resene Mocha, large pots in Resene Cinnamon and Resene Mocha, lanterns in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect, deck stained in Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain Tiri, table tray in Resene Cinnamon and candle tray in Resene Burgundy. Floor cushions from Yuva. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

“These whites and neutrals can be manipulated to feel warmer or cooler depending on what accents you combine them with. Shades like Resene Half Sea Fog, Resene Milk White, Resene Half Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Linen, Resene Quarter Lemon Grass and Resene Half Napa have cool-toned bases but have hints of warmth within them, which can be enhanced by, depending on the aspect of the room, artificial lighting and swapping out accessories in different colours depending on the season.

To warm up a versatile neutral like Resene Quarter Lemon Grass, team it with a layered neutral palette in whites that have a warmer yellow undertone like Resene Half Spanish White or off-white Resene Fossil. A combination of these neutrals can be cooled down with accessories in Resene Half Mondo, or Resene Jimmy Dean. Come autumn, add picture frames or decor pieces painted in toasty shades like rich ochre Resene Bullwhip or deep red Resene Dynamite.

A versatile neutral like Resene Quarter Lemon Grass will also work well when layered in your room in all its different strengths from delicate grey-green Resene Eighth Lemon Grass – perfect for trim areas or ceilings, through to sage green Resene Double Lemon Grass. This gives you an interesting visual mix to work with that can feel both cool and warm. Consider adding more gloss finishes for added cool using Resene Enamacryl or more low sheen surfaces using Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for added texture and warmth.

Beyond the neutral

Greens, blues and yellows are useful colours to experiment with if you want a seasonally versatile room, simply because, as well as connecting us to nature, they come in a wide range of shades, giving you plenty of scope to work with.

Mid-tones, not too dark or not too wispy and light, can easily carry your room from season to season. You can try a saturated sky blue like Resene Resolution Blue, that will feel fresh and airy in a summer room, while still being rich and moody enough to feel cosy in cooler seasons. Pair it with creamy yellow Resene Astra, for light with sunny warmth.

Dining room with rich jewel tones paired with earthy neutrals

Rich jewel tones for warmth paired with earthy neutrals for freshness gives this dining space a cosy autumnal feel that still feels fresh and airy come summer. Walls and skirting boards painted in Resene Stromboli, floor stain colour washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, bench seat in Resene Deep Teal, basket with throw in Resene Bastille, dining table legs in Resene Teak, tabletop in Resene Putty, table plates in Resene Casal and Resene Tuscany, bowl in Resene Popcorn, tray in Resene Bastille, milk bottle and basket in Resene Deep Teal and planter in Resene Casal. Chair and cushion from Danske Møbler. Project by Moneuan Ryan, image by Bryce Carleton.

Similarly try a mid-tone green like Resene Parsley with pale yellow like Resene Anglaise, which has just enough of a red base to give your room a warm glow.

Using light next to dark like this not only makes your space more seasonally versatile, but it can add visual depth to your room, making it feel as though it has more space while still feeling cosy.

It’s also worth remembering that darker colours aren’t always warmer when you’re looking to create cosiness. Look at the undertones of darker shades you want to bring into your room if you’re wanting extra warmth. A cool charcoal like Resene Blue Bark will definitely give you a dramatic bold finish, but you might need to look to browner tones like Resene Sambuca for more warmth.

Typically colours with red, orange, yellow undertones will be warmer, while colours with blue, green and purple undertones will be cooler. Picking undertones can seem tricky but you can try your chosen colour against another version of that colour to help show up the undertones in each. An easy way to do this is to view A4 drawdown paint swatches from the Resene colour library at your local Resene ColorShop. Choose 2-3 similar colours then hold the swatches against each other – this will help you to see the undertone in each colour. If you’re unsure chat to staff at your local Resene ColorShop or use the free Ask a Resene Colour Expert service online.

Classic autumnal

Another popular colour scheme that can work through any season, is one that uses ‘sunset’ shades in terracotta, peach and burnt orange.

As well as being reminiscent of autumn leaf colours, these shades work particularly well to give a sense of warmth, even in fresh pale shades like Resene Awaken or Resene Wax Flower.

Try a gradient of peachy beiges from Resene Bone through to Resene Just Right, Resene Kalgoorie Sands or delicate pink Resene Pot Pourri through to Resene Japonica and Resene Sebedee. In their palest forms these peach-toned autumnal shades work well as a neutral base from which to add deeper, bolder shades. For added warmth, pair them with rich botanical greens in Resene Swamp or Resene Karaka and plenty of plants.

Colours mentioned in this article

Colours marked as "buy in-store" may not yet be available in our online ColorShop, however, the testpots can be purchased at your local Resene ColorShop or reseller.

Cosy colour that works all year

Anchor in neutrals

Beyond the neutral

Classic autumnal

Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.co.nz