Outside the lines

Colour forecast with Resene, from Homestyle magazine

Your walls are one thing, but what about the rest of the room? Go rogue in high style by using paint in unexpected places.

Place to paint #1 – the floor

You know we love a painted floor, and a well-considered patterned one is a confident statement that adds tons of charisma to an otherwise straightforward space. We created this woven look using three distinct Resene shades: Resene Swiss Caramel, Resene Charcoal and Resene Crowdpleaser.

The inspiration:  For this effect, the geometric appeal of quilted creations by New York textile designer Thompson Street Studio meets the symmetrical pleasure of weaving and wicker in colours that echo sweet tooths’ can’t-say-no flavours: nougat, caramel and chocolate.

The tips:  Loud flooring calls for the rest of the room to be the supporting act. Stick to light, soothing colours for your walls, and furniture in blockish forms that hold their own against a large-scale repeating pattern, then take a less-is-more approach to styling.

Place to paint #2 – the staircase

Staircases have a natural sense of drama. Play it up by painting the sides in one shade (we used Resene Helix) and the rise and run in a complementary but contrasting accompaniment (here it’s Resene Route 66).

The inspiration:  This effect is a nod to Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill’s surreal buildings and their geometric stairs, openings and terraces – exemplified by Casa de Verano, a summer house in Spain designed for his parents and extended family in the 1970s (pictured below). It celebrates 3D form and the interplay of light and shade, enhanced by textural and artisanal elements.

The tips:  Not all staircases look the same, but the steps themselves are universal. Stick to neutral hues for your staircase surround and let the steps stand out. If your staircase has a balustrade, this could be used to add another colour to the scheme.

Place to paint #3 – the storage nook

Putting an end to the very real struggle of the too-cluttered bedside table, a nook behind your bed is design detail, display and storage in one. This architectural element also presents an opportunity to elegantly inject colour into the room without overwhelming it. We went for Resene Sixth Sense.

The inspiration:  Something as simple as a décor item you absolutely love can be a starting point for adding interest to your interior with paint, the beauty of it being how easy it is to redo if you want to change it in future. We based our colour story around a pair of silk Penney & Bennett pillowslips that we surrounded with harmonious hues.

The tips:  Paint all the recessed elements in a single shade and the non-recessed surround the same colour as the remaining walls in your room. Keep this choice neutral to ensure the nook remains the focal point.

Place to paint #4 – the ceiling

Its large surface area makes the ceiling an element you can use to turn colour (in this case, Resene Excalibur) into a hero feature of a room, yet when you’re actually in the space, it’s only just inside your field of view, so the effect is somehow subtle at the same time. The ceiling’s connection to the walls effortlessly unifies the look.

The inspiration:  Our cue for the sky-blue hue we chose for our ceiling was the dreamy impressionist vibe of this mural by heritage Netherlands brand Eijffinger. It informed the soft-edge shapes of the décor items in the room too.

The tips:  If your ceiling has architectural details such as beams or ceiling roses, paint them as well. It’ll simplify the detail, and the light and shadow around them will bring an additional dimension to your chosen paint colour. We’ve grounded our look with solid furniture.

Concept and Styling: Juliette Wanty. Photography: Wendy Fenwick.

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