Feature frames

From the Resene colour inspiration – latest looks gallery

Gone are the days of the humble batten being used solely for fastenings and functional purposes. Now, the batten’s popularity has reached new heights and a modern battened wall is an ever-growing trend in the interior design world.

With a wide range of Resene paints and wood stains, it’s never been easier to transform your simple wall into a grand battened space or resurrect a forgotten corner. Battens painted in bright Resene colours can introduce warmth into a room, in addition to creating interesting texture on your walls.

This cosy bedroom utilises a simple batten hack, picture frames. To get the look in your home, simply remove the backs and glass from large wooden picture frames, paint the frames in your choice of Resene colours, then attach the frames equal distance apart on your wall using screws or construction glue. This batten project is a budget and time-friendly alternative that will help you get the look for less. Alternatively, build your own squares with untreated pine, priming it with Resene Quick Dry primer before painting. This batten wall is in Resene Silver Chalice, a conservative pewter grey that captures the light and highlights the texture of the frames.

Your chosen colour palette plays a key role in how successful your battened wall will look. Often treated as ‘either or’ neutrals, brown and grey work especially well together in this space due to the use of Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash on the timber floor, Resene Colorwood Jarrah on the side tabletop and accents in Resene Cab Sav in combination with the Resene Silver Chalice walls. The trick to making brown and grey work is to select natural browns such as stained timber and pair it with greys that have a warm undertone. This way the overall atmosphere of the room will hold a certain warmth. Try changing things up on your wall with a grey wall and stained timber battens for a unique contrasting feature. Other greys that work well with timber include Resene Half Taupe Grey, Resene Half Chicago and Resene Delta Grey.

The great thing about a neutral colour scheme of warm greys and browns is it creates a space that is perfect for every season. You can change up this look for the warmer months by incorporating lighter décor and furniture. Thin waffle textures, rattan chairs and lighter linen colours such as tan and white. Painted elements to incorporate in this colour scheme could include a side table in bright Resene Quarter Merino or bright lamp in Resene Alert Tan.

For the darker winter months, cosy up with layered textures that pull deeper greys into the space. Switch up your bedlinen with accents of black and deep maroon for a warm and welcoming look. Accent colours for this warm winter space could include rich Resene Cab Sav, moody Resene Foundry or lighter Resene Duck Egg Blue. No matter the size of your room, it is always good to have a seasonal switch-up as a fresh new array of colours will keep the space feeling fresh and will not only reflect the changing landscape outside your window, but also gives you the chance to embrace changing seasonal trends.

Other ways to be bold with your battens is to create drama with diagonal designs and quirky random lengths. If you are more of a traditionalist, opt for a classic look with batten arrangements that mimic classic panelling. The direction you arrange your battens in will make a huge difference as to how the space in the room is perceived. Vertical, widely spaced battens will give the room a sense of height, and the wide gaps between battens allow the eye to rest, creating the illusion of space. A grid of battens is great for smaller rooms or spaces with imperfect walls, as the revitalising pattern hides marks by creating both a sideways and upward movement.

Project by Kate Alexander. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2022