Gender neutral rooms and solutions for working from home.
It would be a rare couple that agreed entirely on exactly how to decorate so deciding on a space that appeals to both can be tricky. Blues and greens are often safe choices as they are calming and relaxing, and tend to be universally appealing. Try Resene Duck Egg Blue or Resene Secrets for a soothing colour that will help send you both off to sleep.
A monochrome colour palette is the ultimate gender neutral combination.
Back wall in Resene Zumthor with shelf wall in Resene Blue Bark and floor stained in Resene Colorwood Dark Ebony. Artwork by Sofia Lind from Slow Store.
Another approach is to blend your styles – decide which bits you can each live with and which you can’t. You can approach it as you would picking a team at school, adding elements one each at a time.
Go homewares and furniture shopping together; this will also give you insight into each other’s tastes.
Use neutral colours on the walls, such as Resene Bianca or Resene Rice Cake, then add items in a style or colour you each like: cushions, ornaments, rugs, etc.
Working from home has become increasingly common and often bedrooms or guest bedrooms have to double as office spaces. To make sure work doesn't creep into your relaxation time, create separate zones using colour to demarcate areas for rest and spaces for work. Tucking a desk inside a wardrobe space is an easy way to close off your work area at the end of a day or try a screen to hide your paperwork out of sight.
Be careful of bold colour choices, while bright colours can be stimulating for work – it's a good idea to make sure your sleeping area is painted calmer colours. Green is a good choice for shared spaces as it's not only relaxing but good for concentration. Screens are a way of hiding work spaces – try painting a side that is visible from the bed in a calming green like Resene Envy and the side closest to the work area in a deep leafy colour like Resene Palm Green.
In this project by Sonia van de Haar of Lymesmith, a built-in desk can function as a makeup area or working area.
The bright and calming colours with Resene Duck Egg Blue on the ceiling and Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta on the timber panelling make the space functional for both work and rest.
If your bedroom doubles as an office space, use colour to demarcate areas for work and areas for rest.
Wall in Resene Just Dance (try Resene Wax Flower), return wall in Resene Smoulder (try Resene Persian Red) and floor in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash. Artwork by Alice Berry from endemicworld.
top tip Does your room have space for a sitting area, even if it's just a chair in the corner with a side table and lamp? This will heighten the usability of your room and give you a spot to curl up with a book and a cup of tea – or a glass of wine. If your bedroom has access to the outdoors or a lovely view, orient the bed or a chair to take advantage of the outlook.
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