The accent colours to design with now to keep on top of the latest trends

08 Nov 2022

There are some circumstances where it makes sense to pick classic colours that will stand the test of time, but there are just as many other situations where your design needs to tap into the latest trends. For example, commercial retail and hospitality – including restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels – risk losing business if these customer-facing settings don’t reflect the latest and greatest colours and décor. Residential clients, especially those undertaking a major renovation project who have been living with dated décor for far too long, will likely look to you to for ways to bring their home back up to date.

But as everyone knows, trends do come and go, so using paint to carry these hues into your colour scheme means that it’s quick, easy and affordable for your client to switch up a few years down the road if their tastes shift. Whether you use them on feature walls, doors, trims, furniture, plinths, shelving, architectural details or accessories, these Resene hues will be hits among your retail, hospitality and trend-seeking clients.

Bold Mediterranean blues

Whether you call it Klein or classic blue, bold hues like Resene Aviator, Resene Decadence and Resene Half Resolution Blue are among of the hottest accent colours around at the moment. These bold blues last had their heyday in the early 90s but are also often associated with mid-century modern design. There is nothing subtle about these eye-popping hues yet they are surprisingly versatile in their ability to blend with a range of palettes and styles. Resene Aviator looks as much at home when punctuating a classic palette of white, grey, navy and black such as Resene Sea Fog, Resene Ted, Resene Carpe Noctem and Resene Night Magic as it does in an ultra-contemporary palette of peach, papaya and gold balanced with crisp white such as Resene Awaken, Resene Tropical, Resene Liquid Gold and Resene Alabaster.

But if your project is just kicking off and likely won’t be occupied for a year or so yet, you’ll want to be looking to greener sea-like blues that evoke the warm waters of the Mediterranean such as Resene Ocean Waves, Resene Dream Big and Resene Lakeside. Pair them with other coastal colours like sandy beiges, creamy whites and brick reds inspired by the pristine beaches, patinaed stucco, terracotta roofs such as Resene Solitaire, Resene Rice Cake and Resene Savour for an effortlessly chic colour palette.

Background in Resene Solitaire, plate in Resene Ocean Waves, conch shell in Resene Dream Big, faux coral in Resene Morning Haze, vases in Resene Lakeside and Resene Dream Big, sticks in Resene New Day and Resene Upside and sea urchin candleholder in Resene Moondance.

Vibrant verdant greens

For the past two years, there has arguably been no colour family more popular than green. Greens from mint to sage to emerald to nettle have played a massive role in fashion, architecture and interior design. During the pandemic, we saw a sharp uptick in the use of nature-inspired greens – particularly deep, bushy forest greens like Resene Welcome and those with earthy brown undertones like olive and nettle such as Resene Seaweed and – as a way to reconnect and root us during a tumultuous time. But with many of us tired of being surrounded by stagnant walls, vibrant verdant varieties like Resene Boundless are being used to inject energy back into our lives.

As with most of the other hues on this list, a little goes a long way, so look for a key architectural feature or piece of furniture to enliven with your sprightly green. To keep the rest of your scheme calm and mellow, combine a touch of Resene Boundless with other earth-inspired tones like Resene Rolling Hills, Resene Aoraki, Resene Timeless, Resene Wayfarer and Resene Rebel. Or mix it with petal pinks like Resene Petal and Resene Inspire to tap into the neo-Memphis trend.

Background in Resene Timeless, bowl in Resene Aoraki and vases in (clockwise from bottom left) Resene Rolling Hills, Resene Boundless, Resene Rebel and Resene Wayfarer.

Pale purples

From periwinkle through to lavender, pale purples like Resene Heliotrope and Resene Poet have become a symbol of optimism and futurism. What started first as a growing online presence, soft purples have been steadily working their way into the fashion and home furnishings spheres. And now, violet hues are also being used more frequently for painted surfaces – including ceilings and cabinetry.

The eye-catching yet healing tone of Resene Heliotrope ties in particularly well with other on-trend colours like natural yellow and brown-based earth tones such as Resene See The Light, Resene Meringue, Resene Otter and Resene Milk Chocolate, which give off equally soothing and friendly effects. Given that many of us are looking for stable, positive environments to surround ourselves in as a way of recovering from the stresses of everyday life, this colour combo ticks the boxes for what trend-seekers are after – and what they need.

Background in Resene Meringue, large bowl in Resene Otter, small bowl in Resene Heliotrope and painted vases in (clockwise from left) Resene Roadster, Resene Rebel and Resene Dark Chocolate.

Tropical oranges

Looking ahead a little further in our colour forecast, it seems orange is ripe for a comeback – but with a tropical twist. In the next few months, be prepared to see plenty of bitter citrus varieties like Resene Kombucha and Resene Clockwork Orange making an appearance, however, these will eventually evolve through to pinky papayas like Resene Grenadier and Resene Tropical. For projects where you don’t want too much of a tropical punch, we’re big fans of slightly softer versions like Resene Dawn Glow and Resene Tuscany. When paired with soothing blue greens like Resene Unite, Resene Morning Haze and Resene Forty Six, these hues feel undeniably fresh and contemporary without overwhelming the senses.

Background in Resene Unite, tray in Resene Forty Six, u-shaped vase in Resene White Noise, large vase in Resene Morning Haze and small vases in (from top left to bottom right) Resene Kinship, Resene Otter, Resene Dawn Glow and Resene Tuscany.

Vermillion reds

It’s been some years now since true reds were truly popular, but our mid-range colour forecasts show that it won’t be many months before we see red making a major comeback. Carmine and burgundy reds like Resene Incarnadine and Resene Scoria have just begun to show up on the runway, and they’ll be followed close behind by brighter and truer reds like Resene Pioneer Red as well as ones with more orange undertones like Resene Thunderbird.

If your client is looking to be ahead of the curve, you’ll definitely want red to be among your top accent colour considerations for their project. To keep the strength of vermillion reds from overpowering, blend them with softer reds, browns, beiges and golds such as Resene Savour, Resene Rebel, Resene Athena and Resene See The Light along with warm wood flooring and furniture stained in Resene Colorwood Natural.

Background in Resene Savour, gem ornaments in Resene Athena and Resene Meringue, hex dishes in Resene Pioneer Red and Resene Scoria, square pencil cup in Resene Salted Caramel, rectangular dish in Resene See The Light and tiny round vase in Resene Rebel.

To learn more about colour trends to keep an eye out for, check out the Red Alert section in the latest issue of BlackWhite magazine and look to the Resene The Range fashion colours fandeck for a curated collection of the most relevant on-trend hues.

projects Laura Lynn Johnston

images Bryce Carleton

Published: 08 Nov 2022