Natural attraction

Encourage sweet soothing sleep with a bedroom painted in soft character neutrals, filled with natural texture and a warming palette of colours.

Bohemian style has really enjoyed its time in the sun. Traditional boho style is a delightful mix of pattern and bright colour to create perfectly undone – but totally done – spaces. While this jumble of eclectic goodness is still popular, bohemian style has taken a slight U-turn into a more minimalist realm of interiors. This new take still celebrates the relaxed, natural appeal of traditional boho looks but tones it down with a more neutral colour palette.

This room has done just that by using a base of character neutrals. These, as the name suggests, are neutral hues. But they’re much more intriguing than your typical true neutral, which can end up looking cold or flat. Thanks to their subtle undertones, these hues with soul bring that extra little ‘something’ to a space.

In this room, Resene Eighth Canterbury – a warming character neutral – dons the walls while Resene Eighth Joss covers the floor. These two hues provide the perfect base for other colours and textures to be layered on top while still adding to the atmosphere of the room themselves.

Layered natural textures in the rattan rug, jute pendant light and toe toe print add visual interest and depth. This is also picked up in the fringed white cushion and woven side table painted in Resene Eighth Joss. If you want to go further with natural textures, you could also bring in raw wood finishes, dried flowers or clay ornaments – the different grains and materials will add that little bit of extra character.

A crisp white, like Resene Quarter Black White, is needed in this space to prevent it being too beige and too soft. It’s brought in through the fresh white linen bedding – again, achieving that balance of edgy but soft. The Resene Curtains add a soft textural element to the room, providing privacy and shade without being too heavy or too dominating. The colour – a fresh white – links back to the bedding and serves to pull the room together.

What’s also needed in this softly tonal room is a darker contrast, which is brought in through the deep terracotta scarf. Look for objects in colours similar to Resene Lusty to achieve the same look. Alternatively, try incorporating dark browns reminiscent of Resene Espresso to accentuate the space’s light features while remaining true to the overall palette.

Soft apricots, such as Resene Beethoven on the tall vase and linen cushions, provide sweet pops of colour and work particularly well when paired with dusty pinks, such as Resene Just Right. To achieve this look, be cautious of veering too close to vibrant coral hues. Instead, keep your palette of oranges and pinks relatively muted – they’ll be gentler on the eye and won’t overwhelm the room’s quiet calm.

As a final masterstroke, bring the colours of your room together in a DIY artwork. If you’re not sure which colours to pick, take a photo of your room and use the Resene Colour Palette Generator online. to help guide your choices. You will also need a selection of Resene testpots and testpot brushes – they are ideal for both experimenting with colour combinations and for executing your project’s final design. In this room, we used Resene Sour Dough, Resene Wax Flower, Resene Tuscany and Resene Beethoven to create an abstract piece across two canvases.

Top tip

Given the simplicity of this look, don’t be afraid to tap into your inner artist when painting. Keep your creation minimalist or coat your canvas, or canvases, in swathes of complementary colours – you’ll have a unique addition to your wall whichever style you choose. If you’re looking for a no-fuss artwork, consider hanging a nature-inspired print or a woven wall hanging in similar hues instead.

Project by Melle Van Sambeek. Images by Bryce Carleton. 2021