cosy with colour

From habitat highlights - issue 40, latest looks

Create havens for every season and style.

A unque 2-tone painted wall using Resene Forest Green and Resene Fossil

Adding a touch of charm to a dividing wall can transform a room.

Wall painted in Resene Forest Green and Resene Fossil, floor in Resene Quarter Fossil, bookshelf and pendant light in Resene Spanish Green, coffee table and plant pot in Resene Double Fossil and other accessories in Resene Forest Green, Resene Quarter Fossil and Resene Spanish Green. Sofa from Nood, throw from H&M Home, cushions from Freedom, Adairs and Mocka.

Our homes don't just reflect our taste: they can also shape and cater to our emotions. That can open the door to bolder choices in colour and pattern.

A touch of colour

Rich toasty colours with a muted finish create rooms designed for relaxing. Try a deep brick red, such as Resene Incarnadine, or a mustard gold, like Resene Mai Tai. In neutrals, look for off-whites like Resene Sandcastle to reduce light reflection, says Resene Colour Expert Amy Watkins. “Try taking a pastel colour like Resene Bud from the walls onto your ceiling, which changes the way the light bounces around the room for a cocoon effect,” she says. Or try colour-drenching by using one bold tone on everything for a totally immersive experience.

Versatile terracotta is also back on trend. Try Resene Tuscany or Resene Alert Tan. Other spicy tones are heroes when it comes to warmth, in shades like Resene Espresso and Resene Redwood.

Dark colours are a more obvious choice to create your cocoon. Opting for ‘off-blacks’ such as brown-edged tones like Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Kia Kaha, stops spaces from becoming overwhelming. Blackened greens like Resene Welcome or Resene Off The Grid evoke the serenity of a forest.

Another trick is to choose a paint product that doesn't have high reflection such as Resene SpaceCote Flat or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for a cosier feel, says Amy.

Soothing shapes and shades

Curved silhouettes are in. They’re showing up in furniture such as plump sofas, in round coffee and dining tables and in the rounded corners of sideboards and kitchen islands. And even on our walls, thanks to the versatility of paint and a little artistic ingenuity.

A nostalgic look with autumnal botanical wallpaper

Autumnal botanicals evoke a sense of nostalgia. Resene Wallpaper Collection 465327 is used as a feature wall with Resene Half Masala on the wall and cubed bench seat.

Floor in Resene Triple Rice Cake, coffee table and candlesticks in Resene Teak and frames and accessories in Resene Milk Chocolate, Resene Dark Buff, Resene Gold Coast, Resene Half Masala and Resene Teak. Chair from Nood, striped cushion and throw from Adairs, other cushions from Republic Home, Freedom and H&M Home, rug from Mocka.

A cosy terracotta dining room in Resene Cinnamon

Colour drenching in spiced terracotta shades adds immediate cosiness.

Walls and console table painted in Resene Cinnamon, floorboards in Resene Colorwood Shade, skirtings in Resene Calico, dining table in Resene Mai Tai, mirror in Resene Alabaster, large pot in Resene Manhattan and candleholders in Resene Calico and Resene Cinnamon. Rug from Baya, art by Stephanie Parkes, books from A&C Homestore.

Curves are comforting – like a hug – whereas straight lines can make a space look hard-edged and too buttoned-up. Adding organic shapes and circles to your walls is as easy as using a wavy line with one colour painted above and one below. Or paint on arches or circles. Painting a wall design might seem like a daunting task, but it's more manageable than you might think. Employing a freehand technique with a pencil can yield impressive results. Begin by experimenting with sketches on paper to refine the shape and dimensions of the paint sections. Or instead of painting a mural, trace and cut shapes out of a patterned or textured Resene wallpaper and paste them onto your walls.

Soothing shades can also help soften spaces and make them feel cosy and inviting, without going for darker ‘cocoon’ colours. Softer, more muted shades include Resene Upside and Resene French Grey.

Blues are particularly soothing and softer watery aqua tones, like Resene Ashanti, work particularly well with greyed-edge or oaty whites like Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Quarter Drought for an elegant, classic look that still exudes comfort.

If you’re stuck getting started choosing your cosy colour scheme talk to the colour experts at your local Resene ColorShop.

A cosy living room in airy and soothing shades of blue and teal

Cosy doesn't have to mean dark. Airy and soothing shades can be just as effective at creating a comforting retreat space, especially when tonally similar shades are layered and paired with textures and patterns to create depth.

Lower wall and dado rail painted in Resene Undercover, upper wall in Resene Ashanti, mouldings in Resene Hermitage and panels in Resene Edward. Floor, skirting and vase in Resene Half Sea Fog.

View full accessory list / colours

Ribbed vase in Resene Undercover, books painted in Resene Undercover and Resene Edward and ball sculpture in Resene Hermitage. Artwork by Helen Dean, couch, bench and cushions from Maytime, throw from Niche Homestore, cushion fabrics from Atelier Textiles.

A fun and glamorous laundry ins shades of blue and green

Even laundries deserve some fun and glamour, done here with bubble-inspired circles.

Wall painted in Resene Half Opal with circles in Resene Stromboli, Resene Undercover, Resene Sea Nymph, Resene Horizon and Resene Wallpaper Collection 91251. Cabinet in Resene Sea Nymph, bench in Resene Horizon, lightshade in Resene Sea Nymph and Resene Coast, large washing basket in Resene Stromboli and smaller basket in Resene Undercover. Washing machine and dryer from Bosch.

Bold botanicals

Botanical prints are always popular, coming in a range of designs. For cosiness, look for Resene wallpapers in earthy colours such as soft brown and deep cream.

As these are a reflection of nature they often create the feeling of calm, says Amy, who lists Resene Smashed Avocado and Resene Wabi Sabi among her current favourite Resene greens.

Current wallpaper trends embrace the whimsical to recreate child-like wonder in nature. Designs like Resene Wallpaper Collection 465327 evoke nostalgia and the joy of falling autumn leaves.

Colours mentioned in this article

cosy with colour

A touch of colour

Soothing shapes and shades

Bold botanicals

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