movement toward gender fluidity. It has now become more nuanced and widespread, evolving into more interesting dusky shades of blush and peach. It’s an example of how a design trend evolves and becomes more sophisticated alongside the generation which embraced it. The new fashion fandeck is rich in dusky pink peach options, from Resene Just Dance to Resene Shabby Chic and Resene Despacito. Green has been emerging in homes during the past few years as our eco-consciousness grows and our yearning to connect with nature via biophilic design. Green started strong, as clean verdant greens with loads of personality, then it turned a bit khaki and swampy. Now, it’s softened even more to take a place as a versatile dusky colour that can even be used as a neutral in its softer, murkier forms. By contrast, fresh leafy greens are a sweet, simple look coming with the promise of new growth and energy. See the difference between Resene Helix and Resene Aura, at left. Other influences Where do we draw the boundaries between private and public in this time of multiple social platforms? Are we creating spaces for our own enjoyment or to share with the world? We revel in self-expression then want the product of that self-expression to look good through a camera lens and postable to Instagram. The resulting influence on our design trends can be seen in the rise of fun, exciting and highly personalised choices that are pure self-expression, whether it’s in pops of bright colour or unexpected combinations of colour and texture. The popularity of wallpaper and its many expressions is no surprise. We want lively spaces that tell a story, or walls with dimension and character. We like to understand the story behind the objects and materials we use and in our revolt against single- use items and a disposable society, we are reinventing and upcycling furniture, accessories and second-hand finds with a lick of paint or stain. The small-living movement initially led to interiors being safely neutral and visually uncluttered. But we’ve come to learn that peaceful surroundings don’t have to be monastic. We can use tonal nuances in colour and objects to create layered yet calming surroundings. The palette may be pared back but a shift away from stark whites to creamier tones like Resene Double Blanc or Resene Double Villa White keeps it soft and welcoming. In the end Evolution is key in design trends. Most of us don’t suddenly flip from stark white minimalism to painting our living rooms in the new bold brick reds overnight. It’s an incremental process. In the end, though trends shift with the times and global mood, the point is still personalisation. You will find the trend that speaks most to you when you see a colour or a design – a bold geometric on the wall or a freeform painterly pattern perhaps. It seems so obvious you wonder why you didn’t think of it before. From there you take it and make it your own. Resene Raindance Resene Sea Fog Resene Poured Milk Resene Colorwood Whitewash Resene Colorwood Greywash Resene Quarter Baltic Sea Resene Lazy River Resene Colorwood Natural Resene Influential Above: Soft stains enhance the look. The background is in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, Resene Colorwood Greywash and Resene Raindance, the narrow vase is Resene Raindance, the wide vase is Resene Lazy River, and the A4 drawdown paint swatches are in Resene Poured Milk, Resene Quarter Baltic Sea and Resene Sea Fog. For other stains to try, see the Resene Colorwood range for interiors and the Resene Woodsman range for exteriors. Resene Shabby Chic Resene Just Dance Resene Despacito Resene Helix Resene Double Blanc Resene Aura Resene Double Villa White top tip The new Resene The Range fashion fandeck is supported by a range of tools to help you choose the right colour, from handy testpots to A4 drawdowns. See your local Resene ColorShop or reseller. testpots 8