Once upon a time colour choices seemed to be bound by endless unwritten rules of which colours could be used where and with what, a minefield for the uninitiated.
Thanks to technology, we can now draw inspiration from all over the world from the comfort of our own home. This has broadened our outlook on colour palettes and colour combinations, banishing those restrictive colour rules to the history books.
When we travel we bring back new finds to incorporate into our homes.
This global inspiration comes together in the Resene The Range fashion colours collection, with an eclectic mix of key colour trends.
It's a fusion of colour that you can make your own. The hues head in three directions; the dusty timeless hues that provide a soft cocoon and remind us of our heritage, the clean cool light hues that provide soothing relief and tranquillity in a fast world and the pops of bright colour that bring fun, excitement and energy.
Trends from earlier decades are returning as we reach for memories from our childhood to share with our own children.
Colours seem weathered and washed, as if they have been worn down over the years, making the space feel lived in and comfortable.
Antique and aged oranges meet smoky neutrals, smoky greys and dusty hues, such as Resene Triple Truffle,
Resene Triple Rakaia and Resene Half Innocence, which seem to have traversed the passage of time, kept fresh with optimistic pastels, such as Resene First Light.
The desire to meld high tech with traditional is creating new curious juxtapositions. Neutrals are the hardworking backdrop of most colour schemes spiced up with pops of bold colours to bring the space to life.
The influence of nature has seen many hues take on a muddier undertone and has also translated to fresh airy blues andgreens that are almost transparent in mood.
The great outdoors comes indoors - not just the landscape greens but the flora and fauna brights mixed with the warmth of timber inspired hues.
Nature continues to influence with a palette that's infused with earthy, neutral tones. Wood tones come in beiges and browns, such as Resene Toorak and Resene Irish Coffee, offset by a soft golden metallic shimmer, such as Resene Treasure Chest.
What's on the outside is being reflected indoors with a colour theme being used for a more seamless connection between the two; the flash of bright on the outside front door reinvented as a pop of colour indoors.
RED
Red still makes a strong statement and brings with it new deep maroons, such as Resene Red Earth and Resene Madam M. Reds are warm and cool, with bluebased reds like Resene Pohutukawa a favourite. Makeup inspired pinks, such as Resene Glamour Puss and Resene Material Girl, are extrovert and, teamed with yellow, they are a fresh and uplifting combination.
PURPLES
Purples head towards eyecatching fuchsia, such as Resene Centre Stage, set against deep aubergine, such as Resene Chocolate Fish, as an anchor.
ORANGES
Oranges look forward and back with antiqued oranges reminiscent of times gone by, such as Resene Ayers Rock, sitting alongside freshened warm oranges, such as Resene Big Bang. Yellows turn sandy and towards mustard tonings, such as Resene Bittersweet, Resene Sandbar and Resene Zion, and influence the green palette with many greens having a distinct yellow undertone. These are colours from our past finding a place in our future.
GREENS
Greens continue to abound moving towards yellow greens, such as Resene Spring Fever, and with a strong ochre influence, such as Resene Hibernate. Limes, chartreuses and landscape greens, such as Resene Impromptu and Resene Forest Green, round out the green palette. The perennial favourite, blue, continues in two directions- calming, tranquil and revitalising on the one hand with colours such as Resene Escape and Resene Breeze, and optimistic and bold on the other, such as Resene Captain Cook and Resene Whale Tail. The calm almost transparent blues are feather light on the senses.
TEALS
Teals have made way for jewelled greens, such as Resene Windfall, as the blue and green palette move to more separate identities. The cooled hues of blue, green and yellow soften the palette.
NEUTRALS
Neutrals are a broad assortment tending more mid tone. Creamy neutrals have moved towards green-edged neutrals such as Resene Half Secrets. Stony greys, such as Resene Half Cobblestone, are joined by dark hues with hints of complex undertones, such as Resene Silhouette. Barely there and mid-tone neutrals, such as Resene White Thunder, hint of subtle undertones. Darker neutrals have greater colour depth and intensity.
Black becomes more nuanced black with an underlying personality that is more than just straight black. Natural materials of concrete and timber clear finished for protection are rugged and call out for earthy tones to accompany them.
Expect the unexpected.
Colour combinations that may once have raised eyebrows are now commonplace. It's not so much the colours themselves but how you combine them in spaces that is key.
Choose your main colour act and then bring together the rest of your cast of colours in a supporting role to make the main act sing.
? View the latest fashion colours in the Resene The Range fashion colours fandeck available from Resene ColorShops and resellers, or view at www.resene.com/ colour.
