Fresh perspective

As summer approaches, we’re embracing nature’s most soothing hue: green.

Offering equal measures of elegance and fresh vitality, dewy greens like Resene Haven are incredibly versatile. These lighter greens are set to shine this season – minty green shades with an almost pastel-like quality are making their mark.

Green has long been associated with renewal and nature. Historically, the shade’s been used in interiors to create a sense of calm and a connection with the natural world. From the deep emerald walls of the Art Deco period to the lush, mossy greens that adorned 19th-century botanical prints, green has always held a firm place in our interiors. The colour of gardens, forests and tranquil scenes – the hue is an instinctive part of our environment.

It’s not just its natural associations that make green so appealing. Green has long been used as a backdrop to serve bolder colours, serving as a neutral tone a little less stark than white. It offers something softer and more inviting. Recently we’ve seen a shift towards lighter, fresher greens taking centre stage, particularly as designers move away from the monochromatic beige or white interiors of the last decade. Instead, they are opting for colours like Resene Half Rivergum, Resene Paddock and Resene Haven to set the scene in living spaces. These greens don’t scream for attention, but rather encourage a sense of calm.

We designed a soothing bedroom with a fresh palette to channel this sense of calm, adding pattern and subtle colour pops for flair. This bedroom is a perfect retreat for the warmer months. We started with walls in Resene Haven, a dewy, minty green that wraps you in a cocoon of calm. We opted for Resene Casal for the skirting – a deep green-blue that adds both a grounding quality to the space and elegant contrast. It’s a pairing that feels cool and breezy, perfect for a restful sleep or a slow, morning start.

A side table painted in Resene Paddock introduces a warmer, earthier green, which contrasts beautifully against our lighter walls. This hue is rich and inviting, reminiscent of meadows. We repeated our use of Resene Casal on a chair next to the bed – this is a fantastic way to introduce a bold pop of colour without touching your walls. A funky chair from an op-shop can be given a fresh coat of paint any day and can easily transform a bedroom. Green and blue have long been known to evoke feelings of peace and tranquillity, which is why they are often chosen for bedrooms. The vibe is sophisticated yet relaxed, a space that’s easy to unwind in.

Accessories you choose will elevate the overall vibe of a room, and in this case, a trio of ombre vases painted in Resene Carpe Noctem, Resene Grey Chateau and Resene Eighth Rice Cake on our Resene Paddock side table add just the right amount of visual interest. The gentle greys and whites of these vases work in harmony with our greens. We also added a tall vase painted in Resene Frozen, a small vase in Resene Haven and a small bowl in Resene Half Rivergum to our side table shelf. The beauty of these hues lies in their ability to complement one another. The addition of accessories is subtle, but they keep the space from feeling flat.

For added practicality, a floating shelf painted in Resene Wishlist, a bright, mid-toned aquamarine blue, above the bed offers storage without taking up too much space. These shelves are perfect for smaller rooms, creating a place to store books or display a few favourite accessories. The boldness of Resene Wishlist works beautifully against the Resene Haven painted walls, again adding a little more structure and keeping the space feeling three dimensional.

We kept our bedding bright and referenced existing bright blues in the room. We paired the Resene Living Deep Teal duvet and pillow set with Resene Living Madison pillows and Resene Living Range Alabaster euro pillows. The pairing creates a luxurious, comfortable retreat. The rich teal bedding contrasts gently with the softer hues of our Resene Haven walls. We added a throw in a beige tone to add a little more lightness to the space.

Our Resene Bleached Riverstone wood stain finish on the floorboards enhances the natural and serene atmosphere of the room. The bleached tone of the wood adds a natural feel to our bedroom, offering a neutral foundation that doesn’t compete with our star greens and blues. This finish is particularly ideal for a space designed to feel both light and calming – ideal for a bedroom that functions as a true retreat. Bedrooms should feel rejuvenating, and often all it takes is a switch-up of colour palettes to channel this feeling. This soft green resurgence marks a shift toward designing homes that truly nurture our well-being.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Katrina Hobbs. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2024