Blank canvas

Let white in all its shades of warmth and coolness be a blank canvas for pops of any hue.

Whether you’re starting with the rich cream of Resene Double Spanish White or the dramatic brightness of Resene Black White, white offers the perfect base to dive into other colours.

This living space pairs Resene Quarter Sea Fog, a soft white with a hint of grey, beautifully with Resene Half Dusted Blue, a shade reminiscent of clear skies. Resene Quarter Sea Fog is a fantastic base for pairing with muted tones. Light blues are a classic choice for pairing with white walls. The combination creates a serene and calming atmosphere that's perfect for living spaces and bedrooms.

A strip of Resene Half Dusted Blue, with trims in Half Dusted Blue, creates a resting point for the eye around the door in Resene Double Sea Fog in this room. The design adds a dynamic element with a subtle use of blue, rather than coating an entire wall. The design lengthens and enlarges the space and doesn’t close it in.

Rounded furniture and artwork softens the impact of the bright Resene Quarter Sea Fog. Large, abstract geometric artwork in Resene Nomad and Resene Double Sea Fog gives the space a contemporary feel. The use of geometric shapes in interior design has long been popular for its ability to create a sense of balance in a space. Curves bring softness, whimsy and fluidity to a room. This art piece in the neutral Resene Nomad and icy Resene Double Sea Fog would offer any space a modern face-lift.

If you are after a blue and white look for a bedroom in your home, know that your colour pairing options are just as open to explore. A powdery blue shade like Resene Zephyr, for example, adds a touch of elegance and sophistication on a feature wall behind a bed. Pair it with Resene Black White on adjacent walls, crisp white bedding and accents, like a fluffy white rug or curtains, for a fresh and inviting look in a bedroom.

If you prefer a bolder look, try pairing walls in Resene Half Sea Fog with a deeper turquoise shade, such as Resene Deep Teal. This colour adds a pop of vibrancy to any room, and pairs well with natural materials like wood and rattan. To balance out the intensity of the turquoise, use neutral accents like Resene Merino and Resene Tea in any furniture and decor.

Another option for pairing with white walls is to use black accents. This creates a dramatic contrast that can add a sense of sophistication and elegance to any room. Instead of a door in Resene Double Sea Fog, try Resene Black Sand for impact. Keep the Resene Half Dusted Blue border to add softness and break up the contrast between Resene Quarter Sea Fog and Resene Black Sand. Black against white can work, but in this living space, it would look harsh.

Blues will soften black and keep the room feeling friendly. The Resene Half Dusted Blue border aids in breaking up the monotony of the black and creates a sense of depth and dimension. A Resene Black Sand door may feel intimidating, but black is a timeless hue that will never go out of style. It adds a touch of sophistication and can create a sense of drama and intrigue.

If dark contrasts aren’t your thing and Scandi style is right up your alley, you could even recreate this look using just whites. Contrast doesn’t need to come from starkly different shades. Layering different strengths of white can give you a subtly textured room that appears to use several different colours yet remains cohesive. You could paint a door in Resene Triple Spanish White, with a border in Resene Double Spanish White and walls in Resene Eighth Spanish White. The warmth of Resene Double Spanish White as your border would add cosiness to the room.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Kate Alexander. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2022