Sunshine state of mind

Start by identifying colours that spark joy and make you want to spend time at your desk. Taking colour inspiration from a trip to the art gallery, flicking through interior design books, or browsing the latest looks on resene.co.nz are all great sources for ideas. Keep in mind that colour is believed to impact our mood in different ways, for example greens and blues can have a calming effect, while yellows and oranges bring a burst of energy to a room. I chose to paint the walls in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Emerge – a greyed off green which not only brings a sense of calm to the room, but also looks great paired with a wide range of colours, including yellow, pink and terracotta. Add a fresh and modern look by pairing it with crisp white skirting and trims, such as Resene Lustacryl tinted to Resene Eighth Rice Cake.

Have fun with furniture

Are there colours that you love but feel would be too overpowering on your walls? Incorporate your favourite shades into your furniture and accessories and you won’t need to compromise on your personal expression. I adore the colour yellow – it’s a welcoming and uplifting colour which evokes creativity, so I was eager to include this in my colour scheme. Showcasing this happy hue on my desk makes for an eye-catching feature in the room which feels warm and inviting. To start with, I gave my desk a clean with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner and followed by priming it with a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat. Once dry, I then applied two topcoats of Resene Enamacryl tinted to Resene Mellow Yellow.

Section off your workspace

If your room is used as a multi-purpose space like mine, try to create a visual divide to separate your ‘work’ and ‘living’ areas. Painting the cupboard doors in a complementary colour which is darker than my walls helps to separate my desk area from the rest of the room. To paint my laminate cupboard doors, I started by applying a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and letting it dry completely before applying two coats of Resene Lustacryl tinted to Resene Thor.

Create a unified space

Create cohesion in your space by colour coordinating your accessories such as stationery, books and pot plants. A fun project to further integrate your colour scheme into your nook is by creating an artwork with leftover paint. A simple landscape scene made up of block colours is easy to achieve and makes for a nice distraction when your eyes need a rest.

• Resene dropcloth
• Resene Smooth Surfaces Roller Kit
• Cutting-in brush
• Painter’s tape
• Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner
• Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer
• Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer
• Walls: Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Emerge
• Skirting and trims: Resene Lustacryl tinted to Resene Eighth Rice Cake
• Desk: Resene Enamacryl tinted to Mellow Yellow
• Chair: Resene Enamacryl tinted to Resene Cashmere
• Cupboard doors: Resene Lustacryl tinted to Resene Thor
• Pots painted in Resene Thor, Resene Sante Fe, Resene Ottoman, Resene Cashmere.
• Desk organisers painted in Resene Chenin.

Project by Shani Luckman. Photography by Amanda Reelick. 2023

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