From habitat plus - decorating and colour trends 2024
Interiors inspired by nature have always been popular. However, earthy looks have become even more desirable in recent years as a result of the pandemic.
Many homeowners who had previously chosen to decorate with stark minimalist schemes found these spaces difficult and cold to live in once forced to spend extended periods of time stuck inside. Now, they’ve turned to down-to-earth looks focused on Resene hues pulled from their natural surroundings. If your home is tucked into bushy woodlands, look to colours like Resene Welcome, Resene Saratoga or Resene Forest Green. If your space sits amongst the mountains, consider mossy greens or stone greys like Resene Bitter and Resene Cement. And if you look upon tussock-covered hills, try Resene Tussock, Resene Apache and Resene Hot Toddy.
Nature means different things to different people. If you want your décor to take cues from the sky and sea, look to beautiful airy and oceanic blues like Resene Timeless, Resene Epic and Resene Carpe Noctem.
Upper wall painted in Resene Timeless, lower wall and shelf in Resene Epic, floor in Resene Foundation, vases in (from left to right) Resene Salted Caramel and Resene Foundation and mirror frame in Resene Creme De La Creme. Sofa, bench, chairs and table from Soren Liv, rug from Baya, preserved flowers from Urban Flowers.
top tip If you want your interior to fit in perfectly with your natural surroundings, upload a photograph of the view outside your space’s window to the free online Resene Colour Palette Generator. This handy colour tool will provide you with a palette of Resene colours inspired by your photo that can be used to decorate your space.
Our inherent need to experience and love nature is known as biophilia, and it’s the root word that inspired the recently coined term, ‘biophilic design’. The concept applies to the architecture, interior design and building industries and describes designs that are intended to increase connectivity to the natural environment within a built space through the use of direct and indirect natural elements. Biophilic design is believed to have a host of health and environmental benefits for building occupants and urban environments – particularly in workspaces and schools, where we often feel the most separated from nature. However, incorporating biophilic design principles at home has benefits, too. Indoor plants have proven positive impacts on mental health and air quality, but even faux plants can fool our brains into believing we’re out in nature. Using nature-inspired Resene paint colours like Resene Ravine or Resene Half Tasman for the base of your design can also be beneficial as an indirect reminder of the outdoors, as can timber flooring and furniture finished in subtle Resene Colorwood washes and wood stains like Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy and Resene Colorwood Natural.
Brown, beige and taupe have replaced greys as the top trending neutrals. Where some greys can feel too cold or flat, rich and earthy Resene browns are full of warmth and complexity.
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.
Add a chic touch to your earthy green Resene wall colour by pairing it with a range of black and off-black paint and wood stain colours on your floor, furniture and accessories.
Wall and hook rack painted in Resene Iko Iko, floor stained in Resene Colorwood Pitch Black and cabinet and tall vase in Resene Blackout. Cabinet from Mocka, handbag from Saben.
Surrounding yourself with natural elements and colours while you work has been shown to improve mental wellbeing, which is known as biophilic design.
Walls painted in Resene Saratoga, floor finished in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, shelves in Resene Night Magic and desk edge and legs in Resene Cashmere. Chair from Danske Møbler, chalice and white pot from Republic, dog ornament from Smith & Caughey’s, books, artwork and shoes from Father Rabbit, clock from The Warehouse.
If you have a green thumb, fresh plants are an easy way to bring nature indoors. But instead of searching high and low for plant pots to match your colour scheme, simply look for some in shapes and sizes that you like and paint them with Resene testpots in hues that match or coordinate with your space.
Left wall painted in Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect in Resene Concrete, right wall, desk, shelf and plant pot (on shelf, left) in Resene Ravine, large plant pot (on floor) in Resene Half Tasman, small plant pot (on stool) in Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect in Resene Concrete and stool in Resene Concrete. Pendant lamp and beige plant pot (on floor) from Città.
If you have sightlines from one space to the next, carry your nature palette from one room to the other in different ratios. If you use a darker colour for your walls in one space, use it in small quantities in the adjacent space. Then, use the lightest colour from your palette for the walls of your adjacent space and save it for minor décor in the first space.
Arched wall, left wall and dining chair painted in Resene Scrub, back wall in Resene Lemon Grass, floor in Resene Quarter Lemon Grass, bookshelf and dining table in Resene Contour, DIY artwork in Resene Lemon Grass and Resene Contour and vases, bowls and décor accessories in Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Lemon Grass, Resene Nirvana, Resene Tic Tac Toe, Resene Scrub, Resene Green Days and Resene Contour. Glass spotted vase from Nood, candle from The Warehouse.
Our natural environment is made up of a bounty of diverse colours but looking to your immediate surroundings can be helpful when choosing the specific Resene hues that will be most suitable for your particular home. The view right outside your window offers plenty of clues to the colours that will look best. If your home is by the seaside, opt for oceanic blues like Resene Comfortably Numb, Resene Timeless and Resene Baring Head. If you live amongst dense bush, try verdant green colours like Resene Welcome, Resene Field Day or Resene Avocado. And if you reside in the mountains, look to earthy grey and brown hues like Resene Courtyard, Resene Ted or Resene Kia Kaha.
Pay attention to what vistas your space’s windows look out to when choosing your colour palette to make it look most natural. Some views will be bluer, greener or greyer, while others might have golds and yellows.
Walls painted in Resene Orchid White with alcove in Resene Hot Toddy, floor finished in Resene Colorwood Shade, table in Resene Orchid White with stripes in Resene Hot Toddy, plant pot and large vase in Resene Apache, small vase in Resene Marzipan, lamp base in Resene Black White, tray in Resene Hot Toddy and books in Resene Marzipan and Resene Orchid White. Rug, ceramic wall sculpture and small chair from Good Form, large chair from French Country Collections, sunflower artwork from The Frame Workshop and Gallery.
Forest greens and terracotta pinks continue to be popular on-trend colour choices for decorating and these hues can also increase your space’s connection to nature.
Walls and chair painted in Resene Forest Green, floor finished in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, headboard, vase and DIY artwork in Resene Coral Tree, desk and screen edges in Resene Summer Rose and bedside table and desk lamp in Resene Meringue. Room divider from Mocka, bedlinen and cushions from Adairs, throw from H&M Home, pencil cup from Freedom.
When you live in a subtropical climate bursting with lush greenery, tropical motifs never go out of fashion as they fit in flawlessly with our surroundings. Depending on the colours and designs you choose, tropical motifs can be fun and casual, feel chic and classy or evoke the relaxation of a favourite vacation destination. Painted motifs are an easy option that can be created as small or large as you wish. There are also plenty of tropical designs in the Resene Wallpaper Collection that appeal to a range of styles and tastes. Visit your local Resene ColorShop to see the latest offerings and get the support you need to leverage their warmth and elegance in your home.
For a completely cohesive space, ask the staff at your local Resene ColorShop to help you find the perfect paint colours to match or coordinate with your Resene wallpaper selection and tint them into the correct type of paint to use across the different surfaces in your room.
Then, use leftover Resene wallpaper or offcuts to decorate doors, cabinets, tables, lampshades, plant pots, candleholders, diaries and more. Wall, inset cabinet panels, right drum table side and books in Resene Wallpaper Collection 37530-1, floor in Resene Tiara, cabinet in Resene Nepal, drum tables in Resene Amulet and Resene Blue Bayoux, plant stand in Resene Amulet, vase in Resene Tiara and bowl in Resene Blue Bayoux. Sofa from Danske Møbler, cushion from Adairs.
Tropical designs don’t always have to incorporate green, as this handpainted blue and gold mural proves.
Wall painted in Resene Half Escape with mural in Resene Tangaroa, Resene Cello and Resene FX Metallic Gold Dust, floor in Resene Tangaroa, bedside table and tray in Resene Escape, bench in Resene Cello and vases in Resene FX Metallic Gold Dust.
Bedlinen from Wallace Cotton, candle from Miller Road.
No headboard, no problem. Use a single roll of a tropical Resene wallpaper design to enhance your bedroom. In this space, we used a craft knife to create a cut-out effect on the edges of our outer lengths of wallpaper.
Wall painted in Resene Bitter with cut-out wallpaper design in Resene Wallpaper Collection 37990-3, floor in Resene Moon Mist, bedside table and pendant lamp in Resene Hemlock, tealight holder in Resene Cape Palliser, plant pot in Resene Thorndon Cream with stripes in Resene Cape Palliser and book in Resene Bud.
Rug from Mocka and bedlinen, throw from Adairs, cushions from Adairs, Bed Bath & Beyond and H&M Home.
Trend: reinventing furniture – see the spice of life
Enhance a pared-back space with a natural touch by painting simple tropical tree silhouettes on a wall.
Back wall painted in Resene Half Caraway with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Half Nomad applied on top and trees in Resene Craigieburn, right wall in Resene Breathless with arch in Resene Half Nomad, floor in Resene French Grey, bench and pendant lamp in Resene Half Breathless, bedside table in Resene Half Caraway and vase in Resene Hammerhead and Resene Cod Grey. Bedlinen and rug from H&M Home.
Balance a busier tropical wallpaper design with negative space by using it to decorate smaller architectural features or décor, such as wainscoting, instead of taking it across an entire wall or room.
Back wall painted in Resene Woodland with panels in Resene Wallpaper Collection 91210 trimmed in Resene Teak, left wall and floor in Resene Blanc, dining table in Resene Papier Mache, chairs and candleholders in Resene Woodland, sideboard in Resene Teak, mirror in Resene Wallpaper Collection 91210 with trim in Resene Teak, pendant lamp and bowl in Resene Crail and vases in Resene Brown Sugar and Resene Avocado. Basket and faux plant from Freedom.
Trend: artistic murals – see artistic inclinations
Timber continues to be one of the most popular options for flooring, especially in nature-inspired spaces. For the most natural look, stain your interior timber flooring in the Resene Colorwood stain that most closely resembles your chosen wood’s inherent colour. Or choose a darker or coloured option to change the look of your timber. Not only do Resene Colorwood stains add pigment while still allowing the beauty of the grain to show through, but they also penetrate the surface of the wood to help protect your investment from UV damage.
Nature inspired look*
Resene stains and washes are available in small sizes, which can be used to colour smaller timber décor. Or try them on unsealed cork, rattan and wicker items to add semi-transparent colour to baskets, lampshades and other objects to enhance your nature-inspired look.
Wall painted in Resene Welcome, floor finished in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, table in Resene Streetwise, wall hooks in Resene Papier Mache, vase in Resene Half Tea, timber tray in Resene Colorwood Walnut, basket in Resene Settlement and blocks in Resene Waterborne Woodsman in Resene Japanese Maple, Resene Warm Kwila, Resene Riverstone, Resene Driftwood and Resene Bark. Throw from Città.
For a colourwash effect, you can also look to Resene’s range of wash finishes from the Resene Colorwood range – which are particularly effective for getting a casual beachy look. For neutral options, try Resene Colorwood Whitewash, Resene Colorwood Light Greywash or Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash. For coloured options with subtle pink, green and blue undertones, look to the Resene Colorwood We Speak Beach palette of beachwashed finishes.
As a rule of thumb, most Resene Colorwood stains and washes require one coat – but you can vary the number of coats to deepen the effect. Once you’re happy with the look, protect your floor’s new stained or washed finish with Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K waterborne urethane satin.
*Resene stains and washes are available in small sizes, which can be used to colour smaller timber décor. Or try them on unsealed cork, rattan and wicker items to add semi-transparent colour to baskets, lampshades and other objects to enhance your nature-inspired look.
Wall painted in Resene Welcome, floor finished in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, table in Resene Streetwise, wall hooks in Resene Papier Mache, vase in Resene Half Tea, timber tray in Resene Colorwood Walnut, basket in Resene Settlement and blocks in Resene Waterborne Woodsman in Resene Japanese Maple, Resene Warm Kwila, Resene Riverstone, Resene Driftwood and Resene Bark. Throw from Città.
While stained timber has been among the most popular flooring choices for decades now, timberclad walls and ceilings have also been increasing in popularity. ‘Natural’ timber is hugely popular, but it’s important to understand that wood requires protection from moisture, air and UV light in order for your investment to last. For the most natural look, choose a Resene timber stain that’s nearest to your wood’s inherent hue. Or choose a clear finish, such as Resene Aquaclear or Resene Qristal ClearFloor, to protect surfaces and make them easier to clean.
Timber wall cladding is a popular on-trend look that leverages the beauty of the material’s inherent grain to add texture, interest, warmth and a natural touch.
Wall stained in Resene Colorwood Touch Wood, floor in Resene Creme De La Creme, tabletop and pendant lamp in Resene Tobacco Brown with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Sour Dough applied on top, table legs in Resene Tobacco Brown, chairs and round wire bowl in Resene Bokara Grey, door in Resene Sour Dough and vases painted in Resene Bokara Grey, Resene Sour Dough and Resene Tobacco Brown. Shelves from French Country Collections, artwork by Brenda Clews, glassware from H&M Home, rug from Baya.
If you want an opaquer black wood stain colour for your interior timber walls, ceiling or floor, choose Resene Colorwood Pitch Black. For a softer look, opt for Resene Colorwood Charred Black instead.
Plywood wall stained in Resene Colorwood Pitch Black, floor in Resene Colorwood Dark Oak, cabinet and small black vase painted in Resene Blackout and DIY artwork in Resene Gin Fizz and Resene Blackout. Chair and pendant lamp from Good Form, floor vase from Città.
top tip To bring a weathered, coastal look to your timber surfaces, choose coloured washes from the Resene We Speak Beach collection, Resene Colorwood Whitewash, Resene Colorwood Light Greywash or Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash to add a subtle wash of colour to timber walls, ceilings, flooring, furniture or décor.
did you know? Resene Colorwood Whitewash, Resene Colorwood Light Greywash, Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash and the Resene Colorwood We Speak Beach range are colour wash finishes as opposed to wood stains. Both colour washes and wood stains enhance your timber’s colour and allow the wood grain to show through. However, colour washes sit on top of the surface of your timber and can be applied over already varnished surfaces, whereas Resene Colorwood wood stains penetrate into the timber grain and need existing varnishes removed before application.
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