here comes the sun

From habitat highlights - issue 41, latest looks

Celebrating the sun is an uplifting design concept to guide you to a cohesive interior or exterior space.

It’s less about literal sun motifs and more about saluting the joy and colour associated with rays of light and warmth, making your spaces feel sun soaked and inviting all year round.

A living room painted in terracotta shades

Layers of sunset, terracotta shades create warmth inspired by sunbaked earth. Panelled wall painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Sante Fe and plain wall and table in Resene Twizel. Floor washed in Resene Colorwood Shade. Clamshell bowl and plant pot base in Resene Cashmere. Couch from Nood, light pendant from Kmart, cushions from H&M Home and Città.

Resene Colour Expert Jackie Nicholls says adding a metaphorical ray of sunshine to your rooms can be as simple as adding an accent colour on part of a wall or in a corner of your space. “That’s often all that’s needed to transform a space. You can change cushions and throws to suit the seasons but the warmth of a good colour contrast remains.”

A good place to find inspiration, inside or out, is the interesting sunbaked colour combinations found in nature, Jackie says. “Think of blossoms and dahlias, all shades from soft pinks like Resene Inspire through to terracotta like Resene Dawn Glow and crimson like Resene Quarter Pohutukawa, with touches of sage green Resene Soft Apple.”

When it comes to furnishings, try a curated selection of stripes and florals like the delicate buds of Resene Wallpaper Collection 333132 to bring in some golden sunny tones.

top tip Yellows intensify more than other colours when used inside. Consider choosing a lighter shade than your favourite yellow, particularly if using over larger areas. Always test your colour by painting two coats of a Resene testpot on an A2 card with an unpainted border and see how your colour changes in different lighting.

An interior with vibrant yellow stripes

Vibrant stripes painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Energy Yellow and Resene Quarter Spanish White add almost literal rays of sunshine to this entryway.

Floor washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, seat in Resene Quarter Spanish White and plant pot in Resene Green House. Cushions from Adairs, tree from Bed Bath & Beyond.

An outdoor area with a neutral golden glow

Create a neutral golden glow with layers of warm creams and beige.

Rear batten wall painted in Resene Half Putty, trellis wall and table in Resene Triple Pearl Lusta, decking stained in Resene Woodsman Uluru, planter and hooks in Resene Bullwhip and chair painted in Resene Teak. Plant from Adairs, cushion and chair from H&M Home, light from Lighting Direct, throw and tumbler from Kmart.

Lean in to a relaxed, beachy vibe by adding stacks of books, side tables and, where possible, lots of natural light filtered through sheer billowy curtains.

Yellows are an obvious way to add sunny colours to a room for warmth and energy. Try soft pastels like Resene Buttermilk and bronzed golds like Resene Noosa, with contrast accents of deep azure Resene Billabong as a nod to a rich summer sky. Go all in on sunshine yellow with a primary shade like Resene Turbo as a sharp bolt of accent colour on a chair or cabinet against a classic monochrome look in Resene Alabaster and Resene All Black. For a moodier effect dial the yellow back to a more muted mustard tone like Resene Galliano.

Sunset shades

Another way to invite the sun into your spaces, evoking warm summer nights, is to choose a palette of sunset shades, Jackie says. These are shades like the deep flamingo pink of Resene Sunglo and Resene Japonica.

A simple interior mural

A clever rug design evokes light rays, and a simple mural connects this room with the outside via a glinting cityscape, while gold tones add a warm glow.

View full accessory list / colours

Mural painted in Resene Oxygen, Resene Gunmetal, Resene Atomic and metallic Resene Dalek, Resene Infinity and Resene Silver Aluminium. Wall in Resene Black White. Floor finished in Resene Colorwood Shade. Table in Resene Undercurrent, cabinet and table tray in Resene Atomic and planter in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect. Rug from Early Settler, chair from Interior Warehouse.

Using simple tropical shades

Simple tropical shades and motifs add an immediate sense of warmth.

Chair frame painted in Resene Envy, DIY placemat in Resene Licorice and Resene Envy, tealight holder in Resene Rose Of Sharon and pot in Resene Blue Chalk. Tablecloth from H&M Home, tumbler from Nood.

“These are uplifting and perfect for a fresh accent area. If you are painting a whole room, look at Resene Despacito, a sophisticated, pinky-peach tinged neutral. Dress these areas with lots of greenery and fresh flowers, especially blossom sprigs when the time of year is right.”

Colour saturated greens like Resene Green House and Resene Permanent Green work particularly well with these dusky tones, adding the lushness of a thriving greenhouse or conservatory.

top tip If you’re using a bold colour on all four walls, roll your A2 painted card into a cylinder with the colour on the inside and look down the tube for a sense of how it will look over a whole room.

Neutrals to try

For a subtle nod to the sun, look for off-whites, beiges and golden creams, like Resene Gin Fizz, Resene Half Solitaire and Resene Dutch White. They work well as neutral accents against sunny shades, on ceilings and trim areas or layer up these warm neutrals through a whole room for a gently glowing feeling to your space.

Try walls in wheaty Resene Haystack with trim in Resene Quarter Solitaire and bolder accents in Resene Chenin. Play up the warmth of these tones with accents of deep blue Resene Bunting.

Exterior shine

A good thing to remember when adding sunny shades to outdoor areas is that bright sunlight can actually make colours look lighter.

Allow for more contrast between colours and consider choosing a darker version of your colour. If you were thinking about a sunny yellow exterior feature wall in sweet Resene Splash, use a Resene testpot to see how it looks in the natural light outside. You may want to test similar but deeper shades like Resene Bardot or Resene Tulip Tree too.

Finish any sloped areas in character neutrals like Resene Beeswax or darker hues such as Resene Canterbury Clay, as very clean whites may create glare.

Colours mentioned in this article

here comes the sun

Sunset shades

Neutrals to try

Exterior shine

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