The art of minimalism with a splash of colour: Tips for a balanced look
Minimalist interior design is a popular and timeless style that emphasizes simplicity, functionality, and clean lines. It often relies on neutral colours, clear surfaces, and uncluttered spaces to create a calming and serene environment. However, incorporating a small amount of colour can add interest, personality, and energy to a minimalist interior, without sacrificing its fundamental principles. With some Resene paint colours and wallpapers, check out our tips to keep things minimal without sacrificing your favourite shades.
A touch of green
The subtle shade of Resene Wallpaper Collection M35904 brings some freshness into this minimalist room. It pairs well with whites that have a hint of green like Resene Paris White and Resene Half Cararra. Try a natural stain that brings out the beauty of your wooden surfaces such as Resene Colorwood Natural or Resene Colorwood Whitewash.
Green is a calming, refreshing and versatile colour that can create a sense of balance and harmony in a room. With a subtle textured wallpaper, you can maximise minimalism while creating a vibrant yet simplistic home. The shade of this wallpaper pairs well with natural wooden décor, creating a gentle connection with the outdoors without the addition of colour becoming overpowering. Try using a wood stain like Resene Colorwood Natural to replicate this look, or opt for a more beachy, weathered finish with Resene Colorwood Bask.
Incorporating elements of nature like plants, wood, or stone can add a sense of warmth and organic beauty to a minimalist interior and bring some life into an otherwise simple or stark space. Other muted greens to try include Resene Wabi Sabi, Resene Smashed Avocado or Resene Chelsea Cucumber. Try using whites with a slight hint of green for trims and window frames, such as Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream.
Blue escape
Anaglypta wallpaper with Resene Wallpaper Collection RD5671 adds immediate texture and visual interest to this otherwise quite simple room. The walls and wallpaper are painted Resene Epic, with trim in Resene Toffee, and wooden floors in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. The large vase is Resene Double Blanc, the books are Resene Epic and Resene Toffee, and the small vase is Resene Epic. The console table is Resene Pendragon, the coffee table is Resene Toffee, the book and tray on the coffee table are Resene Brown Sugar. Couch from Danske Mobler, Nomad book from Frankie and Flo Home, mugs in Resene Toffee from Freedom, cushions from Freedom, all other items stylist’s own. Project Vanessa Nouwens, image Bryce Carleton.
A minimalist blue colour palette is a great option for a calm and serene living space, that also offers a modern, minimalist aesthetic. Pairing a limited colour palette with clean, crisp lines can add to your minimal space, creating a peaceful, calming atmosphere. Try adding some texture to your chosen shade like the above room, with an anaglypta wallpaper on the top half of the wall and painted over with Resene Epic. Other on-trend blues to try are the tropical sea blue of Resene Idyllic or the muted blackened blue of Resene Lakeside.
Keep decorative accents minimal, with a few well-chosen pieces to add visual interest without overwhelming the space. The gold tones on fabrics and furniture cut through the deep, luxurious blues, creating the perfect contrast. For a similar shade that pairs well with blues, try Resene Rodeo Dust or Resene Gold Coast.
Gentle texture
The marble pattern in Resene Wallpaper Collection DD120234 screams chic and sophisticated, paired with the wooden furniture here to create a mid-century modern vibe.
A bit of visual texture can add depth and interest to a minimalist interior, and a marble design could be just the thing to take your walls from basic to brilliant. When used on walls, marble can add new brightness and elegance, giving the illusion of greater spaciousness. Wooden floors and furniture look striking against the many nuances in marble, especially reddish shades like Resene Colorwood Meranti, which adds just enough colour to break up an otherwise monochrome look. Whether on all walls, or just as a stylish feature wall, pair this wallpaper with whites like Resene Black White, Resene Alabaster or a frosted silver like Resene Concrete.
Earthy charm
This earthy bedroom is warm and comforting, with walls painted in Resene Thorndon Cream, feature wall in Resene Credence, trims in Resene Triple Thorndon Cream, floor in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, artwork in Resene Half lemon Grass, vase in Resene Cobblestone. Rug from Ivy House, other items stylist’s own. Project Kate Alexander, image Bryce Carleton.
Earthy tones emphasise simplicity and calm, making them ideal for creating a peaceful, uncluttered bedroom that promotes relaxation and rest. For this all-natural look opt for tones inspired by the outdoors like beige Resene Athena, brown Resene Piazza, green Resene Field Day, and grey Resene Tino Pai, and pair them with soft, natural textures like linen, sisal, cotton, and wool. Try complementing colours like an ochre tan like Resene Gold Coast, a green toned beige like Resene Chino, a rustic and relaxed green-brown like Resene Cargo, or a light beige neutral like Resene Parchment.
Sweet pinks
This earthy bedroom is warm and comforting, with walls painted in Resene Thorndon Cream, feature wall in Resene Credence, trims in Resene Triple Thorndon Cream, floor in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, artwork in Resene Half lemon Grass, vase in Resene Cobblestone. Rug from Ivy House, other items stylist’s own. Project Kate Alexander, image Bryce Carleton.
For a simple nursery or children’s room, without all the clutter, try a colour palette of two or three colours, to create a cohesive look that feels intentional and deliberate, while still holding on to that minimal aesthetic. Consider using neutral colours like Resene Rice Cake or Resene Cararra for a base, then adding pops of colour in accent pieces on a painted arch, bookshelf or table. For other sweet pastels colours that will look great against whites, try a delicate blue like Resene Refresh, a sweet green like Resene Feijoa, or a floral violet like Resene Unicorn.
All-in-all, a colour-filled minimalist interior doesn’t have to overwhelm or become cluttered. It can be a great way to add personality and flair to a space while maintaining fundamental principles of simplicity and functionality. Less is more, but colour is everything!
Order your favourite wallpaper or get some paint advice from your local Resene ColorShop.
Published: 15 Mar 2023
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Paris White
Resene Paris White
Resene Cararra
Resene Cararra
Resene Wasabi
Resene Avocado
Resene Avocado
Resene Chelsea Cucumber
Resene Chelsea Cucumber
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Toffee
Resene Brown Sugar
Resene Brown Sugar
Resene Rodeo Dust
Resene Rodeo Dust
Resene Gold Coast
Resene Gold Coast
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Pencarrow
Resene Pencarrow
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Cobblestone
Resene Cobblestone
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Chino
Resene Cargo
Resene Parchment
Resene Parchment
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Refresh
Resene Refresh
Resene Feijoa
Resene Unicorn
Resene Unicorn
Resene Caraway
Resene Caraway
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
Resene Paris White
Resene Paris White
Resene Cararra
Resene Cararra
Resene Wasabi
Resene Avocado
Resene Avocado
Resene Chelsea Cucumber
Resene Chelsea Cucumber
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Toffee
Resene Brown Sugar
Resene Brown Sugar
Resene Rodeo Dust
Resene Rodeo Dust
Resene Gold Coast
Resene Gold Coast
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Pencarrow
Resene Pencarrow
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Cobblestone
Resene Cobblestone
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Chino
Resene Cargo
Resene Parchment
Resene Parchment
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Refresh
Resene Refresh
Resene Feijoa
Resene Unicorn
Resene Unicorn
Resene Caraway
Resene Caraway
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.