Dual tones dominate

Two or tri-tone colour schemes are contemporary yet timeless, and a top design trend this season.

Incorporating multiple hues with similar undertones will instantly lift a room, making the space feel more dynamic. This look is particularly effective if you have a smaller room, as it prevents the space from feeling flat or monotonous. Layering colours like Resene Quarter Lemon Grass, Resene Half Merino and Resene Quarter Tapa makes for a retreat-like zone with plenty of subtle contrast.

Dual-tone and tri-tone colour schemes incorporate multiple hues within a cohesive palette. Design-wise, they’re fantastic for visually expanding a space, creating a sense of depth and dimension. The layering of colours adds some richness while still maintaining a harmonious look. The trend of using two or tri-tone colour schemes has its roots in a desire for more expressive interiors. As homeowners seek to infuse their spaces with individuality, they’re turning to more creative uses of colour. This trend is very much Scandi-inspired, with a twist – dual-tone colour schemes are understated and minimalistic, but can be as dramatic as you like depending on your colour choices.

In this bedroom, shades of soft green and grey provide our dual-tone canvas. The back wall in Resene Quarter Lemon Grass sets a serene backdrop, while Resene Quarter Tapa provides a very subtle contrast. Timber flooring stain colour washed in Resene Breathe Easy keeps the room feeling light and airy. The star of this bedroom oasis is our water-colour-inspired mountain feature wall; the effect is whimsical and frames the bed without cluttering the space. To achieve this effect, we painted the entire wall in a basecoat of Resene Half Merino. Then, we sketched the outlines of a mountain-scape using a fine pencil before painting it with Resene Eighth Lemon Grass, Resene Quarter Lemon Grass, Resene Lemon Grass, Resene Double Lemon Grass, Resene Half Merino, Resene Quarter Merino, Resene Quarter Tapa, Resene Lemon Twist and Resene Eternity. The result is a stunning mountain-scape mural that adds depth to the space, as well as plenty of personality.

To create a similar effect at home:

• Measure the height of your bed from floor to ceiling to decide what size your mural will be. We chose a mural placement that allowed our mural/mountains to frame the bed, while allowing for a good amount of our lightest shade to make up the top section of the mural.

• Paint your wall in a basecoat of your lightest colour. We used Resene Half Merino. After allowing this to dry, use a fine pencil to sketch the outlines of a mountain-scape on the wall.

• Mix each of your mural colours – we used Resene Eighth Lemon Grass, Resene Half Lemon Grass, Resene Quarter Lemon Grass, Resene Lemon Grass, Resene Double Lemon Grass, Resene Half Merino, Resene Quarter Merino, Resene Quarter Tapa, Resene Lemon Twist and Resene Eternity individually with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium. Use Resene testpots.

• Create the mural outline with the darkest colour (Resene Eternity) using a fine brush and allow this to dry a little. Use a rag and a variety of different brush widths across all the colours to fill in the mountain-scape. Don’t worry if you feel you’ve made a mistake with a part, just allow it to dry and paint over the area you want to re-work in the basecoat colour paint, Resene Half Merino.

• Keep working away at your mural, stepping back to look at it from a distance until you are happy with the effect.

Creating a chic mural wall in a bedroom does require some planning to ensure it enhances the space. Opt for a mural design that is subtle and understated rather than loud and busy. Our mountain scene is very soft, and use of the darkest shade – Resene Eternity – is kept to a minimum just as an outline rather than the fill colour. Make sure to choose a design that complements your room’s colour scheme and accessories to achieve a cohesive look.

The mountain scene continues on a rice paper lantern hung from the ceiling. We sketched out our mountain-scape on the rice paper shade in pencil, then used Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with the paint colours from our mural to create a washed out, watercolour-look for the light.

To complete our retreat-like bedroom oasis, we incorporated accessories in shades that complement our two-tone colour scheme. A ladder painted in Resene Pavlova, a peg stool used as a bedside table in Resene Lemon Grass and a breakfast tray in Resene Quarter Tapa all add both functionality and style to the space. Resene Pavlova, a creamy off-white, and Resene Quarter Tapa, a muted taupe, balance the warmth of the main wall colours with cooler, neutral tones. We wanted a sense of equilibrium in the space, ensuring neither colour dominates the room. This interplay of tones also enhances the texture and layers within the room, making it feel more dynamic.

A coffee mug in Resene Lemon Twist and a book on the bedside table in Resene Quarter Merino add pops of colour and texture. Ultimately, embracing this soft, multi-hue aesthetic offers the perfect opportunity to add more depth to your home.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Moneuan Ryan. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2024