A pop of bold classic blue offsets the softer desert tones in this forward-focused colour palette. The wall is in Resene Tacao, the table top is in Resene Carrara, the plate is in Resene Wet N Wild and the vases (from left to right) are in Resene Just Dance, Resene Tacao and Resene Route 66.

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute says the elegant colour was chosen for its dependable and peaceful qualities and will undoubtedly be seen everywhere from the catwalk to home interiors.

“Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation. A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking.”

A bit of classic marine blue goes a long way in this bathroom. Wall in Resene Elderflower, tongue-and-groove panelling in Resene Yes Please, floor stained in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash timber stain with pendant lamp, plant pots and rattan side table in Resene Wishing Well.

Whether you’re looking to stay on trend with the newly crowned Colour of the Year or have your heart set on the deeper, murkier blues that have taken over the interiors landscape locally, Resene’s extensive range has options for everyone.

While true blues like Resene Raindance, Resene Bismark and Resene Mystery remain popular options that are perfect for spring and summer, deep dark sapphires continue to be among the most coveted jewel tones in our part of the world. Look to shades like Resene Indian Ink or Resene Twilight Zone for building a cocoon-worthy tonal bedroom or use them in smaller doses on accessories or a statement piece of furniture to add a punch of contrast to define a more neutral space.

Panelling in Resene Indian Ink, floor in Resene Half Chicago, nightstand in Resene Wishing Well and vases in Resene Wishing Well, Resene Remember Me, Resene Bluetooth, Resene Mediation and Resene Poured Milk.

However, like many prominent trendy hues, the pendulum has begun to swing towards murkier shades like Resene Coast and Resene Safehaven as the favoured darks. Try them with other dusty denims and coastal blues like Resene Liberty and Resene Lazy River. Or, mix in some mushroom grey like Resene Grey Olive, a barely there blush like Resene Ethereal and a starchy white like Resene Rice Cake.

Background in Resene Coast, tray in Resene Ethereal and vases in (clockwise from left) Resene Indian Ink, Resene Rice Cake and Resene Grey Olive with A4 drawdown paint swatches in (from right to left) Resene Ethereal, Resene Grey Olive, Resene Rice Cake and Resene Indian Ink.

But if you’re truly looking to embrace the next ‘big thing’, we think it’s worth looking to greener blue hues like Resene Green Meets Blue and Resene Fast Forward. Try these shades with a lichen green like Resene Unwind, a creamy yellow-toned white like Resene Rice Cake and a spiced marmalade orange like Resene Bi Hoki.

Background in Resene Green Meets Blue (left) and Resene Secrets (right) plate in Resene Helix, vase in Resene Raindance, coat peg in Resene Bismark and sunburst pot in Resene Bi Hoki with A4 drawdown paint swatches in (from top to bottom) Resene Helix, Resene Green Meets Blue, Resene Secrets and Resene Raindance.

What else is trending?

When we take stock of all the colour trends currently capturing our attention, you’ll notice classic colours have undergone subtle transformations over significant changes. The hues which have universally remained popular choices have evolved from fully chromic into more hushed, grey variations, and on top of these go-to options are a few new surprising trends.

Here are some other top colours to keep an eye on – especially for those rooms on your to do list to paint over the holidays.

Spice is nice

Show-stopping bright reds were having a moment last year, but the trend has shifted sharply and swiftly toward ruddier variations. Now, terracotta ranging from slightly lighter Resene Sunbaked and Resene Santa Fe to browner Resene Moccasin and Resene Raging Bull have become the hottest trending hues around. Try these spicy shades with desert pinks, beigey blushes or earthy olives like Resene Just Dance, Resene Despacito and Resene Untamed balanced with toasted browns like Resene Swiss Caramel and Resene Sambuca for a scorching hot look that’s the epitome of what’s ‘in’.

Colour palettes inspired by the 1970s are big, but they’ve been given a contemporary twist with the addition of misty blues and lilacs. Background in Resene Sunbaked with ribbed bowl in Resene Remember Me, tea light holder in Resene Swiss Caramel and small vase in Resene Dreamtime.

Natural expression

While nature has long been a common inspiration for decor, woodland tones including mushroom greys, such as Resene Grey Olive, and earthy browns, such as Resene Coffee Break, are right up there among today’s most popular hues. Flora and fauna motifs continue to be wildly popular, including bold tropical patterns, animal prints and brass statuettes of lions, tigers and jaguars.

The prevalence of green continues to flourish, though it’s primarily in shades ranging from muted mint like Resene Secrets and silvery sage like Resene Peace, to enviable olives like Resene Waiouru. Emeralds and jades, too, remain in vogue – look to shades like Resene Atlas and Resene Mother Nature for a quick accent update.

Resene Wallpaper Collection EAR602 in this room embodies the earthy trend. Try it in a zen-like space with a floor and ceiling in Resene Eighth Tea and layer in tonal accents in Resene Spring Wood, Resene Just Right, Resene Coriander, Resene Earthstone and Resene Flax.

Mellower yellows

Yellows have taken a turn towards buttery, sunshine shades like Resene Thumbs Up and Resene Chorus Line, but there are still very popular golden mustards like Resene Cleopatra and more brassy hues like Resene Influential to be found in nearly every home furnishings department. All four hues go hand-in-hand with army greens like Resene New Leaf and celadons like Resene Smoothie if you’re looking to create a jungle inspired-space.

Anchor a lounge with a feature wall in Resene Wallpaper Collection 36503-2 and bring in a major piece of furniture in Resene Thumbs Up for a wild look that combines two major trends: buttery yellow and jungle-inspired schemes.

Sunset pinks still shining

Love it or hate it, pinks of all shades continue to be a hugely popular choice for soft furnishings and accessories – especially bedding and cushions. A certain ‘millennial’ shade may have been the one that started it all, but it’s dustier sunset shades like Resene Just Dance, Resene Soulful and Resene Soothe that are now taking centre stage. This trio looks great together for a tone-on-tone look or try painting them on rattan chairs, a table and accessories to build a boho-chic bedroom or lounge.

Resene Sunbaked was used on the wall and shelf of this trendy lounge, which was inspired by the tones of the desert. The stool and small plant pot are in Resene Soulful, the large pot is in Resene Shabby Chic, the small vases on the shelf are in Resene Just Dance and the painting on the wall was created with Resene Poured Milk, Resene Shabby Chic, Resene Soulful, Resene Just Dance, Resene Sunbaked, Resene Family Tree and Resene Mother Nature.

A little bit of lilac

As a diverging trend from millennial pink, lilac has been making a quiet appearance in the design world. Resene Ethereal, a barely-there blush with the slightest hint of lilac, is a shade we’ve been seeing again and again, but purpler versions like Resene Mozart and Resene Dreamtime have been showing up too. These shades are a restful and romantic alternative to pink that pair well with warm and cool whites as well as grey-greens, making them the perfect choice for a feminine bedroom.

We have also seen these popular purples making their influence on greys, browns and blues. Expect to see a lot more of colours like Resene Sixth Sense, Resene Rocky Mountain and Resene Time After Time. Try the former two together with rubies and emeralds like Resene Smoulder and Resene Atlas, the latter with a deep indigo like Resene King Tide and a steeped off white like Resene Half Tea in a bedroom.

Transitioning out of chocolate and into deep taupe, plum and grape tones are emerging trends. Wall in Resene Rocky Mountain, floor in Resene Sixth Sense, table in Resene Rivergum, basket in Resene Safehaven, small plant pots in Resene Indian Ink and Resene Rice Cake and tray in Resene Smoulder.

Bitter oranges emerge

While true yellows have gotten lighter, those golden mustards have also diverged into another emerging trend: orange. Subtle notes of brick and bitter versions like Resene Twisted Sister, Resene Clockwork Orange and Resene Bi Hoki have just begun to catch our eye as they’ve started springing up in small accessories and soft furnishings. Get ahead of the curve now and try them with a pewter green like Resene Artemis and green-greys like Resene Helix and Resene Secrets. They are equally suited to being paired up with a deep indigo like Resene King Tide, if that’s more your flavour.

The wall in this on trend home office is painted Resene Sea Fog with a colour block feature in Resene Fast Forward, which was also used on the lipped shelves and desktop. The chair is painted Resene Clockwork Orange, the hooks and floor are in Resene Truffle, and the organiser is in Resene Alabaster, Resene Truffle and Resene Earthen. The tiny succulents are planted in pots painted in Resene Grey Area, Resene Sorbet and Resene Moccasin.

For more trend-focused tips, pick up a copy of the new habitat plus – decorating and colour trends from your local Resene ColorShop or reseller. It’s packed full of ideas for how you can incorporate today’s fashionable colours into your home. Or view it online at www.resene.com/habitatplus.

styling Amber Armitage, Laura Lynn Johnston, Claudia Kozub, Annick Larkin, Leigh Stockton, Meghan Harrison-Turner
images Bryce Carleton, Melanie Jenkins