Rule of three

From the Resene colour inspiration – latest looks gallery

Repetition is one of the key tenements of interior design, a principle that can be followed by professionals and homeowners alike that helps to ensure all the results of our hard work will look great.

It’s accomplished by repeating shapes, forms, patterns, colours or themes within a space and it works best when its employed in concert with another key design principle: the ‘rule of three’.

This adorable bedroom, suitable for an aspiring architect, engineer or planner, uses a repeating house pattern inspired by the Amsterdam-like street scenes in Resene Wallpaper Collection LL-05-07-4. The house shape is repeated in three places: the bookcase, the wall shelves and the wallpaper ‘headboard’. The wall shelves themselves are themselves grouped into a set of three and there is also the repetition of three key colours – navy, red and grey – which was achieved usingResene Hammerhead, Resene Jalapeno and Resene Sea Fog.

The bookshelf, the left wall shelf and the medium-sized wooden crate in the bookcase are all painted Resene Hammerhead; the pendant lamp, kids chair, upper right wall shelf and the large wooden box in the bookcase are painted Resene Jalapeno.

To provide contrast, the walls are painted Resene Bunting, a different navy blue. The same colour was used on the plant pot to bring it further into the space. To mix things up a bit, Resene Breathless was also brought into the space. It was used to paint the bedside table and the middle wall shelf as well as the wooden crate on the top shelf of the bookcase – and it plays perfectly off the soft grey-blue of the wallpaper pattern.

What makes these particular colours extra special is that they are all from the Resene Classics Collection – a curated range of favourite Resene colours. The collection is focused on colours that will stand the test of time. They’re perfect for creating looks that last, which is ideal for children’s rooms. When this child has outgrown this particular theme, it’s easy to imagine a young teen redecorating these same Resene Bunting walls and Resene Sea Fog floors in a more mature theme.

Paint: Walls in Resene Bunting. Floor in Resene Sea Fog. House Bookshelf in Resene Hammerhead. House boxes on the walls painted in Resene Breathless, Resene Jalapeno and Resene Hammerhead. Pendant light in Resene Jalapeno. Storage boxes/crates on bookshelf in Resene Breathless, Resene Bunting, Resene Hammerhead and Resene Jalapeno. Plant pot (in bookshelf) in Resene Bunting. Bedside cabinet in Resene Breathless. Wallpaper ‘headboard’ and bedside cabinet drawer front in Resene Wallpaper Collection LL-05-07-4 (from the Jack ‘N Rose 2 range).

Accessories: House bookshelf and House hanger from Mocka; Round circle rug from Mitre 10; Home Republic stonewash double china blue quilt cover, China blue euro pillowcase, striped standard pillowcase, Red and slate Belgian Vintage wash linen cushion, stripe linen throw and sausage dog, all from Adairs; Jellycat small blue bashful navy bunny from Allium; All other props, toys and books are stylist’s own.

Styling by Vanessa Nouwens. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2019