Modern art

A bold, geometric mural painted in arresting Resene colours adds a unique and striking touch, livening up rooms and creating a unique focal point.

Homes throughout history have embraced vivid hues and eye-catching patterns. Art Decoists of the 1920s and 1930s went for purple, jade green and glossy black. Sixties hipsters favoured acid brights in orange, pea green and magenta; the 1980s were all about neon pinks, teals and sunflower yellows.

So, although trend reports are picking a resurgence of bright and beautiful prints and colours, they aren’t telling us anything we didn’t know. Maximalists rejoice: when it comes to interiors, bold colours – particularly bright Resene paint colours – rock.

One of the most popular ways to add Resene colour to the home is by using bold graphic patterns. These can be anything from geometric shapes to large abstract designs spanning a wall.

Graphic patterns create a sense of depth and dimension, a technique superbly illustrated by this stunning two-tone geometric mural painted with Resene Foundry and Resene Parchment.

Painted murals are easily customised to reflect your style and interests and are a fun and creative way to show off your artistic style and individuality. They add life and motion to a space, telling a story and helping to create a focal point. Our mural design is approximately 1.2m by 2.4m, divided into squares or ‘tiles’, about 29cm x 29cm. Each square is painted in one of two patterns – an oblong and a semi-circle or an oblong and a triangle, rotated to create a varying pattern.

The beauty of it is that it looks complex, yet it is pretty straightforward to create. To start, use these images as a guide for your design. First, we used Sellotape Washi Advance Masking Tape, available at Resene ColorShops, to tape up the squares and draw the shapes onto the wall in pencil.

Once we had the desired effect, we painted the shapes in contrasting colours, Resene Foundry and Resene Parchment, but essentially, any two complementary tones of your choice would work. And the contrast doesn’t have to be great. For an energetic 1960s vibe, try mixing shades of red and orange – Resene Adrenalin and Resene Guardsman Red look great together. Fan of mid-century decor? Try combining rich mustard Resene Celebrate with warm ochre Resene Rusty Nail. If you like a more naturalist look, team a swampy green such as Resene Paddock with a green-based cream such as Resene Quarter Wheatfield.

This design is highly adaptable and looks excellent in a bedroom, reading nook, lounge, dining room, or even powder room.

You can use graphic shapes in interiors for many reasons. They add visual interest and appeal, breaking up the monotony of straight lines and rectangular shapes commonly found in architecture and furniture. They can also balance out a room, creating harmony between different elements or highlighting key features.

Graphic patterns create contrast, adding depth and dimension. But it is important to ensure any largescale pattern is the hero of the room. If you are painting a graphic mural, avoid cluttering the space around it, as clutter will be a distraction.

To illustrate our point, we styled the room with furniture and accessories in similar hues and shapes to those found in the mural. The circles and semi-circles in the mural are repeated in the forms and monochromatic tones of the round cushion, curved coffee table painted in Resene Foundry, arched curved vase painted in Resene Triple Parchment and ball decoration in Resene Black. The 3D artwork painted entirely in Resene Triple Parchment, echoes the geometric shapes in the mural design.

Graphic shapes painted in bold Resene colours can be a powerful design tool. They add drama and energy, allowing you to create unique and memorable spaces, making your home stand out from the crowd.

How to create your own 3D artwork

Create our designer artwork step by step with Resene paints and readily available craft materials.

You will need:

• Boxed canvas
• Small cardboard lidded boxes (ours were 5cm by 5cm from Look Sharp)
• Resene testpot in a colour of your choice
• Clear craft glue

1. Paint the frame and canvas in one colour (we used Resene Triple Parchment).

2. Paint your selection of cardboard boxes and lids in the same colour (we used Resene Triple Parchment).

3. Glue the box lids and bases onto the canvas in a checkerboard pattern… lid then box, lid then box and so on.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Vanessa Nouwens. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2023