Green continues to flourish

Sage greens sit across from burgundy on the colour wheel. This distinction makes them complementary colours, which means the hues work well together thanks to their high contrast. As a timeless and classic colour, wine-inspired shades such as Resene Courage and Resene Salsa not only make them a great partner to on-trend sage but also a useful tool for building a look that has longevity.

Sage greens are equally suited for building tonal looks with silvery shades like Resene Helix and Resene Silver Chalice. Since tone-on-tone schemes are built on layering, the more you add, the more the whole scheme will hang together. The trick is to pick hues that complement with enough variation to keep things from becoming completely homogenous – and grey-greens like Resene Peace and Resene Secrets are particularly excellent to work with when you’re trying to create a restful space.

Olive green varies greatly in saturation and temperature, making it extremely versatile and giving you plenty of flexibility when decorating. Cargo or ‘army’ green, for instance, is a dustier version of olive – think Resene Waiouru or Resene New Leaf – whereas others can venture more into chartreuse territory, like Resene Untamed, or can be more of a pine tone like Resene Mother Nature. Whichever version suits you best, olive is the perfect hue to bring nature into your living space.

Warmer olives and sages look excellent together with two other on-trend tones – terracotta and blush. For a scheme that’s plugged directly into the heart of what’s hot, go for one of these winning combos below.

They’re also surprisingly gender neutral, leaving no definite sense of masculine or feminine – because they hold the perfect balance of both. It might seem an unusual way to think about colour trends this way, but there are key times when a room that appeals to as many people as possible is important. A shared office or den, for example, needs to be a space that’s inviting and comfortable for whoever needs it.

With a quick change of artwork, this space can subtly shift from a ‘she-den’ to a ‘he-den’ or a ‘we-den’.

This lush emerald space with walls in Resene Mother Nature has the feel of a warm tropical jungle escape. Layers of green accessories throughout the room, from darker Resene Permanent Green and Resene Family Tree to grey-green Resene Rivergum and pale Resene Peace on the desk chair, all enhance that feeling. The delicate and streamlined design of the furniture in this space means the use of Resene Noir never becomes over-powering. The floor is finished in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash for a relaxed, textural anchor to the room. Extra texture also comes in the leafy green plants for a look that is warm and inviting. A few small accessories in greys such as Resene Silver Chalice pull it all together to create a space that is not too warm, not too cool, but just right.

Want to get your own free copy of future issues of habitat magazine?

Printed copies of habitat highlights are available from late March 2024 at Resene ColorShops and resellers, while stocks last. You can view back issues of habitat magazine online.

• Specifiers: Sign up for habitat here. You can earn CPD points reading habitat.
• Sign up for a DIY card and save! Australian residents | New Zealand residents.

If you have an idea, project or story that you think would suit habitat plus, we’d love to hear from you. Please drop us an email with your details and include photos if submitting a project.

habitat plus are not mailed directly. They are available free from Resene ColorShops and resellers while stocks last and available for viewing online.