Baches are an opportunity to try something a little different to your everyday home. Create a deep, moody atmosphere by using a darker colour in a small room. Tongue-and-groove back wall painted in Resene Watermark, front walls in Resene Baring Head, borders in Resene Alabaster and floor in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Shelves painted in Resene Double Alabaster, vases in Resene Aoraki and Resene Ted. Desk and chair from Danske Møbler, side table from French Country Collections, plant and rug from Adairs, lamp from Mitre 10, mirror from H&M Home. Project by Melle van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Feel the serenity with soothing blues and greens that might just make you want to hop on a plane to a tropical destination. Using different strengths of shades within the same colour family gives a casual, breezy look, creating a relaxing but stimulating space. Wall painted in Resene Duck Egg Blue, trellis feature wall in Resene Colorwood Shore Thing and floor in Resene Colorwood Shade. Cabinet painted in Resene Green Spring, coffee table in Resene Inside Back, wooden side table in Resene Colorwood Bask, vase in Resene Colorwood Shore Thing, beaded deco in Resene Colorwood Bask and bowl in Resene Duck Egg Blue. Sofa and tealight holder from Freedom, cushions from Adairs, Mocka, The Warehouse and Leopard Hall, ceramic dish from Hunter Furniture. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Create a DIY trellis headboard by nailing together narrow strips of stained natural timber for a natural beachy haven in your bedroom. Complement with light sandy tones for a soft relaxing space. Back wall painted in Resene Half Biscotti, floor in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, ply wall behind bed in Resene Colorwood Becalm, trellis headboard in Resene Colorwood Bask and table stump in Resene Colorwood Bask. Linen bedding from Foxtrot Home, cushions from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Add instant dimension to your living room with a simple DIY panelled wall design by simply gluing battens of painted timber to the wall to form square shapes, and then painting the walls and battens in Resene Black White. Add additional visual texture by using Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel on the battens contrasted with the wall in matte paint like Resene SpaceCote Flat. The two tables are painted in Resene Merino. Mirror, tray and tall bottle vase painted in Resene Cloudy, textured vase and seashell box in Resene Silver Chalice, coral in Resene Black Whiteand plant pot in Resene Half Tuna. Sofa from Johnson Imports, tray table and rug from Freedom, lantern and lamp from Johnson Imports, seagull and lighthouse decoration from Bed Bath & Beyond, cushions from Johnson Imports, Bed Bath & Beyond and The French Villa. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Create seaside sophistication with a nautical theme with subtle blues and creams as wall colours, going bolder instead in your accessories and furnishings by incorporating stripes and natural elements. Walls painted in Resene Forecast, tongue-and-groove panelling in Resene Sea Fog, floor in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, screen in Resene Regent Grey and cabinet in Resene Sea Fog with inset panels in Resene Regent Grey. Sofa from Johnson Imports, cushions from Johnson Imports and Nood. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.