tenacious tone-on-tone Sticking to different shades of one colour is a simple and effective way to embrace a rich colour scheme. This deep gold Resene Twisted Sister wall is freshened with fruity citrus elements such as the round vase in Resene Thumbs Up, the tall vase in Resene Yuma, the chair in Resene Moccasin and the sideboard in Resene Swiss Caramel. Wood tones, such as the furniture and the floor stained in Resene Colorwood Natural, keep it light. A creamy Resene Moonlight table bowl and the wicker lightshade in Resene Spanish White add extra emphasis to the bold walls. spirited shades Two different shades of outrageous red might sound like a lot, but here Resene Poppy on the upper part of the wall and Resene Dynamite beneath it work together to break up a dynamic feature wall without diminishing its impact. The richness is emphasised with a boldly contrasting stencilled floor painted in a base colour of Resene Wishing Well overlaid with a pattern in Resene Time After Time. gain focus A strip of Resene Route 66 creates a focal point in this space, while the wall in Resene Grey Olive (top left), Resene Earthen (bottom) and Resene Napa (upper right) build a dramatic patchwork behind it. This easy-to-recreate idea makes use of a neutral and natural palette while still being striking and adding dimension to what could have been an otherwise boring space. Resene Twisted Sister Resene Thumbs Up Resene Yuma Resene Swiss Caramel Resene Route 66 Resene Grey Olive Resene Earthen Resene Napa building up balance Moody Resene Quarter Bokara Grey walls and floor in this dark bedroom are made even more enticing with the touches of deep purple Resene Virtuoso on the side table and headboard, which echo the palette in the artwork. The subtle shades of the textured bedlinen pile on softness and build balance, as do the ladder and light in Resene Ethereal and the vase in the aptly named Resene Dreamtime. Textures make all the difference when opting for multiple layers of the same rich colour. This painted pressed tin wall pattern draws in the eye while the subtle greens in the flower arrangement elevate this Resene Virtuoso setting. Resene Quarter Bokara Grey Resene Virtuoso Resene Ethereal Resene Dreamtime Resene Colorwood Natural Resene Elderflower Resene Raging Bull Resene Double Pravda tips and tricks • Try to keep intricate patterns to a minimum so the bold colours are the ones doing the talking, or the room could get a bit noisy. • Most dark shades work well with bold jewel tones that match their undertones like buttery golds, emerald greens and deep pinks. Colours and fabrics, particularly on trend velvet, will add an inviting sense of comfort and luxury. • If you’re worried about a room being too dark, try large mirrors to reflect more light and optically expand the space. • If you’re starting with a bold feature wall rather than an entire room, it will likely be the first place the eye gets drawn to. If you have another bold architectural feature in the room, it may end up competing for attention and make the room feel divided or too busy. Look for strong colours that complement rather than compete with other features. Resene Sambuca Resene Half Tea Resene Colorwood Iroko Resene Thunder Road Resene Mother Nature Resene Half Spanish White Resene Napa Resene Earthen  Resene Colorwood Whitewash selection, then add pops of a second bold colour through your furnishings, accessories and art. Add a few subtle shades or a neutral for balance. Bold and neutral If too much intense colour is not your thing, you can still go bold by starting with a basic neutral or natural colour palette. Try a dark coffee shade like Resene Sambuca paired with the fresh, grey-green neutral of popular Resene Half Tea and a floor stained in Resene Colorwood Iroko. Resene Thunder Road is a warm, moody brown that pairs well with mid-range greens like Resene Mother Nature when it’s offset by a creamy neutral like Resene Half Spanish White. For an even more subtle look, opt for a soft smoky green backdrop like Resene Napa and paint trims or a feature wall in a deeper earth tone, such as Resene Earthen and Resene Sambuca. Finish with a floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash and plenty of natural fibres. No space too small If you’ve ever heard the ‘rule’ that you shouldn’t use dark colours in small rooms, let this be your permission to dismiss it. Depending on what you use the room for and how it’s lit, not all dark colours automatically make a small room feel claustrophobic. Ask your Resene colour expert to show you some shades that have a cool base, which can help make walls recede and build a dramatic background to showcase your furnishings rather than dominating the space. If you’re nervous about covering an entire room in a dark shade, think about trying it in what is likely your smallest room of all - the bathroom. It’s a space that’s prime for experimenting, as it’s generally not a centrepiece of your home, and if your tastes change, it’s a small area that takes less effort to repaint. Resene Poppy Resene Dynamite Resene Wishing Well Resene Time After Time Resene Moonlight Resene Spanish White  Resene Colorwood Natural Resene Moccasin styling Gem Adams, Lisa Morton, Vanessa Nouwens images Bryce Carlton, Wendy Fenwick, Melanie Jenkins on trend Above: The box is stained Resene Colorwood Natural, the bowl is Resene Elderflower and the vases are in Resene Double Pravda and Resene Moccasin. 33 32