From habitat plus - decorating and colour trends 2022
Paint effects, pinstripes and everything through to geometric wall designs and animal motifs. See what's trending in 2022...
The resurgence of paint effects – and, in particular, limewashing – has, without question, become one of the hottest trends around. Those wishing to imitate the look of Mediterranean or concrete walls and floors are in luck, because it's a look that's very simple to create.
Textural paint effect*
Start by painting your walls in two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen waterborne enamel (or Resene Walk-on flooring and paving paint for your flooring) tinted to your favourite Resene colour. Once dry, use a Resene testpot in a similar colour that’s one or two values lighter or darker than your base colour to colour a can of Resene FX Paint Effects Medium. Then, simply use a rag dipped in the mixture to apply it in a circular motion over your base colour with one hand and soften the look with a clean, dry rag using your other hand. To give it even more depth, repeat the process again with the same colour (or a third one). To pull it back, dip your rag in your base hue and apply it to any areas where the effect is too strong. If you prefer a more brushed style apply the coloured Resene FX Paint Effects Medium by brush using a random criss cross technique.
*Wall in Resene Anglaise with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium coloured with Resene Calico, ragged for a textural effect. Floor in Resene Calico with layers built up of Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Cobblestone and Resene Half Karaka. Textured painted pot in Resene Anglaise with Resene FX Paint Effects coloured with Resene Calico. Bench from Domo, scarf and bag from World, pendant lamp from Republic Home, basket vase from Città.
Contrast is one of the most important design principles and can really make or break your look. While mixing up the depth of the tones (or ‘value’) you use is one way to create contrast, you can also bring in a completely different hue as another strategy. In a space that otherwise follows a tone-on-tone colour scheme, bringing in a completely different accent hue can really make a space pop. Not unlike vintage photographs, it’s the sepia tones in Resene Cape Palliser and Resene Desperado that bring this otherwise greyscale bedroom to life. For a different yet equally striking look, swap the sepia out for a soft green grey, dusty pink or lilac such as Resene Tasman, Resene Soothe or Resene Alluring.
Top tip: For the highest contrast, choose an accent hue that’s on the opposite side of the colour wheel from your main colour (which is also known as a complementary colour scheme). Try Resene Chelsea Gem with Resene Elephant. For a less dramatic difference, pick an adjacent colour instead (which is known as an analogous colour scheme) such as Resene Juniper with Resene Bounty.
Painterly dots, dashes, stripes and strokes that you would normally see in artwork have been making their way off the canvas and on to walls and furniture. In a minimalist space, a wall mural featuring these techniques can be an affordable and creative alternative to the kind of large-scale artwork that would be needed to define the space. In more maximalist situations, try replicating a painterly motif found on textiles, accessories or artwork that appears elsewhere in the room to carry those colours and designs to a different area, which will result in a more cohesive space.
A variation on the colour blocking trend, those with a steady hand and the patience to see the technique through have been creating impressive wall features comprised of hand-painted pinstripes. This gives an effect that is much more subtle than a solid block of colour, ideal for formal rooms that could use a touch of loosening up and an extra dose of visual texture.
Whether they bring attention to an architectural feature, fill an odd wall or act in the place of artwork, interior murals are having a renaissance right now. With endless options for colours and shapes, let your imagination and creativity be your guide for making the most of this trend. Your mural can be as simple or as complex and as neutral or as colourful as you’d like. Or get inspired by these designs that rely on cohesive tonal colour palettes to make a statement.
Top tip: Making a mural is exciting, but no matter how artistic you may be, it’s smart to plan out your design on paper first and then use a pencil to mark it on the wall before you start painting.
Whether they’re straight and formal, angled or freeform, stripes are a popular way to add plenty of personality to walls and floors. While stripes in two alternating colours have long been considered a classic design staple, the use of three or four colours together is becoming increasingly popular. Even those who consider themselves unartistic should have no problem wielding a ruler, masking tape and a roller to take on this trend. Try a tonal look in Resene Truffle, Resene Double Truffle and Resene Quarter Truffle, team Resene Anglaise, Resene Foundry and Resene Raven together for a higher contrast look or opt for a striped wallpaper design, such as Resene Wallpaper Collection 539042.
Too many great Resene colours to choose from? Pick two, three or more that you like the look of together to create a fun colour blocked design. This trend is especially popular in open plan layouts as a way of visually defining or separating a larger space. Try a dip dyed or tideline effect by using a single hue on the lower portion of your walls and taking it on to the floor. Or highlight your home office space or a favourite artwork with a block of colour.
Did you know? When you use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen to paint your colour block, it can double as a chalkboard. Midrange and darker Resene colours work best for light and white coloured chalk to show. When you want a clean slate, simply wipe off the chalk with a clean damp cloth and start again once its dry.
After years of being told to keep clutter out of sight, open shelving has been making a resurgence. This trend is most noticeable in kitchens, where table and serving wares are typically tucked away in drawers and cupboards. Instead, items we’re most proud of – especially one-of-a-kind, handmade, artisanal, heirloom or vintage items – are being put out on full display.
With this look, less is often more and attention should be paid to quality over quantity. If paring down or curating items you already own, focus on keeping and showcasing pieces that are both beautiful and functional and letting go of ones that no longer ‘spark joy’. If something you’d like to display has a great shape but is in the wrong colour, you can always paint the outside in a Resene testpot so long as you don't plan to cook with it.
Top tip: Group displayed items together by colour, or in an array of tonal variations of the same colour, to bring more attention to them.
Pantry items like beans and pasta that won’t be affected by sunlight and changes in temperature can be stored in clear containers with lids or labels painted to coordinate to add more colour and character to kitchen shelves. Wall and skirting board in Resene Half Opal, floor in Resene Rice Cake and cabinet in Resene Log Cabin. Console table, chair and lamp from Good Form.
Adding more texture to a space is a sure-fire way to up the interest in a room, and tongue-and-groove panelling and battens are highly fashionable ways to add literal dimension to your walls and ceilings. Decorators are coming up with more creative methods to incorporate them, moving past more predictable grids or dado rails in favour of designs with a clever twist or a more freeform attitude. Try building reverse wainscotting that protrudes out instead of being set in or upcycling old picture frames to create a unique look.
Top tip: Use a mix of lighting in your space, including ambient lighting (such as overhead lights), accent lighting (to play up panelling or other architectural details) and task lighting to properly illuminate what you’re doing (such as purposefully placed table or pendant lamps).
Along with the Art Deco-revival trend has come an insatiable appetite for arches. Arch-shaped accessories and furniture abound in home décor shops, but it’s archshaped painted wall designs and headboards that have become a style staple across social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.
Arches are much easier to paint than they appear. First, mark the top curve of your design on to your wall. Use a pencil attached to a string and drawing pin to create a perfect curve. Next, use a level and painter’s tape to mask your straight vertical lines. For the cleanest lines, use high quality painter’s ‘washi style’ masking tape, available from your local Resene ColorShop, and ensure you press it down firmly when you apply it. Then, use a wide angled high quality paint brush – one with lots of soft bristles – to paint your curve, feathering in the bottom edges of your strokes so that you don’t end up with a hard line. Next, use a roller to finish painting the remainder of your arch colour. Once your first coat of paint has dried, apply your second coat in the same manner and remove your tape once your topcoat is dry to the touch. If any of your pencil marks remain visible, remove them with a white rubber eraser once your paint has completely dried.
With real estate at a premium, it’s no longer expected that each member of your household can have their own room all to themselves, never mind a spare room for pursuing a hobby. But clever and creative homeowners have been reclaiming closets, corners or niches to devote to the things they love. Whether it’s dance, music, crafts, reading or gaming that floats your boat, there’s endless options for how you can use paint and timber stains to enhance your hobby space.
Top tip: For most types of flooring, Resene Walk-on flooring and paving paint is the right choice for painting solid colours or patterns. Finish it with Resene Concrete Wax for added protection. Check with your local Resene ColorShop staff to check which flooring finish is best for your project.
Geometric wall designs – both in paint and wallpaper – are ideal for those who like a little more structure and uniformity in their spaces. Squares, triangles, circles, diamonds and hexagons are all up for grabs and work best when repeated in multiple places and at different scales throughout your space. Look for décor items like cushions, accessories and artwork that repeat your chosen geometric motif. Or pick up some Resene testpots in colours that coordinate with your space and try your hand at painting designs on tables, cabinets, chairs, lamps, plant pots, vases, walls or flooring.
Top tip: Paint two basecoats of Resene FX Magnetic Magic under your painted wall feature to turn it into a handy noticeboard capable of holding up strong magnets.
Fronds from palm to monstera continue to grace wallpaper and textiles and are a chic way to bring elements of the outside in. But more and more, we’re seeing these patterns appear in more unexpected colour combinations. Rather than typical emerald and ivy greens, it’s designs with pretty pastel pinks, blues and beiges that have been popping up on our radar. Try Resene Wallpaper Collection 218741 on a statement wall or use it to cover dresser drawers or a door for an airy look. Or try your hand at hand-painting some palms on to a headboard or coffee table using an array of Resene testpots to bring instant elegance to your bedroom or lounge.
Animal lovers have never needed an excuse to show off their passion for their favourite fauna, but animal motifs have been wildly trending. The love of birds is strong, and accessories and accents that feature feathered friends can be found in most décor shops. Jungle creatures like jaguars and monkeys appear frequently as statuettes and as part of fun wallpaper designs. Leopard spots and zebra stripes continue to be popular patterns for textiles.
Channel an elephant and don’t forget – dated ornaments found in op-shops can look chic and trendy when given a quick lick of Resene paint to coordinate or contrast with your chosen colour palette.
Pet ownership is at an all-time high – and so are the ways we spoil the animals we share our homes with. If any of the babies you have in your home are of the furry variety, there’s nothing stopping you from decorating an area of your home especially for them. Create a theme by stencilling or masking to create graphic shapes and paint belongings like beds, bowls, hooks or storage containers in Resene colours to coordinate.
Instant conversation starters, quirky and interesting wallpapers continue to be popular and are the perfect way to express your personality on your walls or ceilings. Give your visitors a reason to break the ice with bathroom, lounge, hallway or dining room walls in a cheeky selection from the Resene Wallpaper Collection that’s guaranteed to turn heads. Visit your local Resene ColorShop to view the latest releases.
Keep in mind that most wallpapers are only available for sale for 2-3 years, sometimes shorter, so if you are planning to use the same wallpaper in multiple places or on a big project always make sure you have enough when you start the project. It often pays to buy an extra roll in case you need a little more later. If a design you like is no longer available, you can always try replicating it with paint for a one-of-a-kind look.
Go for a textured wallpaper – especially one with a golden patina – on the upper half of your walls paired with lower panelling and flooring in a charcoal black like Resene Double Foundry or Resene Nero and tactile textiles like velvet and leather for a lavish look. If you can’t find a golden wallpaper you like, choose a paintable Anaglypta textured wallpaper design from the Resene Wallpaper Collection and give it the Midas touch with Resene Gold Dust metallic paint.
Top tip: For more wallpaper ideas, pick up the habitat plus – wallpaper book, available free from your local Resene ColorShop or reseller or view it online at www.resene.com/wallpaper.
Whether they’re cheerful, bold or energetic, nothing makes an eye-catching statement the way that bright Resene hues do. While bright colours continue to mainly be used as a way to link a space together or punctuate a more neutral palette, the only limit to how little or much you use rests in your imagination. After all, fortune favours the bold, they say!
There’s probably no statement colour more classic than a showstopping red like Resene Red Berry or Resene Smashing. But reds are also a re-emerging trend, which means you’re about to see plenty more of this striking hue. Not only will fire-engine reds like Resene Red Red Red be roaring back in, but there will also be deeper variants surfacing, such as Resene Vanquish.
Top tip: Use Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss enamel to bring pops of colour to accessories, furniture, lamps and chairs. Or opt for Resene Enamacryl gloss for a higher sheen and to help the colour pop.
Purples from lilac to aubergine are also gaining traction. The colour of royalty – but also the more polarising of hues – it’s not a part of the spectrum that speaks to everyone. But if you’ve got a penchant for purples, consider this your permission to take tones like Resene Wonderland, Resene Paua and Resene Covert to your walls, flooring, furniture and accessories to get ahead of the curve.
Top tip: For a surprising pop of colour, paint the edges of a door or a room transition in a fun Resene hue. Or use a metallic paint colour, like Resene Proton, for an added bit of sparkle.
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