Metallics: the new neutral

Used smartly and in the right amounts, metallics can be just the finishing touch you need to elevate your interiors to a new level of style and sophistication.

Many metallic shades, whether it’s the soft shimmer of Resene Goldmine or the subtle sparkle of dark Resene Catch-22, are surprisingly versatile and can work almost as neutrals with a wide range of other Resene colours to add eye-catching flair without dominating the room.

Metallics for beginners

Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey says Resene FX Metallics are a good tool to help bounce light around the room as their reflective nature plays on light and shadow.

“What this also means, however, is that they can also draw attention to imperfections or defects in the surface,” she says. “Think about where you use your metallics and how much of it to include in your room.

“Metallics can infuse a space with instant glamour and can easily be injected into a scheme without becoming overbearing, but remember, a little bit of sparkle goes a long way as a design feature.”

Meryl recommends starting your metallic experiments with small objects or pieces of furniture like lamps, stools or small shelves so you get an idea for how they will reflect light in different parts of the room and how they might work with your other room colours. It’s also a good idea to try metallics on decor pieces that can be moved to different rooms to try different looks. You can use Resene FX Metallic testpots to easily paint small areas.

“When you graduate to using metallics over larger areas, such as walls, consider adding a neutral pattern and a natural texture to the rest of the room, rather than more reflective sheens and surfaces.

“Look to use lower sheen paint finishes like Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or you risk a space becoming over-styled and overwhelming rather than elegant and glam.”

Choosing your colours

Colour combinations for metallics and non-metallics need to be well planned so that you convey the right ambience for your room, Meryl says.

“Silver for example, is an achromatic colour, so when paired with other achromatic colours such as black or white, it will create a sleek, elegant interior. Try a soft approach with shimmering grey Resene The Ritz paired with a charcoal such as Resene Night Magic and Resene Quarter White Pointer.”

Other colour combinations Meryl suggests are Resene Rose Gold paired with off-whites like Resene Milk White, soft pinks such as Resene Blanched Pink and a taupe brown like Resene Kabul to create a warm, inviting, luxurious interior. “Create an industrial feel with Resene Copperhead, Resene Indian Ink, Resene Boris and Resene Four Winds; or you might opt to bring the fun with fresh blue metallic Resene Yeehaa, Resene Silver Aluminium, Resene Alabaster and Resene Twice As Nice.”

When it comes to working out what metallic shades will work with what other non-metallic colours to create a cohesive palette, the Resene Metallics and Special Effects colour chart. Next to each shade on the chart is a suggested base colour to use underneath your metallic topcoat. Using this basecoat will help ensure you get an even, well-saturated finish for your metallic coat. But these basecoats can also be a helpful guide to what non-metallic shades will work best with your chosen metallic. For example, the recommended basecoat colour for the metallic Resene Obelisk is Resene Blue Smoke. This dense grey-green works beautifully with vibrant Resene Jalapeno, charcoal Resene Gunmetal and chalky Resene Black White. Adding metallic highlights in Resene Obelisk to a picture frame, decor pieces or a small wall shelf in a palette made up of those bold shades could add just the glamour accent needed to pull the look together.

Don’t limit yourself

We often think of metallics as being golds, silvers, and copper or bronze tones and these tones work particularly well as neutrals as they all have a certain natural, earthiness underneath all that sparkle. By pairing a touch of Resene Gold against more muted neutrals like Resene Rum Swizzle or Resene Lemon Grass you are adding a touch of excitement to an otherwise subtle look.

Think about how a bright white like Resene White or Resene Quarter Black White can make other colours like beiges or even blues, greens and reds, really pop. The right classic metallic in the right place can do the same. It won’t draw all the attention to itself, it will make the rest of your room look sharper and pulled together.

These classic metallics also work well as dramatic accent notes against monochrome palettes. Think about a pop of Resene Rose Gold against a moody room with deep blue Resene Coast walls and trim in greyed white Resene Sea Fog trim.

Metallics don’t need to be restricted to these classic precious metal shades. Flip the rose gold and deep blue combo by painted walls in the sienna brown of Resene Kalgoorie Sands, add a layer of creamy Resene Dutch White, then finish with dramatic accents of metallic lapis Resene Time Warp. Or try moody teal Resene Tangaroa with warm Resene Copper Fire.

Add some punchy fun to a child’s bedroom with bold circles on the walls in bright metallics like Resene Sugar And Spice, Resene Glitterbug and Resene Go Go Go. Offset the metallics with their non-metallic basecoat colours Resene Strikemaster, Resene Candy Floss and Resene Anise to tone down the sparkle and opt for a backdrop in crisp white Resene Alabaster. For a different kind of metallic finish that will give your space a stylishly industrial or weathered look try Resene FX Faux Rust Effect. This is best used in more adult non-contact spaces as a design feature rather than in high wear and tear areas.

Tips and tricks

• When using metallic paints over larger areas, Meryl suggests a spray application. “Brushing or rolling is doable, but can flatten the metallic flake in the paint, meaning your finished look has less of a sparkle. To make using metallics even simpler, Resene has released the Resene FX Metallics Wallpaper Collection, available in all 45 shades in the Resene Metallic and Special Effects colour chart so you can wallpaper your Resene FX Metallic colour onto your wall.

• Repainting and discreet touch-ups can also be trickier than with a solid, non-metallic paint finish as the imperfections will often show. Check with your Resene ColorShop experts for tips for your project.

• If you have a non-metallic Resene colour you love and want it to have a little more shimmering impact, topcoat it with Resene FX Pearl Shimmer, a waterborne pearlescent glaze. Try your colour with a Resene FX Pearl Shimmer testpot to check you’re happy with the look before doing the whole area.

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February 29, 2024

If you’re new to using metallics, talk to the expert staff at your local Resene ColorShop about which options will suit your project and give you the best finish. They can also help you with your colour selections or you can, Ask a Resene Colour Expert online or book a Resene Colour Consultation.

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