back to nature

From Habitat plus - decorating and colour trends 2021

In our fast-paced world and ‘always on’ culture, most of us yearn for ways to disconnect.

The stress we are exposed to each day can easily become overwhelming, and it influences the way we feel about our homes. Recent developments have brought a major shift in how our dwellings are being used. From a place to sleep, eat and take a shower, our personal space has now, once again, become the most meaningful place in our lives: one that may also have to do double duty as a workplace but still needs to facilitate rest and rejuvenation. And that, of course, starts with how you design it.

Now that we have become aware of the significance of creating a healthy and nurturing environment for us to withdraw and recuperate, decluttering, slow decorating and maximising the available natural light have also come into focus. Decorators are turning away from the ‘fast fashion’ approach to interior design and prioritising investments in furniture and décor. To create a stimulating environment where you can express your authentic self, it’s no surprise that many of us are turning to items with a story behind them. A rediscovered appreciation for less than perfect pieces, raw, handmade and vintage furnishings sees us seeking expressive art and adopting folk motifs into our homes. And we’re embracing the old and redecorating to make old ‘new’ again with finishes like Karen Walker Chalk Paint and wax. With a little effort one piece of furniture can be reinvented as often as you like with new paint and colour.

While nature itself has long been a common inspiration for home décor, woodland tones including silvery sages such as Resene Bud, muddy stone greys like Resene Nomad, jades like Resene Palm Green and olive greens such as Resene Saratoga are among the most popular trending hues.

Luckily, these shades are all suitable for building tonal looks – an approach which is still very much on trend. 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 earthy greens like Resene Rivergum and Resene Mangrove are particularly excellent to work with when you’re trying to create a serene space but don’t want it to lack in interest or contrast.

Top tip: Bring in natural textures and stain timber in Resene Colorwood wood stain to reinforce nature’s touch

Other colours to try with today’s popular greens are toasted browns like Resene Toffee, midnight blues like Resene Dark Knight or smoky grey blues like Resene Neutral Bay.

Lush looks

Deep and luscious greens transcend the seasons. With a little quick accessorising that cooler summer look can become a cosy autumn look just by adding touches of warm terracotta or mustard. Olive green varies greatly in saturation and temperature, making it extremely versatile and giving you plenty of flexibility when decorating. Resene Waiouru, Resene Clover or Resene Scrub are among the easiest to work with. Try them layered with a softer green like Resene Bud, an antique gold like Resene Stinger or an ochre green like Resene Grass Hopper and add a touch of buttery yellow like Resene Sweet Corn for warmth.

Jade greens have a sultry, worldly value to them that's intrinsically tied to nature. They're timeless in every respect and work beautifully when complemented by other natural elements and neutral tones. Try on trend versions like Resene Palm Green or Resene Permanent Green with an inky grey blue like Resene High Tide, a refreshing mint like Resene Edgewater or a deep ruby like Resene Rustic Red.

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