Colour Confidence

Intense colour accents play off against restful neutrals. Take the latest colour palette from Resene, The Range 2011/12, and team it with the popular The Range Whites & Neutrals and what do you get? Some stunning colour combinations that show you don’t have to always play it safe to create a delicious colour scheme. Even the most neutral schemes can include strong splashes of intense accent colours in feature areas or accessories.

Colour has become an inseparable part of our lives and the way we view the world. Predictable and boring are bypassed. We have come to expect a world where everything is touched by colour.

As we remember to appreciate the things we have and those around us, we also become more creative in taking what we have and the best of the past, and using these to create modern memories and a fresh outlook on the future. Colour schemes are becoming increasingly more individual as we break out of specific eras, designated fashions and aesthetics and instead focus on creating more simple homely spaces inspired by memories and the pleasures of the everyday. Nostalgia comes through in feel-good colours like landscape greens, yellows and ochres, such as Resene Fleetwood. Yellows have a retro undertone with an underlying hint of green.

Upcycling and recycling are increasingly mainstream as we try to do more with less. Combine a complete new look with minimal environmental burden – rearrange artwork and cushions, mix and mingle accessories, rejuvenate furniture with a fresh lick of paint and add a splash of paint colour to walls for a completely new look.

Colours are evolving more slowly and colour trends are lasting longer, with a slow waxing and waning of favourites. There is a dichotomy between those seeking cheerful environments with optimistic brights and those wanting to play it safe with dark hues and neutrals.

Neutrals, browns and beiges tend towards warmer comforting variants, such as Resene Secret Road and Resene Fantail. There is a slow move from the grey family to browns, warm neutrals and mineral-inspired hues, including subtle flesh tones such as Resene Half Rickshaw. Off-whites are pure and uncomplicated, and there is a definite comeback of cool white, such as Resene Barely There, as a background neutral.

Pink diverges into many hues from soft to luscious, such as Resene Smitten and Resene Devoted, to suit a wider range of projects. Blues are also growing in number, with intense blues, such as Resene Magnum and Resene Nite Life, a viable neutral alternative to grey or black. Combine the simplicity of blue and silver, such as Resene Silver Streak, for a luxurious modern look.

Bright and Breezy

Colours for 2011/12 are generally cleaner and less complicated with touches of uber bright reds, oranges, yellows and violets, such as Resene Switched On (yellow) and Resene Pukeko (purple), to draw in the eye like a flower. Perfect for playful spaces and kids’ rooms, there are clear greens such as Resene Howzat and spicy oranges like Resene Outrageous. Saturated reds are in abundance and a definite feature of the new palette from deep rusty hues to those with a feminine pink twist such as Resene Knock Out. Use clean crisp neutrals such as Resene Half Alabaster (at the back) and Resene Blackjack to offset the strength of these bold tones.


 

Of Sea and Sand

Nature continues its influence with fresh colours, rustic textures and the beauty of handcrafted pieces. Watery blues, such as Resene Awash are refreshing and optimistic while muddied greens such as Resene Gondwana (second left) are earthy and natural. Crossover hues that move from green to blue are a feature of The Range 2011/12 and remind us of the sea, such as Resene Calypso (third from left). Set these against washed, sandy and weathered neturals for timeless appeal – Resene Half Rickshaw (back left), Resene First Light (back right) and Resene Fantail (front right).


 

Mono Magic

Head to the city for a truly urban look with the growing range of coffee bean blacks and clean greys from The Range 2011/12. Use Resene Thriller (grey), Resene Blackout (rear) and Resene Black Sheep against the clean elegance of Resene Half Alabaster but have some fun with an eye-punching bright, such as Resene Grapevine (purple) to enliven the scheme.


 
See the complete The Range 2011/12 fandeck collection at Resene ColorShops or Resellers.  View the fandeck itself or the larger A4 swatches in the in store colour library to get an idea of how the colour will look in a larger scale.

Resene has all the paint, stains, coatings and professional advice you need to get a quality finish on your home, business or project, from tip to toe inside and out. so come in and see us and we can ensure you have the right products, tools and knowhow to do the job right first time.  We have thousands of colours to choose from, including our The Range fashion collection and our extensive whites and neutrals collection, or we can create a custom colour match to suit.  We started in New Zealand in 1946 and today our products are still formulated right here to suit our environment.

Enjoy savings on Resene paint with your Resene ColorShop Card or Resene DIY Card.  Click here for more information or to apply for your free card.

Find out what product to use where with our popular recommended systems guide.

View the Resene colour range on the Resene website or in store.  Then try your colours out without lifting a paintbrush with our free Resene EzyPaint virtual painting software.

And if you need help with your painting technique watch the how to videos in our online video library... Or if you’d rather get a professional painter to complete the job for you, the free Resene Find-A-Painter service can help or you can choose from our list of professional Resene Eco.Decorators.

Come in and see the friendly professional staff at your local Resene ColorShop and we’ll help you achieve a quality result on your projects.

Happy decorating!

For your nearest Resene ColorShop or for colour and paint information and advice:

Call 0800 RESENE (737 363)
Visit the Resene website, www.resene.co.nz
Or email advice@resene.co.nz.

Got a decorating, paint or colour question you’d love answered? Ask one of our Resene experts! Simply email update@resene.co.nz with your question.  If you’d like colour advice include some photos of your project as well so we can see the area you’re planning to paint.

Read more from Resene:

Curtain Trends for 2012 and Beyond

Do You Know How Many Stars Your Home Is?

Smart Redecorating Ideas to Help You Save Time and Money

Wallpaper Trends for 2012 and Beyond

Colour Trends for 2012

Walls That Work

Keep Safe
 

Published 8th Aug 2011

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