Embrace the dark

From the Resene colour inspiration – latest looks gallery

There’s a dramatic colour trend doing the rounds – dark tone-on-tone rooms that are at once cocooning and welcoming, but also strikingly rich.

The approach of using furnishings that almost blend into the wall colour is also surprisingly versatile – you can use just a couple of designer furniture pieces for a minimalist, architectural feel, or add more accessories and fabrics for a more traditional, plush approach.

As an extra layer of visual interest, this room has also been given an easy-to-achieve feature wall treatment in the form of timber battens attached in a grid format. The entire wall is then painted Resene Twilight Zone, a rich inky blue.

It might seem like a contradiction in terms but this room is a perfect example of luxe minimalism. Sticking to a very tonal colour palette means the room is restrained and elegant in its luxury, rather than smothering and garish. Complementary tones such as the coffee table and sideboard in Resene Indian Ink, the vase, tealight holder and bowl in the true blue of Resene King Tide, and the muted Resene Excalibur on the tray and pot add strength and depth to the room, but also prevent it becoming oppressive.

Texture is also key with the wood panel effect, as well as the velvet cushions and plant features all breaking up the density of the main colour. The floor is stained in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash over Resene Colorwood Crowshead, allowing the wood grain to add another layer of texture.

If going completely tonal isn’t for you, or there’s a need for a change, just adding a few gold accessories changes the look without too much effort. Gold works particularly well with deep navy blues for a stunning touch of elegance.

If deep blue is not for you try bold tonal layers of charcoal with burnt orange, or deep greens with notes of brass or gunmetal silver.

Paint colours: Walls in Resene Twilight Zone. Floor in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash over Resene Colorwood Crowshead. Coffee table and sideboard tops in Resene Indian Ink. Vase, tealight holder and bowl in Resene King Tide. Tray, pot, star ornament and mirror frame in Resene Excalibur. Coaster in Resene Time After Time.

Accessories: Elo stitch cushion (dark ribbed), and Ethan swivel chair (in navy velvet) from Nood. Kamikazi cushion in seafoam from Freedom. Pale blue velvet small cushion from H&M Home. Odyssey mug and speckled metal pots and vases from Shut The Front Door. Hugo 2 seater sofa in navy from Me & My Trend. Finsbury floor lamp in marble/brass and Ismalla vessels in navy/brass and brass/mustard from Freedom Furniture. Black cockatoo art print from Pop Motif. Fire Escape art print from Kmart. Gold velvet cushion from The Warehouse.

Styled by Vanessa Nouwens. Images by Melanie Jenkins. 2019