Cover Story: Greige, gold and feature

Resene Soulmate (floor), Resene Tana (back wall), Resene Taupe (second wall).

As we come out of the drab winter months, for many spring is the time for a makeover at home. Whether it's one wall or a whole house, it is the perfect time to decorate. indulge asked the experts at Resene and local interior designer John Darke for the inside scoop on trends for the 2015/16 summer.

Karen Warman, Resene marketing manager

1 What are the main colour trends for this summer season and why?
A new colour trend coming through at present are the new fashion pastels. Soft pastel colours have been swirling around our homes for a few years now, with icy gelato tones and lolly colours. This season pastels are growing up. They've moved from those watery looks to a more muddied, dusky style. It's a more grown-up, sophisticated palette. And we're using a variety of them in one room, not just a touch here and there. With this new approach to pastel schemes, soft neutrals have a strong role to play, sitting happily alongside pastels.

We're seeing paint colours making their way into flooring so that becomes a part of the paint palette. Ceilings are also becoming a popular canvas for colour. Traditional ceilings have been white but there is a trend to continuing the wall colour on to the ceiling for a cocoon of colour or a striking, bold contrast. Ceilings tend to be expansive, uncluttered spaces and are often an easier choice for a feature space than the feature walls of the past. Many rooms don't suit feature walls because there is so much furniture, artwork and other obstructions that the feature wall has to compete with. In those spaces more decorators are opting to take the colour to the ceiling instead.

Outside, the black story is still strong, with black wood stains a particular favourite, often complemented by a striking bold front door or garden feature. And "greige" (grey beige) is the new beige inside and out. Exterior neutrals are tending towards greys and blackened off-whites, away from the beiges and the creams that preceded them.

2 And wallpaper trends?
From digital prints to textured wall coverings, wallpaper designs for 2015/16 are hotting up. Plain-papered walls are passe. Today's selection of wallpapers is more diverse and creative than ever. Think eye-popping patterns, hand-drawn illustrations and bold hues in a number of styles - vintage, retro, classical, floral, new vogue, Pasifika, Kiwiana, industrial chic and contemporary luxury. These days we're spoilt for choice and the sky, quite literally, is the limit.

There's neutral, bright, patterned, plain ... a whole range of design, texture and colour options. Even if something isn't strictly "on trend", there are still normally a good range of choices with traditional and classic options. No matter what home style you want, there is a wallpaper to suit.

The new frontier for wallpaper is design your own, with programmes like Resene WallPrint. This allows you to tailor your image to fit your feature wall. 3 Are feature walls still a 'thing'?

Some early adopters of the wallpaper feature walls a few years ago have now moved on to colour blocking their wall. Done with paint and masking tape, it enables a custom, usually geometric-style design to be created and is very popular.

John Darke

1 What are the main colour trends for this summer season and why?
People seem more comfortable with the use of bold colour. In fabrics, lime is coming through, replacing chartreuse. Darker blues are more prominent, such as an indigo ink, beautiful rich golds ... and purple is the new pink. It is important to remember, though, that the colour must work with the home and the people living there. We don't always have to follow the fashion colours! However, using colour can inspire and brighten a room dramatically.

2 And wallpaper trends?
Wallpaper is still a very popular choice to add texture and interest or give the room a bold statement.

3 Are feature walls still a "thing"?
Feature walls are not as popular now. We have always liked to take the room as a whole, not just focus on one wall.

4 What type of floor coverings are trending?
Tiles are still a very popular and there are some amazing tiles out now. Carpets, vinyl timber and cork are also good options depending on where they go and the room's use.

The details
The indulge Outlet Sale, in association with Aspire Health and Sports, features some cool homeware brands. Kickstart your spring decoration in style for less.

What: indulge Outlet Sale, in association with Aspire Health and Sports.
When: Saturday, October 10. Doors open to the public at ASB Arena from 10am to 4pm.
Home Brands: Cool Cow Rugs, No 3 Candles, Chipstar & Co - Home Decor and Furniture.
How: $5 entry. Pre-purchase tickets at bayofplentytimes.co.nz
Grab a bargain on tickets: indulge has a great combo offer to attend all three indulge events in October - indulge Speaker Collective (October 7), indulge Bay Model (October 9), and indulge Outlet Sale (October 10). Attend all three of these events for just $40 - saving you $15.