It’s all in the layers

This sophisticated room is an easily achievable, classic look brought right up to date with the deft use of accent colours and layered tones.

It all starts with the classic colour pairing of green and red, but we’re not taking about going all Christmassy, or resembling the Italian flag. The new greens and reds are grounded in warm earthy tones.

In this on-trend look the soothing back green wall in Resene Peace is used a neutral, brought to life with layers of complimentary sharper, deeper shades. The contrast side wall in Resene Suits adds drama and depth to the space but remains connected to the rest of the room through the Resene Grey Chateau mid grey floor and the lighter gun metal coloured couch with a grey and white throw.

A touch of sharper green in Resene Untamed on the rear shelf adds some texture and interest to the back wall, while and the whole look is given extra depth with the subtly layered shades of Resene Grey Olive and Resene Poured Milk on the large and smaller nesting tables, respectively.

Other accessories such as the large vase painted in Resene Double Pravda, the shelf vase on in Resene Double Ash, with the Resene Charcoal candle stand, all add multi-toned layers while the round shapes keep the space unfussy and elegant.

Extra colours in centre image: Green jug in Resene New Leaf; Coffee table top in Resene Peace.

The final touch to the space comes with the bold red accents. The key here is using the new trendy, brick-toned and darker shades of reds, which are currently enjoying something of a revival. These keep the room warm and inviting, adding an autumnal feel.

If you want to change the seasonal atmosphere, it’s an easy fix to change the flower arrangement for something in alternate complimentary colours such as whites, dusky pinks or darker greens.

Other colours to try with this layered neutral grey greens look are:

• Embrace the new trend for darker shades with an interesting twist to them such as Resene Aubergine or Resene Cab Sav, then highlight with creamier shades such as Resene Half Titania or silvery tones such as Resene White Pointer and Resene Double Rice Cake.

• Try layering in more of the new brick reds such as Resene Burnt Sienna or Resene Red Plant for extra drama and impact. They work nicely on accented accessories in painted different strengths of the shades.

• Remember the lighting, natural or otherwise will impact how your neutral grey-green looks on the wall. Experiment with different shades such as the ever-popular Resene Half Tea, Resene Quarter Hillary or Resene Half Tana.

• For something different think about colouring the ceiling in a grey-green such as Resene Half Linen. It may seems like a bold idea, but sometimes a white ceiling can make a room feel cold, and adding a neutral colour can be a surprising way to may it feel more inviting.

• If reds aren’t your thing a natural evolution would be to try accenting the room with spicy browns such as Resene Jambalaya or Resene Deep Bronze.

Paint colours: Back wall in Resene Peace. Side wall in Resene Suits. Floor in Resene Grey Chateau. Shelf in Resene Untamed. Big nesting table in Resene Grey Olive. Medium nesting table in Resene Poured Milk. Tall vase on table in Resene Double Pravda. Round vase on shelf in Resene Double Ash. Small bowl on shelf in Resene Waiouru. Candle stand in Resene Charcoal.

Styling by Gem Adams. Images by Wendy Fenwick. 2018