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Into the blue

From the Resene decorating blog

Blue is often thought of as a cold shade – unsurprisingly since it sits on the cool side of the colour wheel. But that doesn’t mean it deserves the cold shoulder when it comes to decor. On the contrary, blue is a perennial favourite with stylists for its many moods and facets.

A relaxing blue living room

Fade to blue: This living room wall painted in rich grey-blue Resene Rhino sets the tone for relaxation. The batten ombre feature creates a statement and adds fun and visual interest. The battens are painted in (from darker to lighter) Resene Half New Denim Blue, Resene Gull Grey, Resene Neutral Bay and Resene Midwinter Mist. The floor is painted in Resene Iron to offer some light relief. The mid-range tonal hues across key items of furniture and accessories act as an intermediary between the lightest and darkest hues. Cabinet painted in Resene Gull Grey, coffee table in Resene Neutral Bay, side table in Resene Midwinter Mist, pendant lamp in Resene Iron, tealight holder, vase and bowl on the tables in Resene Rhino, mini sculpture on the cabinet in Resene Neutral Bay and Resene Half New Denim Blue, planter in Resene White and the round ball decoration in Resene Midwinter Mist. Chair from Danske Møbler, cushion cover from H&M. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

So how to choose? It really comes down to the ambience you want in your space as different blues generate a different energy.

Research has shown blue helps our ability to focus, so an understated and soothing shade grey-blue like Resene Raven is a great option for a study or office. A clear-skies blue like Resene Cut Glass offers an easy, breezy serenity that brings the outdoors in and creates a sense of spaciousness.

Shades with just a hint of colour, like Resene Duck Egg Blue, bring a gentle harmonious look that verges on neutral. Mid-toned blues like Resene Seachange, Resene Kashmir Blue and Resene Biscay are neither too dark nor too light – making them perfect backdrop material.

For some Hamptons-inspired sophistication try strong royal blues such as Resene Havelock Blue or darker Resene Hendrix paired with a white like ever-popular Resene Alabaster or Resene Black White. It’s a classic pairing that really lets that blue really sing.

Deep moody blues like Resene Indian Ink are rich, velvety and cosy – ideally suited to framing a gorgeous view through a window, or an archway showcasing a beautiful interior beyond.

Fade to blue

So you’ve decided on blue, but you’re having trouble settling on an exact shade. Then why not have several? Once you’ve picked your hero hue, use different saturations of that colour throughout the space. This is a tried-and-true way of dramatically transforming a room by giving it more definition and dimension. Extend the layering effect to your rugs, cushions, sofa etc.

Colours are like flatmates – they need to be easy to live with. That especially applies to your main lounging space – and Resene’s warm ‘denim’ blues fit the bill perfectly. They contain the right amount of greyed dustiness to make them ideally suited for our intense natural light. Try Resene Half New Denim Blue, Resene True Blue or Resene Kashmir Blue.

To prevent your tonal scheme from straying into bland territory, you can create a statement piece like an ombre batten wall. And it’s not hard to do. For each of the colours in your batten ‘artwork’, you will need eight 40mm wide battens that are long enough to go from floor to ceiling. Prime them with Resene Quick Dry then apply two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel – tinted to your Resene colours of choice – to all sides of your battens. Let the first coat dry completely before applying the second. Use a level to get your first batten square to the wall and attach it using small nails or construction glue. Your subsequent battens can be aligned flush to the one before. If your battens are delicate, pre-drill narrow holes – not too close to the ends – to avoid splitting them when hammering in your nails. Make sure the nail heads sit below the surface level of your battens, fill the holes with wood filler, sand those areas flat then touch them up with paint.

In deep

Rich and luxurious, navy brings all the drama of a black palette but is less austere. And let’s dive right in and debunk a popular myth – navy walls won’t make your space look smaller. In fact, dark colours can blur the edges of the walls, giving an expansive feel.

A red, white, and blue interior

Viva il tricolore! Wave the flag for red, white and blue because it’s a magical combo. These hues work gorgeously together with a host of styles – from nautical and Hamptons through to mid-century modern and Bauhaus-inspired. You also have full licence to introduce a range of blues with both warm and cool undertones.

This living room features a wall and shelf in Resene Midnight Express with a small drum coffee table in glamorous sunspot blue Resene St Tropaz and a larger one in Resene Red Red Red. The floor is painted in warmer Resene True Blue and the space is layered with painted vases and pots in Resene True Blue, Resene Kashmir Blue, Resene Red Red Red and Resene St Tropaz. The few touches of warm white come courtesy of Resene Bianca. Velvet sofa and rug from Nood, striped circle cushions from Freedom. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton.

A tranquil rustic inspired bedroom

Pale blue brings a breath of tranquillity to this pretty rustic inspired bedroom, where a hand-painted wall design makes an attractive alternative to wallpaper.

The main wall is painted in Resene Mystic with stripes in Resene Relax. The feature wall is offset by a return wall clad in tongue-and-groove panelling painted in Resene Surf Crest and trimmed in deep navy Resene Astronaut. This high-contrast hue is carried through in the lamp base to offer a sense of cohesion, with the striped bedlinen and cushions continuing the theme. The lampshade scallops and stripes are painted in Resene Zephyr. The headboard is painted in Resene Relax with uprights in Resene Quarter Iron and bedside table in Resene Dusted Grey. The mottled paint effect on the flooring creates a ‘lived in’ feel. This was achieved with two basecoats in Resene Walk-On flooring paint tinted to Resene Mystic, followed by Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Dusted Grey, applied with a sponge and blended in with a soft dry rag during application. Bedspread from H&M Home, navy stripe pillowcase from Thread, green patterned cushion and rust cushion from Collect Living, white pillowcases and blue throw from Places & Graces, artwork by Bioattic from endemicworld, statue of David bust from Ornament, green bowl and wooden stool from Tony Sly Pottery, dice from French Country Collections. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

However, you can have too much of a good thing. Be sure to balance out your intense navy with some clear, crisp and bright hues. Good pairings include mustard yellows, vivid pinks and metallic golds such as Resene Pirate Gold and the vivacious fuchsia pink Resene Smitten – which has a touch of violet. These colours really stand their own ground and contrast beautifully with the deep velvety backdrop.

Another showstopping partner for navy is orange – fiery and warm, it balances the cool depth of navy. And as it’s on the opposite side of the colour wheel, orange makes an appealing and energising contrast for your furniture or accent pieces. Try a bright punchy tangerine like Resene Ecstasy or apricot jam hued Resene Roxy.

A red, white, and blue interior

In deep: Viva il tricolore! Wave the flag for red, white and blue because it’s a magical combo. These hues work gorgeously together with a host of styles – from nautical and Hamptons through to mid-century modern and Bauhaus-inspired. You also have full licence to introduce a range of blues with both warm and cool undertones.

This living room features a wall and shelf in Resene Midnight Express with a small drum coffee table in glamorous sunspot blue Resene St Tropaz and a larger one in Resene Red Red Red. The floor is painted in warmer Resene True Blue and the space is layered with painted vases and pots in Resene True Blue, Resene Kashmir Blue, Resene Red Red Red and Resene St Tropaz. The few touches of warm white come courtesy of Resene Bianca. Velvet sofa and rug from Nood, striped circle cushions from Freedom. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton.

A tranquil rustic inspired bedroom

Ah, the serenity: Pale blue brings a breath of tranquillity to this pretty rustic inspired bedroom, where a hand-painted wall design makes an attractive alternative to wallpaper.

The main wall is painted in Resene Mystic with stripes in Resene Relax. The feature wall is offset by a return wall clad in tongue-and-groove panelling painted in Resene Surf Crest and trimmed in deep navy Resene Astronaut. This high-contrast hue is carried through in the lamp base to offer a sense of cohesion, with the striped bedlinen and cushions continuing the theme. The lampshade scallops and stripes are painted in Resene Zephyr. The headboard is painted in Resene Relax with uprights in Resene Quarter Iron and bedside table in Resene Dusted Grey. The mottled paint effect on the flooring creates a ‘lived in’ feel. This was achieved with two basecoats in Resene Walk-On flooring paint tinted to Resene Mystic, followed by Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Dusted Grey, applied with a sponge and blended in with a soft dry rag during application. Bedspread from H&M Home, navy stripe pillowcase from Thread, green patterned cushion and rust cushion from Collect Living, white pillowcases and blue throw from Places & Graces, artwork by Bioattic from endemicworld, statue of David bust from Ornament, green bowl and wooden stool from Tony Sly Pottery, dice from French Country Collections. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

Ah, the serenity

With its deeply calming effect, blue is the obvious candidate for your haven of rest and relaxation. A dreamy pale blue like Resene Breathless or a winter grey-blue like Resene Quarter Frozen will pair well with a range of colours. Pale blue and white is a classic, fresh pairing – and perfect in a smaller room where you want to create an airy, spacious feel. Introduce a lovely soft pale green like Resene Surf Crest and you’ve got a nature-inspired sanctuary that is soothing, romantic and restful.

A red, white, and blue interior

Viva il tricolore! Wave the flag for red, white and blue because it’s a magical combo. These hues work gorgeously together with a host of styles – from nautical and Hamptons through to mid-century modern and Bauhaus-inspired. You also have full licence to introduce a range of blues with both warm and cool undertones.

This living room features a wall and shelf in Resene Midnight Express with a small drum coffee table in glamorous sunspot blue Resene St Tropaz and a larger one in Resene Red Red Red. The floor is painted in warmer Resene True Blue and the space is layered with painted vases and pots in Resene True Blue, Resene Kashmir Blue, Resene Red Red Red and Resene St Tropaz. The few touches of warm white come courtesy of Resene Bianca. Velvet sofa and rug from Nood, striped circle cushions from Freedom. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton.

A tranquil rustic inspired bedroom

Pale blue brings a breath of tranquillity to this pretty rustic inspired bedroom, where a hand-painted wall design makes an attractive alternative to wallpaper.

The main wall is painted in Resene Mystic with stripes in Resene Relax. The feature wall is offset by a return wall clad in tongue-and-groove panelling painted in Resene Surf Crest and trimmed in deep navy Resene Astronaut. This high-contrast hue is carried through in the lamp base to offer a sense of cohesion, with the striped bedlinen and cushions continuing the theme. The lampshade scallops and stripes are painted in Resene Zephyr. The headboard is painted in Resene Relax with uprights in Resene Quarter Iron and bedside table in Resene Dusted Grey. The mottled paint effect on the flooring creates a ‘lived in’ feel. This was achieved with two basecoats in Resene Walk-On flooring paint tinted to Resene Mystic, followed by Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Dusted Grey, applied with a sponge and blended in with a soft dry rag during application. Bedspread from H&M Home, navy stripe pillowcase from Thread, green patterned cushion and rust cushion from Collect Living, white pillowcases and blue throw from Places & Graces, artwork by Bioattic from endemicworld, statue of David bust from Ornament, green bowl and wooden stool from Tony Sly Pottery, dice from French Country Collections. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

For your walls, you may choose to go full-on English country garden with a beautiful floral print from the Resene Wallpaper Collection. Or you may prefer to keep things minimalist with either a plain wall or a feature wall showcasing your own hand-painted design. A pattern of narrow stripes in a calming grey-blue like Resene Relax is grounding without overpowering the space. And the beauty of a cottage-y aesthetic is that your lines don’t have to be perfect – a little ‘wobble’ fits right in with the rustic, home-grown charm.

Dial up the country theme with plenty of texture, weathered finishes, organic materials, fresh or dried flowers, mismatched furniture and interesting shapes.

Make a splash with aqua

For a space that’s both calming and upbeat take a refreshing dip in a palette of aqua blues. Their watery connotations of course make these colours – from dark to light – perfect for bathroom spaces. But you can also layer them to create a year-round summer holiday feel.

A blue living room with a summer vibe

This living space’s summer vibe is achieved thanks to the clear-skies blue of Resene Cut Glass painted on the walls and floor. The tongue-and-groove wall and the cabinet are painted in Resene Kumutoto, a maritime aqua which amplifies the relaxed beachy feel. The sand-hued couch brings a fresh contrast to the blues, and the sand-and-blue speckled rug unifies the palette. The coffee tables are painted in Resene Teal Blue and Resene Foam. The vases and bowls are painted in Resene Scandal, Resene Hippie Blue and Resene Wishlist. Natural fibres in the side table legs, chair, pendant and plant pot add an organic warmth that offsets the potentially cold expanse of blue. The coastal-themed artwork features almost every hue across the room, from sandy neutrals to pale blues and shimmering azures. It unites the room and gives every colour a sense of purpose and belonging. Rug, candleholder, sofa, Brad Malyon framed canvas and occasional chair from Freedom, teal and aqua cushions from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

To prevent the effect from being too cool, mix in some warmer, deeper tones in your accessories and furnishings. Add in tactile throws in blue or sandy shades and break up the ocean of aquatic shades with plenty of natural fibre – a raw linen sofa, natural timber flooring, a rattan lampshade.

Resene has a whole range of aquas and teals that are perfect for building an on-trend tonal palette. Aqua can overwhelm in large doses, or if you’re choosing vivid shades like Resene Hullabaloo or Resene Blue Chill. In this case, sticking to one feature wall can work well. Then balance the look with some creamy white furniture and cushions, and add in paler blue-green accessories in shades like Resene Kandinsky and Resene Breeze. Paint your remaining walls and flooring in crisp neutral hues like near-white Resene Alabaster.

January 23, 2023

For help choosing colours to suit your projects, visit your local Resene ColorShop, ask a Resene Colour Expert online or book a Resene Colour Consultation.

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