Design with an edge

From the Resene decorating blog

When choosing neutrals or colours for an interior colour scheme some of the most interesting and versatile looks can come from experimenting with ‘in-between’ shades.

A simple example would be a classic black and white checkerboard floor. You can go for a quintessential pairing of Resene Black and Resene White. However, going slightly ‘off’ those colours into charcoals, greys, chocolates and creams gives you the classic of a checkerboard floor, but with an interesting, edgier spin.

Dining room painted with soft muted blues and fresh whites

Soft muted blues work like a neutral against fresh whites, adding subtle colour without dominating and allow accent terracotta shades to shine.

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Wall and dining table in Resene Double Rice Cake, arch wall, side table and chairs in Resene Regent Grey, floor stain washed in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, wall light and plate in Resene Sante Fe, round tealight holder in Resene Regent Grey, tall vase in Resene Putty. Project: Vanessa Nouwens. Image Wendy Fenwick.

Cosy living room painted with mid-toned neutrals with a dark edge for a suede-like effect

Mid-toned neutrals with a dark edge to them can take on an almost suede-like effect, that feels very cosy and cocooning when finished in a low-sheen paint like Resene SpaceCot Low Sheen.

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Walls, frames and coffee table painted in Resene Thor, floor painted in Resene Merino, sideboard and coaster in Resene Sorrento, tray in Resene Tea, planter in Resene Thor, sideboard jugs and vases in, from left, Resene Gargoyle, Resene Tea and Resene Sorrento. Sofa from Nood, rug from Città, textured cushion from The Warehouse, green cushion from H&M Home, other cushions from Freedom, faux pot plant from Farmers, faux vase foliage from Adairs. Project: Vanessa Nouwens. Image Wendy Fenwick.

One of the most versatile ways to start experimenting outside classic neutrals and colours is in shades often described as having a ‘blackened edge’. Let’s take a look at what that means.

Understanding the edge

Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey says colours with a blackened edge most typically refers to whites that have a hint of grey. In the Resene Whites and Neutrals range that includes popular colours like Resene Black White and Resene Double Alabaster.

“These two whites look great teamed together for a white-on-white scheme, particularly if you add textured finishes for walls and varying sheen levels such as gloss finish Resene Enamacryl with Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen,” Meryl says.

top tip Two ways to add texture to your walls are by adding an undercoat of Resene Sandtex for a plastered look, or by using a raised pattern anaglypta wallpaper like Resene Wallpaper Collection 5019.

“Both these whites will brighten up spaces but Resene Black White has a stronger blackened edge giving it a chalky white finish. Resene Double Alabaster is slightly brighter because it has less tint.”

These differences mean these shades not only bring some subtle variation into a white-on-white look, it makes them versatile in how you can use them, and what other colours they will work with.

Dining room with walls painted in blackened white with smoky blue around doorway and trim

Blackened whites offer a crisp contrast to off-black charcoal accents, while the smoky blue softens the transition between the two in this room – literally.

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Wall in Resene Quarter Sea Fog, with floor painted in Resene Double Sea Fog, trim in Resene Half Dusted Blue, door in Resene Black Sand, chairs in Resene Half Dusted Blue and Resene Quarter Sea Fog, side table in Resene Triple Sea Fog, with vases, from left, in Resene Half Dusted Blue, Resene Nomad, Resene Double Sea Fog, table jug in Resene Baring Head. Dining table from Bauhaus, small artwork ‘Hometime’ from endemic world, large artwork City Hall. Project Kate Alexander. Image: Bryce Carleton.

Minimalist lounge with walls and furniture in greyed white neutrals and earthy darks

This pared-down, minimalist look is given a crisp, cool finish by using greyed white neutrals and earthy darks.

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The upper wall is painted in Resene Half Concrete, lower wall and squiggle lines in Resene Concrete, floor in Resene Quarter Concrete, hall table in Resene Concrete, coffee table in Resene Triple Concrete and legs in Resene Element, vases in Resene Soothe and Resene Triple Concrete, DIY artwork in Resene Concrete, Resene Triple Concrete and Resene Element and turned wooden candleholders in Resene Element. Chair from David Shore, vases and circle candleholder from H&M Home, circle vase from Kmart. Project by Melle van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

“Resene Black White is slightly cooler so it suits slightly brighter or warmer spaces and works well on harder surfaces such as stone or concrete.” Try Resene Black White with spicy red Resene Jalapeno or, for a more neutral finish, soft taupe Resene Coffee Break.

“Resene Double Alabaster is still cool enough to counteract warm northern light, but is slightly less grey so it creates a slightly warmer atmosphere. It also teams well with timber floors,” Meryl says. Try it with warmer red Resene Pohutukawa or ochre green Resene Colins Wicket and wood stained in Resene Colorwood Matai.

If you want to look at how a blackened edge to your neutrals changes the feel of your space try testpots in different strengths of Resene Alabaster, from quarter strength through to double. All have a blackened edge of different amounts. You could also try a non-blackened white like Resene Eighth Rice Cake to see how that might change the feel of your room.

Other blackened or greyed whites to experiment with from the Resene range include Resene Half Barely There, Resene Half House White and Resene Sea Fog.

“While these whites typically have a hint of grey to them, other, saturated neutrals can also have a blackened edge to them, which gives them an earthy or hazy finish,” Meryl says.

“Warm, smoky neutrals like grey-brown Resene Kia Kaha, beige-grey Resene Cloudy and greige Resene Heathered Grey all have coloured undertones but also contain a hint of black which gives them a murky or dusted appearance.

“This allows the colour to retreat into the background allowing you to have the interest and impact of using a bolder colour, without overpowering your space. It also means they work well as a backdrop for stronger pops of colour as accents in your room.” Try Resene Heathered Grey with Resene Sanguine from the Resene Karen Walker Range, or try Resene Cloudy with Resene Dark Chocolate.

top tip Whites and neutrals with blackened edges tend to be on the cooler side of the spectrum, even browns and beiges that are blackened can appear cooler compared to cleaner, warmer neutrals.

Hit the mute

Working in these darker fringes of colours, needn’t mean sticking strictly to grey-toned whites and off-whites.

One colour movement that is particularly popular at the moment is the shift toward muted shades, otherwise often described as weathered or dusty. These are typically mid-toned colours that sit somewhere between pastels and colour saturated or richer jewel tones.

Some examples are soft teal Resene Undercover, dusky pink Resene Contented, deep gold Resene Sunbeam. Like smoky neutrals the softer, pared back nature of these colours means they work to subtly add colour to your rooms, without overtaking the space.

For example, if you love pink but don’t want your room to feel too sweet or childish, try walls in Resene Blanched Pink from the Karen Walker range, layered with muted off-white Resene Albescent White.

For a subtle sophisticated beachy look that will work all year, try popular Resene Duck Egg Blue on walls, with wood surfaces stain washed in Resene Colorwood and accents in smoked charcoal Resene Blue Bayoux.

If you have a strong colour in your room, perhaps in a feature armchair or couch, a tonally similar muted shade can be an excellent way to showcase and emphasise that piece without detracting from it. For example if you have a luxurious velvet sofa in a rich mustard- gold similar to Resene Hot Toddy, paint the wall, or even just a colour block, behind it in ochre cream Resene Smooth Operator. It will work like a neutral to complement your sofa rather than competing with it.

top tip For emphasis the muted or softer nature of muted or blackened colours consider using a matt finish on walls. This means they’ll reflect less light emphasising their soothing effect. In some shades like Resene Double Friar Grey or Resene Half Stonewall they can even take on a suede-like appearance, perfect for a cosy bedroom.

Experimenting with muted, smoked colours and neutrals with a blackened edge can open up the doors to a unique and visually interesting colour palette that remains timeless, versatile and elegant.

Colours mentioned in this article

Colours marked as "buy in-store" may not yet be available in our online ColorShop, however, the testpots can be purchased at your local Resene ColorShop or reseller.

Design with an edge

Understanding the edge

Hit the mute

Resene Paints (Australia) Limited – www.resene.com.au