look book
latest
habitat tv
Say goodbye to the morning scramble for keys, coats and sunglasses and hello to this… see this and more videos
blog
Whakawhitinga: A mural of passage and connection at the Dunedin School of Art
At Dunedin School of Art, artist Sarah Viault’s mural ‘Whakawhitinga’ brings to life a profound… more
look book 
What a cosy corner for this office. The wall, bookshelf, desktop and shelf are painted in Resene Quarter Atmosphere and the floor is stained in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt. The small vase is in Resene Nero, the angular vase is Resene Road Trip and the plant pot is Resene Gumboot.Office chair, lamp, basket, clock, cushions and mug from Freedom, concrete cones and vase from Indie Home Collective, speaker and cactus vase from Allium Interiors. Project by Claudia Kozub, image by Melanie Jenkins.
What a great use of space. Resene Korma was used on the large sliding doors and the walls within this study nook to define it from the rest of the surrounding living area, which is painted in Resene Alabaster.
Soothing Resene Duck Egg Blue walls and a Resene Inside Back floor are the backdrop for earthy greens in this simple reading nook, with its floor squab and pillows. The shelves are painted in Resene Passport, the small pot is Resene Native and the basket plant holder is in Resene Quarter Evolution. The door architraves are Resene Black White. Pillowcases, vases, statue, plants, basket, and lightshade from Indie Home Collective, mug from Freedom. Project by Claudia Kozub, image by Melanie Jenkins.
What a great cosy corner, this wall is painted in Resene Half Alabaster, the floor is in Resene Rakaia, arch screen in Resene Half Alabaster with stripes in Resene Pattens Blue and the short side table is in Resene Ship Cove. Chair from Wolf & Co, lamps from Lighting Plus, painting by Brenda Clews, basket and vase from H&M Home, cushion and throw from Adairs, curtain from Resene Curtain Collection. Project by Melle van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.
Resene Half Nocturnal and Resene Half White Pointer keeps this small bathroom chic and sophisticated.
What a lovely colour scheme for this bathroom with the panelling painted in Resene Yes Please, walls in Resene Elderflower, flooring in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, bathmat and inside of tray table in Resene Mozart. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.
6 ways to make the most of small spaces
Do you find yourself walking past a dull corner or room in your house and wonder what you can do with such a small space? Or perhaps you have a petite bathroom and you’re just not sure how to make it look more inviting. From office areas to reading nooks, we have the ideas to get you inspired to turn small into spectacular.
Inspiring workstations
What a cosy corner for this office. The wall, bookshelf, desktop and shelf are painted in Resene Quarter Atmosphere and the floor is stained in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt. The small vase is in Resene Nero, the angular vase is Resene Road Trip and the plant pot is Resene Gumboot.Office chair, lamp, basket, clock, cushions and mug from Freedom, concrete cones and vase from Indie Home Collective, speaker and cactus vase from Allium Interiors. Project by Claudia Kozub, image by Melanie Jenkins.
Is there an empty corner that always stares at you when you walk past? Why not turn it into an office or workstation? This setup doesn’t take up much room, all you need is some standing and floating shelves and an office chair, then you’re good to go. If you’re worried about the desk space looking bulky, try to paint the colour of the shelves so it matches the surrounding walls, allowing them to blend in seamlessly.
With the rise of portable devices, you don’t need to settle for the kitchen counter or coffee table to lean on while you’re working, you can create a home office space that is appealing and effective as well as compact. Try adding a roll of pinboard to the back wall as an extra place to add documents, work or reminders.
What a great use of space. Resene Korma was used on the large sliding doors and the walls within this study nook to define it from the rest of the surrounding living area, which is painted in Resene Alabaster.
Perhaps you have an empty nook, cupboard or spandrel in need of some love and attention? Why not turn it into a workspace? If there are no doors there, you could opt for rolling barn doors to give a modern and stylish feel to the space. The great thing about this design is that at the push of a hand you can go from work to leisure, or hide away any clutter, giving that better work-life balance we are always after, especially when working from home.
Reading corners
Soothing Resene Duck Egg Blue walls and a Resene Inside Back floor are the backdrop for earthy greens in this simple reading nook, with its floor squab and pillows. The shelves are painted in Resene Passport, the small pot is Resene Native and the basket plant holder is in Resene Quarter Evolution. The door architraves are Resene Black White. Pillowcases, vases, statue, plants, basket, and lightshade from Indie Home Collective, mug from Freedom. Project by Claudia Kozub, image by Melanie Jenkins.
Blues, teals and aquas are shades that make us feel calm and safe, a great choice for any reading nook or corner where you want to sit back and relax with a good book. Think ‘comfort’ when creating a space like this, a chunky blanket and soft pillows will do the trick and you can match these to whatever colour scheme you are going for, you could even add a chair or bean bag. Make sure your corner has efficient light for reading.
Think about what you might be doing in the space you create, whether you are having tea with a friend, or using it as a quiet place to study, if you’ve got a small home then finding places that can serve multiple functions is a worthy thing to consider. If you don’t yet have a ‘nook’ you can easily create one by separating off a corner of the room with a free-standing screen or row of house plants.
What a great cosy corner, this wall is painted in Resene Half Alabaster, the floor is in Resene Rakaia, arch screen in Resene Half Alabaster with stripes in Resene Pattens Blue and the short side table is in Resene Ship Cove. Chair from Wolf & Co, lamps from Lighting Plus, painting by Brenda Clews, basket and vase from H&M Home, cushion and throw from Adairs, curtain from Resene Curtain Collection. Project by Melle van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.
Make a corner unique by adding an arch or feature to it, this will also stop any other items you add look less lonely and random and will help you add to the colour palette you’ve chosen. All you really need for a comfy reading corner is a chair to sink in to, a blanket, a handy lamp and your book. A white shade on the walls such as Resene Half Alabaster will provide a soothing backdrop to an otherwise empty space and help you to choose some colourful and inviting furniture and items to add.
Dainty bathrooms
Resene Half Nocturnal and Resene Half White Pointer keeps this small bathroom chic and sophisticated.
Rebecca McLean of Tiny House Builders shows us how it’s done with her dainty yet versatile bathroom. She has used the dark shade of Resene Half Nocturnal on the back wall and side of the basin making the smaller space recede and the room feel deeper. Along with the mirror on the back wall, which helps to create the illusion of a longer room, this is a great example of making the most of a small space. Add a pop of colour with some artwork and greenery to give the room some interest and drama.
What a lovely colour scheme for this bathroom with the panelling painted in Resene Yes Please, walls in Resene Elderflower, flooring in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, bathmat and inside of tray table in Resene Mozart. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.
Adding some panelling to the walls is an affordable, eye-catching and versatile way to transform a space. If you want a pop of colour, but don’t want to cover all the walls, painting it on some panelling might be the look you’re after, and this will also help to break up a smaller room. The beautiful aqua shade of Resene Yes Please (above) is bright and cheerful and complements the neutral walls in Resene Elderflower. For another ‘pop’ you could try a harmonious and mellow green such as Resene Spanish Green, or a burnt orange like Resene Fire.
If you need help choosing colours for a new space, head to your local Resene ColorShop and ask one of the friendly and knowledgeable Colour Experts for some advice, ask a Resene Colour Expert free online, www.resene.com/colourexpert or book a Resene Colour Consultation, www.resene.com/colourconsult.
Published: 25 Jan 2023
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Spanish Green
Resene Spanish Green
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
more inspiration
Where does your mind go when you think of purple?… more
Douglas and Shelley’s neutral haven is filled with creative touches
When Douglas and Shelley moved to Dunedin with their two children, Oscar… more
A pair of heritage bathrooms clean up nicely
Renovating a heritage bathroom is a behemoth of an undertaking.… more
How to create the look of an open plan (even if you don’t have one)
Open plan layouts offer an enviable airy, spacious aesthetic that… more
Charlotte Coote’s expertly coloured Mt Macedon home has style to spare
When interior designer Charlotte Coote of Coote & Co and… more
Resene Spanish Green
Resene Spanish Green
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
