Designs that don’t date

Protect your investment with timeless classics.

Home interior painted with muted botanical greens and fresh neutral tones

Pairing muted botanical greens with fresh neutrals creates an ageless, airy space that feels connected to nature.

Back wall, floor, lamp base and vase painted in Resene Bubble White, front wall in Resene Bud, table in Resene Siam. Art and rug stylist’s own. Project Ambert Armitage. Image Wendy Fenwick.

Tackling a home renovation can be daunting, particularly if you’re new to the process and have a limited budget.

We all want the most bang for our design buck and part of that is giving your finessed interiors the best chance at a long life, with looks you’ll continue to love for years without needing to re-do them in a short space of time; or, you might be redecorating to make your space attractive to as many potential big spending buyers as possible.

All of that calls for classic styles that will stand the test of time, while also letting your individuality shine through. It might sound like a tall order, but with a little planning, the right Resene products and good advice, you’ll be on your way to an elegant and ageless finish.

Nice and neutral

Resene Colour Consultant Meryl Southey says one of the simplest ways to start building a timeless look that’s versatile with wide appeal is to start with a neutral base, which needn’t mean going for white-on-white.

“Neutrals have an inherently classic quality that doesn’t go in and out of style as some colours do. They help to ground schemes and evoke a timeless feel, but you can still introduce accents via muted or dark shades in current colours to create a cohesive look or a particular planned style.”

To get started Meryl suggests working with Resene’s range of warm mid-toned neutrals, that can work well as a backdrop for a wide range of colour palettes. The versatility of a lot of beige tones means they can change in appearance based on the colours and light conditions around them.

“Resene’s collection of beiges and off-whites can range from pink-based shades like Resene Solitaire and yellow-based tones like Resene Haystack to those with greyer or even greenish notes like Resene Truffle and Resene Ash. That gives you a broad spectrum of neutrals to experiment with as the base of your classic look.”

For example, a sandy-toned off-white like Resene Fossil can be a beautiful, warm base for a classic Hamptons style coastal look, paired with crisper Resene Alabaster on trims, accents in deep blue Resene Coast and wood notes stained in Resene Colorwood Natural.

When working with warm neutrals like Resene Half Tea or Resene Quarter Tea, subtle shifts in the undertone of your neutrals, and the colours you pair them with – as well as the light conditions in your room can make a big difference to the feel of a finished room, Meryl says.

top tip To keep your look cohesive, check with an expert at a Resene ColorShop to help match cool and warm undertones in your look, and think about whether you want your finished room to feel cool and fresh, or warm and luxurious.

Beyond beiges and creams, Meryl says other versatile neutrals to try for a timeless finish are warm greys like Resene Quarter Friar Grey and Resene Eighth Stonehenge, or deeper earthy tones like Resene Gravel or Resene Bison Hide.

Neutral dining room with faux wood panels and textured wall finish

Faux wood panels and a textured finish bring texture and timeless style to this dining room. Walls painted in a base of Resene Contented with topcoat in Resene Ebb and Resene Albescent White mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium, floor stained in Resene Colorwood Bleached Riverstone, console table in Resene Contented, planter in Resene Half Sauvignon, table in Resene Albescent White, table vase in Resene Half Blanc, console vase in Resene Twisted Sister, scalloped bowl in Resene Black White. Chairs from Dansk Møbler. Project Annick Larkin. Image Bryce Carlton.

If you want to keep your finished look to a classic all-neutral look to break it up with texture rather than colour, Meryl suggests.

“Introduce pattern and texture to create interest. Keep to classic shapes and forms with a simple botanical wallpaper design like Resene Wallpaper Collection 37363-5 for example. You could also experiment with a textured paint finish using Resene Sandtex or a plaster finish with RockCote MicroStone from Resene Construction Systems. It creates a stone-like finish which works beautifully with wood finishes stained in a neutral shade like Resene Colorwood Dark Rimu.”

“A key part of creating a timeless design is to work with good quality materials and products that will stand the test of time,” she says.

Other ways to add texture and visual impact to an all-neutral space are wainscoting or wall panelling, and sponged or weathered finishes using Resene FX Paint Effects Medium, Resene FX Faux Rust Effect and Resene FX Crackle.

Classic colours

If you want to dip your toe into coloured interiors while keeping your look classic, rather than trendy, a good place to start is what’s already around you, Meryl suggests.

“Colours inspired by nature will almost always feel timeless. Think deep muted blues like Resene Cello, leafy greens like Resene Smashed Avocado, earthy browns like Resene Colins Wicket, and rustic reds like Resene Incarnadine. These colours can sit beautifully alongside neutrals like taupes and off-whites for an ageless look, punctuate the look with finishing flair using notes of Resene FX Metallics, or an accent note in a brighter, sharper colour.

Calming bedroom painted with muted earthy tones

Muted earthy tones add richness and personality to a timeless look, adding them in decor and furnishings means the look can be refreshed easily over time.

View full accessory list / colours

Upper wall and built-in cabinet in Resene Half Tea, floor washed in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, vase in Resene Quarter Tea, book in Resene Milk Chocolate. Bedding from Bed, Bath & Beyond, pale linen cushion cover from H&M, ottoman from Mocka, mirror from Kmart. Project Ambert Armitage. Image Wendy Fenwick.

Coastal home entryway featuring muted blue and earthy neutral hues

Muted blues and earthy neutrals combine to create a classic coastal look.

View full accessory list / colours

Wall painted in Resene Quarter Powder Blue, floor stained in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, bench in Resene Clouded Blue, door and shelf in Resene Powder Blue, planter in Resene Periglacial Blue and Resene Powder Blue, footed dish in Resene Quarter Powder Blue, small plant pot in Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue and coral in Resene Alabaster. Faux plant from Adairs, cushion covers from H&M Home. Project Vanessa Nouwens. Image Bryce Carleton.

top tip If you’re focusing on two colours, don’t use them in equal amounts; they’ll end up competing. Choose one as your main colour and use the other as secondary highlights. The simplest combo to work with is often three colours – using your main colour in 60% of the space, a second colour in 30% with an accent colour in 10%.

Another approach when shopping around for colours that add timeless elegance to your space is to think about classic colour combinations. Try groups of typically two or three colours known to work well together, usually because of their position in relation to each other on the colour wheel.

Some examples to get you started are:

Black and white: Probably the ultimate classic colour combo. Keep to the basics with Resene Black or Resene White, or add a nuanced spin with deep navy Resene Tangaroa and creamy Resene Cararra.

Red, blue and yellow: A bolder pop of primary colours can create a creative yet timeless look. Try Resene Bright Red, Resene Cobalt, and Resene Turbo in accent notes against classic Mondrian-style black Resene All Black, and white, Resene Black White. For a softer effect, go for muted versions of the classic primaries in Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Putty and Resene Bali Hai.

Green and yellow: To keep it from going too sporty opt for khaki tones such as Resene Flax with pale golds such as Resene Butter.

Pink and green: This delightful combination has so many possibilities, but for a classic look try muted botanical tones in Resene Soothe and Resene Spanish Green that won’t age.

top tip Try Resene’s The Classics Collection colour chart to see a curated range of Resene’s most consistently popular colours, whites and neutrals.

Ultimately what will really create a lasting look for your home that feels sophisticated and inviting, Meryl says, is one that reflects your individual style, taste and lifestyle, rather than one based on what someone else thinks is cool or on trend.

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.

Designs that don’t date

Nice and neutral

Classic colours

Some examples to get you started are:

Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.co.nz