Five new aesthetic trends you may not have heard of

22 Jan 2024

Feeling busier than ever? You’re not alone. Between work, commuting, taking care of family, sport or volunteering commitments, hobbies, finding time to cook (and hopefully sleep), modern life has become more exhausting than ever. And yet, we also need to find time to stay on top of our trade knowledge to keep our design work feeling fresh. If you don’t have the time or patience to be constantly combing through social media – particularly the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it channels that are popular with younger generations, like TikTok and Instagram Story Reels – it’s easy for the emergence of new aesthetic trends to slip by. It’s also a common reaction for those who feel like they either can’t keep up or can’t bear to login to yet another platform to give up on following trends entirely.

However, as designers and decorators, we can’t afford to shut out new media; we need to keep learning, growing and expanding our understanding of base of knowledge in service of our clients. By putting our own discomforts with change and personal preferences aside, continuing to take in new trends improves the way we can communicate with our clients when they bring forth their ideas and dreams for what their future space could be. And no one wants to feel the embarrassment of a client namedropping a buzzy new aesthetic during a meeting that you’re only hearing about for the first time.

Chances are, by reading BlackWhite and staying on top of our blog stories, you’ve become acquainted with some of the most popular aesthetic trends that rose to relevance over the course of the past couple years, such as Cottagecore, Dopamine Decorating and Quiet Luxury. So, to make your busy life just a little bit easier, we’ve done to the legwork to prepare a primer on some of the other design styles that have emerged more recently and the Resene paint colours, wood stains and wallpapers that can help you to create them in your upcoming projects.

Warm Minimalism

One of the fundamental truths about trends is that, even when they may seem like they’ve come out of nowhere, they don’t happen in a vacuum. New trends always have a root in something that came before them, either grabbing on to a past idea and evolving it further or emerging in reaction to another trend as a way of countering it. With warm minimalism, the trend stems from a bit of both.

Firstly, those familiar with the Quiet Luxury trend will likely notice that Warm Minimalism has plenty of attributes in common. Indeed, the overall vibe is quite similar. However, some key differentiators are that the furniture, décor and finishes used in Warm Minimalism don’t need to be spendy and Quiet Luxury doesn’t need to be done in warm hues. Warm Minimalism’s colour palette also comes as a counter-movement to the cold, sterile and frequently flat greyness or glaring whiteness that was synonymous with minimalism over the past couple decades.

Warm neutrals like Resene Creme De La Creme, Resene Courtyard, Resene Foundation, Resene Athena, Resene Tea and Resene Rice Cake are top paint colour picks for capturing a Warm Minimalism essence, but as with other minimalist looks, remember to include plenty of texture to keep this pared down aesthetic from falling flat. Use Resene FX Paint Effects Medium to create mottled wall effects and choose timber flooring in a warm colourwash stain like Resene Colorwood Bask to keep the surface looking soft and inviting while still allowing the natural beauty of the wood’s grain to show through. Finish the space with high-pile rugs or furniture in textured fabrics like boucle to increase the cosiness.

Left: Left wall and back wall painted in Resene Creme De La Creme, right pillar painted in Resene Creme De La Creme with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Courtyard applied on top, sculpture in Resene Creme De La Creme and floor finished in Resene Colorwood Bask. Chair and lamp from Matisse, console and rug from Ligne Roset, vase from Smith & Caughey’s, flowers from Urban Flowers.

Right: Upper wall painted in Resene Athena, lower wall panelling in Resene Creme De La Creme and floor in Resene Courtyard. Table and lamp from Soren Liv, dog ornament from Good Form, book and candle from Smith & Caughey’s, curtain from James Dunlop.

Dark Academia

Dark Academia style has roots in an idealised view of higher education, the arts and literature. The aesthetic centres on classical Greek and Collegiate Gothic architecture and furniture; picture a library in an Ivy League school and you’ll have a strong idea of the shapes, colours and symbolism that this style aims to capture.

As the name implies, colour palettes commonly consist of mainly of dark, cocooning hues like blacks, chocolate browns, burgundy reds, dark greens and navy blues such as Resene Times Square, Resene Trek, Resene Scoria, Resene Seaweed and Resene Indian Ink. However, beige, cream and white can also be found within this design style – look to nuanced variations like Resene Pavlova, Resene Blanc and Resene Half White Pointer for added depth. Rich materials like marble, hardwood timbers (in dark stains like Resene Mahogany), gold leaf (and gold metallic paint like Resene Gold Dust), velvet, crisp cottons and woven and woollen fabrics in houndstooth and tweed are all right at home as part of a Dark Academia design. An elegant wallpaper with an ornate design or tactile texture is a quintessential companion to the grandeur of this aesthetic.

Left: Wall in Resene Wallpaper Collection E307333 with a piece of Resene Wallpaper Collection E307300 framed above the mantel.

Right: Centre wall and section beneath mantle in Resene Wallpaper Collection SUM503 with wall above mantel in Resene Wallpaper Collection SOC103.

Forestcore

Biophilic design has been on the rise for a while now, and it's no surprise this trend has also taken over TikTok. Decorators are incorporating natural elements like indoor plants, timber and stone into the design of their spaces to enhance the connection between our built environment and Mother Earth. Bringing a touch of nature indoors boasts a long list of benefits and is lauded for the calmness and vibrancy it offers for the spaces our clients live, work and play. But when combined with a mash-up of Cottagecore, interest in biophilia has helped pave the way for Forestcore.

While deep bushy greens like Resene Rolling Hills and Resene Top Notch are the most characteristic colours for a Forestcore look, soft blacks and deep browns like Resene Night Magic and Resene Dark Chocolate are other welcome additions. Forest-themed wallpaper designs and wallpaper murals are among the most foolproof solutions, and there are plenty of ‘grown-up’ options in the Resene Wallpaper Collection that can add to the aesthetic without looking too twee. And, of course, no Forestcore look could be complete without timber flooring and furniture stained in deep hues like Resene Colorwood Dark Ebony, Resene Colorwood English Walnut and Resene Colorwood Bark.

While we’re on the topic, it doesn’t hurt to be aware of a related (though highly niche) style, known as Fairycore, which has also surfaced on TikTok. Essentially the same as Forestcore but given a fantastical spin, toadstool-themed décor and touches of pretty pastels like Resene Petal and Resene Sonique are the main markers of the Fairycore aesthetic.

Left: Wall in Resene Wallpaper Collection 2311-167-04.

Right: Wall in Resene Wallpaper Collection DGSUM203.

Post-Modern Pastel

Last year’s blockbuster, Barbie, brought about a renaissance of ‘girlhood’ and permission to embrace our inner child. But even before the film’s release, the youthful exuberance of the Post-Modern Pastel aesthetic was in full-force, borrowing some of bright yet approachable colors of Dopamine Decorating and blending them with hand-painted dinnerware, patterned textiles and shapely furniture and décor.

The name of the game with Post-Modern Pastel is carefree fun, so quirky painted murals on walls, floors or ceilings are welcome additions to these spaces. Look to colours like Resene Comfortably Numb, Resene Heliotrope, Resene Inspire, Resene Transcend and Resene Springtime and don’t hold back on the whimsy when pursuing this popular design style.

Left:Wall painted in Resene White Noise with ‘window’ painted in Resene Sail Away, Resene Eau De Nil and Resene Comfortably Numb, floor in Resene Half Alabaster and Resene Sail Away, pendant lampshade in Resene Half Alabaster, bench in Resene Half Alabaster, plant pot and platter (on books) in Resene Eau De Nil, striped table in Resene Half Alabaster and Resene Deep Teal and front table in Resene Half Alabaster.

Right: Background painted in Resene Ted, chess board in Resene Comfortably Numband Resene Heliotrope, chess pieces in Resene Petaland Resene Amped and plate in Resene Petal.

Cluttercore

When it comes to Cluttercore, it probably comes as no surprise that more is more – but it’s not as messy as it sounds. Sometimes referred to as ‘curated maximalism’, the Cluttercore aesthetic is about arranging many items into a tasteful way. At the heart of Cluttercore is the ability to create an interior filled with things that remind occupants of happy memories. For clients that are collectors or attracted to a lot of different design styles, Cluttercore embraces beloved belongings without the need to say goodbye to objects that bring joy or provide a sense of self-expression.

Boldness is often another defining feature of Cluttercore, with bright and often high-contrast colour palettes further amping up the visual interest. This style also plays with the juxtaposition of different patterns, often through ornate wallpaper or textiles, creating layers of decoration. For this reason, Cluttercore has been embraced by younger generations as a way of ensuring their living areas and workspaces are unique places where they can feel like they are represented by their surroundings.

Because there isn’t a specific colour palette tied to this aesthetic, look to your client’s cherished belongings when choosing your paint colours. Items that are small enough to carry can be brought to your Resene ColorShop, where the staff can help you find the nearest Resene colour matches. While you’re there, you can also peruse the latest releases from the Resene Wallpaper Collection to layer into your design. If you need quick inspiration in your office, take a photo of the treasures and load it into the Resene Colour Palette Generator, www.resene.com/palettegenerator, and it will suggest some starting colours for you.

Left: Wall painted in Resene Family Tree and floor stained in Resene Colorwood Tiri. Furniture and décor from The Vitrine, Flotsam & Jetsam, Babalogue and Mr. Bigglesworthy.

Right: Wall in Resene Wallpaper Collection SUM405.

For the latest colour, design and decorating trends, check out the latest issue of BlackWhite magazine. If you’re not on the mailing list, you can pick up a copy at your local Resene ColorShop, peruse the online version or sign-up to receive future issues free.

projects Kate Alexander, Amber Armitage

images Bryce Carleton, Wendy Fenwick, Melanie Jenkins

Published: 22 Jan 2024