Summer colours to revitalise your interior

From the Resene decorating blog

We all love the long, warm days of summer. Those days when the sun takes its time turning into a blistering sunset, and time feels free and easy.

While over the past few years, a lot of us have been unable to travel to far-off tropical sunspots, lately we’ve enjoyed the warmth of summer. And nothing beats the joy and natural uplift it brings.

A Tuscan summer inspired interior

Celebrating ease and sensual comfort, sun-baked hues pair with salmon pink and spicy orange for a simple, inviting interior. Rich terracotta tone transport you to a Tuscan summer, while the whitewashed paint effect evokes the earthiness of a rustic Italian farmhouse.

Walls painted in Resene Wild West with ragged effect in Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Sante Fe, floor in Resene Bianca, bench base in Resene Korma, plinth in Resene Korma and front/left wall in Resene Bitter. Cushions and rug from Citta, fabric (covering cushion) from The Fabric Store, bedlinen from Foxtrot Home, books from Paper Plane and Blackbird Goods. Project by Gem Adams, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Paint a playful wall mural in your dining room

Turn a blank wall in something extraordinary by finding your inner artist and creating your own mural. A playful design will bring beautiful depth to the space and allow you to bring in additional colours. Simply add the finishing touches with décor and furniture in upbeat hues.

Wall painted in Resene Half Spindle with rainbow in Resene Frozen, Resene Spindle, Resene Gelato and Resene Zircon, floor in Resene Half Spindle with rainbow in Resene Frozen, Resene Spindle, Resene Gelato and Resene Zircon, peg stools in Resene Frozen, Resene Gelato and Resene Black White, pendant lamp in Resene Black White and sideboard cabinet in Resene Frozen. Project by Emily Somerville-Ryan, image by Bryce Carleton.

Colours that replicate the summer season, whether simple hints or a broader expanse, lift our spaces in a resonating fashion.

It is fitting because home has become our ground base of late. It’s where we work, sleep and play, so it should be a space in which we recharge, with an interior that makes us smile. Ultimately, our interiors influence our state of mind.

It is this sense of optimism that we all crave and that can be easily found in cheerful hues. “They give you a sense of warmth that can be inviting,” says Resene Colour Consultant Amy Watkins.

Bring this feel-good, airy feeling indoors with paint to create a welcoming and bright atmosphere at home. After all, while you’re at home, it might as well make you feel good!

The beauty of summer colours is that they aren’t dominating, so they are a wonderful palette to apply to any room, and ultimately the entire house.

Although there isn’t one undertone that underlies these colours, they can have a common thread. “They can all have pastel undertones that can be used to lighten the space,” Amy says. “This will prevent them being too strong and overpowering the room.”

Upgrading furniture with paint and crafting murals onto a neutral space is a clever way of updating your interior as the seasons change or if you’re just ready for a change. This kitchen’s white wall is met with sunny summery colours, which can easily be repainted in autumnal tones when the time feels right.

Back wall painted in Resene Triple Merino, left wall (with window) in Resene Anglaise, window architrave in Resene Triple Merino, timber floor finished in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, table in Resene Half Sea Fog, chairs in Resene Half Resolution Blue (bright blue), Resene Smashing (bright red) and Resene Twine (caramel brown) and cabinets in Resene Spindle with painted shapes in Resene New York Pink, Resene Twine, Resene Smashing and Resene Half Resolution Blue. Artwork from Endemic World, red chair (SAI chair) from Cintesi, tea towel from Father Rabbit, blue placemats, bowls and plates from Country Road, dishrack (painted in Resene Spindle) from Citta, serving board (painted in Resene Twine) from Country Road, grey cups from Freedom Furniture. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

A relaxed beachy interior

Feel the freedom of bright, sunshiny days on the coast in a relaxed beachy interior. Its key elements are clean lines, natural textures and easy white timber finishes with blues. Nautical stripes and panelling add the final touches.

Walls painted in Resene Forecast, timber flooring in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, screen in Resene Regent Grey, cabinet in Resene Sea Fog with inset panels in Resene Regent Grey, vases (on cabinet) in Resene Azure, Resene Juniper and Resene Sorrento, timber lamp base in Resene Colorwood Whitewash and round cane side table in Resene Quarter Sea Fog. Sofa and cushions from Johnston Imports, rug from Bed Bath & Beyond. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.

To create an uplifting, on-trend summery interior that’s feel-good, look to warm neutrals. Pick your hero colour and from there layer with coloured surfaces such as shelves and doors, ceramics in fluid shapes and items made from natural materials. The dusty orange of Resene Terracotta Pink, the cream brown of Resene Calico and the pale brown-pink of Resene Pearl Bush are some of the on-trend neutrals gathering attention. Take a stairwell, for instance, coat your handrail in the bold sugary caramel of Resene Chelsea Gem with vertical railings and stairs in the biscuit beige of Resene Sand. Add to this the warm limestone beige of Resene Coral on the surrounding walls. The final touches of a rattan side table and a pendant in the grey-blue of Resene Raven will complete the look.

“Sunset tones are very on-trend at the moment,” Amy says. “Anything from blushed pink tones like Resene Blanched Pink or the pale terracotta tones of Resene Beethoven. These tones are great for both the living areas and in your bedrooms. These kind of colour tones can be used on all walls.”

Think sun-kissed gatherings in the evening light, amid tones of peach, apricot and brick red in the skies above, feel-good decorating at its utmost!

Be bold and have fun by pairing walls in warm neutrals with soft furnishings in baby or navy blue check, pale pink patterns, sisal rugs and black and white stripes.

Extend your neutrals outdoors, onto a patio with bamboo screens, climbing plants and relaxed seating. Throw open the doors and embrace the outdoors.

Step out further and embark on a 1970s vibe, blending pinks with caramels and soft browns, evoking a summer sunset feel with added pops of orange.

“Another trend is bringing in small hints of colour with the stronger yellow tones,” Amy says. “The key with the yellow tones is if you’re putting it on the whole wall, make sure you enjoy it as that colour can often reflect onto the remaining walls in the room. An example of a fresh, clean yellow is Resene Turbo.”

If you feel some summery tones are too sugary for your taste, there is an array of hues that aren’t so candy-like. The trick to making these summer colours liveable within your home is to look for those with a unique base tone.

“When colours have another undertone that comes from a different base, then it can help to soften the colour tone,” Amy says. “For example, when choosing the colours from the yellow palette then introducing a slight orange edge to it helps soften the colour tone. Resene Tulip Tree is a golden yellow with a slight orange edge to soften the colour for large-scale projects.”

Select a hue that feels just right for you for bold and bright spaces, bringing new life to your interior. Next, apply your layers on top, be they in the form of furniture, murals or artwork.

Clear-sky blues and Mediterranean turquoises make for a calm, tranquil mood and casual elegance. This colour represents mental calm and serenity, and you can feel it when you spend time surrounded by it. Bask in a coastal interior reminiscent of seaside sanctuaries with the muted grey pastel of Resene Nepal, the dusky blue of Resene Blue Moon or the fresh mid-range blue of Resene Moby. Coat your kitchen cupboards, bathroom vanity or even your window frames in these sea-faring hues. Pair with the creamy off-white of Resene Bianca or grey-hinted Resene Alabaster. Relax the mood with rattan loungers and soft lamps and outdoors lanterns for a warm, ornate setting.

If a richer interior is what stirs you, then go a touch deeper and embrace the Resene colours that adopt a taste of the tropics. Contrast rich, teal tones with soft lavender and deep azure; think a hothouse garden, rich and inviting to the senses. Resene Teal Blue, Resene Undercover and Resene Lucky Point resonate equally in a luscious, sumptuous way.

Or go with a classic botanical look, bringing in textiles in leafy prints and a colourway built on soft pink, greens and yellow and cream. Resene Soothe, Resene Moonbeam and Resene Pale Leaf have a unique allure when teamed together.

Soft pink, apricot with spearmint all exude a sweet, summery essence. Combine this palette with layers of patterned florals and striped linen. Paint your wooden furniture legs a happy hue, such as salmon pink, to blend with your palette. Play around with the brushstrokes for a rustic effect.

Or take refuge in the simplicity of summery whites, crisp, refreshing and rejuvenating, with touches of Greek Island-blues or the laid-back nature of the Caribbean.

With a bit of imagination, fresh white walls will lift the spirits when paired with furnishings in forest green, navy and warm grey through patterns and prints. Bring in the light with white sheer curtains or blinds and pots plants to lend a lush feel – ultimately good for the soul.