Neutral colours for our home interiors are fabulously versatile, often soothing and typically quite elegant. But sometimes you just want the dopamine boost that comes with a beautiful, perhaps unexpected burst of bright colour.

Where some find joy in a sleek monochrome finish, others find it in bold shots of colour, a maximalist mix of shades or rich jewel tones. It doesn’t need to be a whole house, or even a whole room, but using touches of the colours you love in your interiors is almost guaranteed to give you a mood lift every time you walk into the room.

Here some tips on Resene brights to try, and where to start.

Look to nature

Resene Colour Expert Jackie Nicholls suggests looking to nature for colours that will make you feel good, while also bringing comfort and cosiness into your home. Beach hues or sunrise and sunset shades, for example, are brilliant places to start, she says.

“One colour that stands out as beautiful, warm and ‘grown up’ colour is Resene Dawn Glow. It’s a delicious blend of sunset pink and coral with an earthy heart that helps it to sit in any environment. It has the effect of lifting your mood every time you see it. These soft blush shades, Resene Dawn Glow is another, are actually very similar to the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2024, called Peach Fuzz.”

One way to introduce these uplifting blush tones into your home could be painting it over sections of two walls where they join in a corner, Jackie says. Another could be to use it as an accent wall in a bathroom or studio.

“It can completely transform a cold room, adding character and warmth,” she says. “You’ll be surprised how well other Resene colours and wallpaper designs will work with it, adding layers of interest and depth.”

Different greens like minty Resene Fringy Flower or deeper Resene Crusoe work particularly well with blush tones but so do other bold shades like Resene Half Aubergine or deep teal Resene Firefly.

To bring in another bold, interesting colour, that will make your blush tones really shine in a lounge or study nook, try the mink brown of Resene Dusty Road.

For a more vibrant version of these colour combinations, look at Resene Sunglo, Resene Amaranth and Resene Virtuoso, Jackie says. “It’s sure to put a smile on your face.”

For something different, that will still add those touches of joie de vivre to your interior, Jackie suggests trying a palette of botanic greens, such as Resene Green Spring or Resene Wabi Sabi, with muted yellow Resene Fluffy Duck and blue-toned grey Resene Mako.

“These are toned-down versions of blue-green and faded yellow with a mysterious grey to accent them. It’s a slightly unexpected combination but they are linked with a green undertone making it interesting and harmonious.

“You can layer all sorts of blue-green toned accessories to pull the colours together even more, then throw in small amounts of raspberry such as Resene Very Berry and grape with Resene Grape Escape.”

These accent notes could also be in fabric prints, artwork, a wallpaper feature, or even just flowers, Jackie adds.

Perfecting palettes

For those new to combining brighter, less traditional colour combinations, and worried the finished result could be chaotic or garish rather than sophisticated Jackie says the best advice is to trust your inner voice and follow what resonates with you.

“Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, they are often just as afraid or unsure to think outside the square,” she says.

If going bright seems daunting, choosing slightly muted versions of your favourite colours will make it easier to pull everything together, she says, “and don’t forget to pop in some smaller areas of darker or richer colour to give the scheme a dramatic edge.”

If, for example, you love the gorgeous combination of pink and green and are drawn to the brightness of apple green Resene Wild Side and magenta Resene Temptation but are worried that together they are overwhelming, there are many ways to manage that.

The first is to choose one of your brights as the dominant colour in the space and use the other as a contrasting accent just in a few places. Balance the look with a third paler and softer shade like creamy Resene Meringue.

You could also look for more muted, greyed versions of your vivid pinks and greens that stay true to your favourite colours while being a little more sedate. For example, Resene Smashed Avocado is a softer, yet still very ‘green’ green that works well with a sweet pink like Resene Coconut Ice and layered with delicate rose pink Resene Inspire. If you’re committed to a bold magenta, try Resene Very Berry with the muted grey green of Resene Contour and neutral trim in Resene Black White.

As Jackie says: “Colours have come a long way. From a simple collection many years ago, Resene has a constantly evolving assortment of more than 5000 different colours, including the older archive ones that are always available.

“Many now have an earthiness to them, creating ‘in-between’ colours that are calming and easier to mix and match.”

So, there’s no need to try and work with just one, simple version of red, blue or yellow – or whatever your favourites are. Talk to the colour experts at your local Resene ColorShop for advice on how to experiment with different versions of your favourite mood-boosting shades.

Here are some mood lifting combinations to try:

• If you love orange try vivid Resene Adrenalin tempered with dark Resene Ocean Waves or the more muted tone of Resene Clockwork Orange with turquoise Resene Now Or Never.

• If you love yellow try golden Resene Daylight with olive grey Resene Thunderstorm or pastel Resene Duck Egg Blue.

• If you love red try classic Resene Rudolph with greyed-green Resene Off The Grid, or smoky Resene Kia Kaha.

• If you love blue try the primary brightness of Resene Wet N Wild with yellow green Resene Illuminate or try the softer blue of Resene Lakeside with peachy Resene Dawn Glow.

December 09, 2023

If you need help looking for choosing just the right colours for your dopamine decorating, visit your local Resene ColorShop and view the large A4 swatches of colour in their colour library to see how your favourites go together. Or book a colour consultation with a Resene Colour Expert who can help guide you through your choices.

Book a colour consult | Ask a Colour Expert | Ask a Paint Expert

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