From BlackWhite magazine - issue 06, neutral ground
Look no further than these popular Resene whites and neutrals to create a solid base for your next project.
One of the biggest reasons decorators are drawn to neutral paint colours is their perceived timelessness. However, despite the ability of some neutrals to endure for years at a time, they’re not entirely immune to the cyclical nature of colour trends. Of course, rather than undergoing highly perceptible evolutions from one year – or even one season – to the next the way statement colours do, popular neutrals do tend to stick around for longer. If you look back on the trend cycle of neutral paint colours from a historical perspective, we tend to go through longer spells where we favour one temperature over another – often for 10 to 20 years at a time. For example, warm neutrals were all the rage in the 1990s through the early 2000s, where we saw a strong preference for stained timber floors and joinery in deep browns set amongst backdrops of beige and taupe walls. But early in the new millennium, tastes shifted sharply and stark whites, cool greys and deep charcoals became the colours we collectively coveted.
Break out from flat whites and greys – today’s top trending Resene neutrals have complex green undertones that bring a touch of earthy elegance.
Try using different strengths of Resene Thorndon Cream and Resene Rice Cake along with smoky browns like Resene Kia Kaha and Resene Dark Chocolate together in a single palette to bring a sense of understated luxury. Wall, tray and bowl (with eggs) painted in Resene Triple Thorndon Cream, bowl (with cashews), vase and egg cup in Resene Thorndon Cream, dining plate in Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, faux egg and side plate in Resene Rice Cake, pot in Resene Dark Chocolate and smallest bowl in Resene Kia Kaha. Projects by Amber Armitage, images by Wendy Fenwick.
Taupe hues that have a green heart to them feel effortless over stuffy. In the same stroke, they’re perfect for upping the level of earthiness on your project’s major surfaces while maintaining an air of refinement.
Background painted in Resene Half Napa, tray in Resene Triple Thorndon Cream, book in Resene Thorndon Cream, vase in Resene Half Nomad, bowl in Resene Dark Chocolate, and jewellery box compartments in (clockwise from top) Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Rice Cake, Resene Nomad, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Triple Thorndon Cream and Resene Half Nomad with edges in Resene Dark Chocolate.
Although we have recently entered a ‘warming cycle’ once again – where taupe, beige, brown and cream tones have been steadily replacing the cool greys that dominated for nearly two decades – there are some noticeable differences now from the last time these colours were favoured. One of the most prominent variations is the complexities of today’s most popular neutral paint colours. Rather than flat, single-dimensional hues, trending tones have become distinctly multifaceted. Dubbed ‘character neutrals’, these paint colours have far richer undertones which are often influenced by accent colour trends.
Given how wildly popular green tones have been for the past four years or more, it’s understandable that many of today’s upward trending Resene neutrals have a verdant edge. All different strengths of Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Rice Cake, Resene Nomad and Resene Napa are on the rise, and they’re being used to add interest in ways that a run-of-the-mill flat white, beige or taupe simply can’t compete with. For those that favour minimalism in their designs, having that extra facet of subtle pigmentation on your major surfaces adds a chicness – not unlike the ‘quiet luxury’ trend that’s taking over the fashion world. And these green-edged neutrals also play well to the lived-in, earthy looks full of natural materials, handmade ceramics and textured textiles, which continue to remain popular.
If you know that your client is keen for you to include green accents in their design, try reaching for delicately pigmented neutrals like Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Titania and Resene Linen to build the base of your palette. Their inherent green undertones will blend better with deeper greens like Resene Seaweed, Resene Off The Grid or Resene Tic Tac Toe, softening the contrast so that the difference doesn’t feel jarringly stark the way they could against other all-time favourite Resene whites. Or try layering green-edged whites with blush neutrals like Resene Blanc and Resene Bone for a subtle spin on a green-meets-red complementary colour scheme.
did you know? Along with popular accent colours, you’ll also find a selection of today’s top trending neutrals in the latest Resene The Range fashion colours collection. Or look to the Resene The Range Whites & Neutrals collection for hundreds of classic choices that span from whites and off-whites through to blacks and off-blacks.
Character neutrals are a little like chameleons, where the lighting and accent colours in a room play a huge role in determining the spirit your paint colours take on.
In this cosy and inviting space, the Resene Rice Cake walls seem to take on some of the pink tones of the sofa and rug under the glow of warm and diffused lighting. Wherever possible, test or at least view your paint colour selections with furniture and textile swatches in situ to see how they are affected before committing to your choices. Walls painted in Resene Rice Cake, floor in Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream and artwork in Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect in Resene Rice Cake. Sofa, ottoman and rug from Ligne Roset, side table from Good Form, books, candle, cup and saucer from Father Rabbit.
A colour that’s as silky smooth as its namesake, Resene Dark Chocolate is a top trending replacement for surfaces where you may have previously chosen charcoal grey.
Though stained or colourwashed timber flooring is particularly popular, an opaque painted floor in this luxurious dark hue is a contemporary, minimalist alternative that champions simplicity over the visual texture of a wood floor’s natural grain. Plus, Resene Dark Chocolate sits beautifully with today’s popular green-edged neutrals. Back wall painted in Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, left wall in Resene Triple Thorndon Cream and floor in Resene Dark Chocolate. Table, stool and chair from Good Form, sideboard from Ligne Roset, pitcher, glasses, bowls, lantern, candle and books from Father Rabbit, flowers from Urban Flowers.
While it’s easy to create a neutral tonal look by sticking to a single colour family from the Resene The Range whites and neutrals collection, don’t be afraid to use multiple colour families together – like Resene Thorndon Cream and Resene Napa.
This approach helps a space avoid feeling overly ‘matchy’ but still well put together. Front wall painted in Resene Thorndon Cream, back wall (through doorway) in Resene Half Napa, floor finished in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy and vase in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. Desk, media cabinet and chair from Matisse, lamp from Ligne Roset, artwork by Molly Timmins from Sanderson Gallery, shell ornament, books, paper tray and glass vase from Smith & Caughey’s, rug from Baya, lilies from Urban Flowers.
In the same way that character neutrals bring another level of interest, Resene Colorwood coloured timber washes bring additional complexity to your project’s wooden surfaces.
With green-edged neutrals like Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, try Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy to give timber a warm, weathered finish. Or try Resene Colorwood Shore Thing to give your wooden accents a more pronounced green finish. Background finished in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, wooden tray and jar lid in Resene Colorwood English Walnut, vase in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, shell in Resene Thorndon Cream and pot in Resene Half Napa.
This is a magazine created for the industry, by the industry and with the industry – and a publication like this is only possible because of New Zealand and Australia's remarkably talented and loyal Resene specifiers and users.
If you have a project finished in Resene paints, wood stains or coatings, whether it is strikingly colourful, beautifully tonal, a haven of natural stained and clear finishes, wonderfully unique or anything in between, we'd love to see it and have the opportunity to showcase it. Submit your projects online or email editor@blackwhitemag.com. You're welcome to share as many projects as you would like, whenever it suits. We look forward to seeing what you've been busy creating.
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