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Upper wall in Resene Miso, lower wall in Rewilding, trim in Iko Iko and floor in Rice Cake. Sofa, rug and ladder shelf from Matisse, coffee table from Soren Liv, artwork by Dominique Marriott from Ligne Roset. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.
Walls in Resene Spanish White, floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, furniture in Double Spanish White and Half Spanish White. Pendant from Lighting Plus, chair and linen from Kmart. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.
Back wall painted in Resene China Ivory, right wall in Cape Palliser, floor in Teak. Sofa and armchair from Matisse, artwork from Bradfords Interiors. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.
Walls in Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay, floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, trim in Crail and furniture in Hairy Heath and Eighth Canterbury Clay. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Melanie Jenkins.
How to create a cosy home
Naturally we spend more time indoors over the cooler months, and it certainly helps to love the space you’re hunkering down in. There’s a mix of things that makes a room cosy – colour, furniture, texture, flooring – and we’ve put together four looks that might nudge you towards sprucing up that room you’ve been thinking about for a while.
A white winter
Walls in Resene Spanish White, floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, furniture in Double Spanish White and Half Spanish White. Pendant from Lighting Plus, chair and linen from Kmart. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.
Often we see darker colours trending over autumn and winter, and while these do create a nice cocooning effect for cold days, it doesn’t mean whites and lighter tones can’t give you the same cosy feel. In this space light neutrals are layered over each other, wrapping around walls and décor, and ready to wrap around you after a long day. The cosy bed linen and furniture pair beautifully with the walls in Resene Spanish White and timber floors stained in Resene Colorwood Whitewash. It looks a little summery yes, but maybe that’s just what you need to warm you up!
Resene Pro Tip: Whites and neutrals can look different depending on lighting and different times of the day, so be sure to pick up a few Resene testpots from your local ColorShop before committing to larger areas.
Mid-century warmth
Back wall painted in Resene China Ivory, right wall in Cape Palliser, floor in Teak. Sofa and armchair from Matisse, artwork from Bradfords Interiors. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.
Mid-century modern has become a popular interior style in recent years. It’s easy to see why it’s appealing and a great choice for a cosy home due to the low-slung furniture and warm earthy tones – often in red-toned browns, earthy greens and mustards. In this space, the right wall in Resene Cape Palliser and floor in Teak ground the large space and reflect warmth around the room.
Cosy accents
Walls in Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay, floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, trim in Crail and furniture in Hairy Heath and Eighth Canterbury Clay. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Melanie Jenkins.
If your interior style favours warm tones that make you space feel cosy then this colour palette could be just for you. These walls are painted in Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay, a great warm-toned neutral that is perfect for adding some colours in décor and furniture for depth. We’ve gone with a muted green sofa paired with rusty tones for a bit of personality, but you can really add any accented hues you like to your neutral space to suit your taste.
Resene Pro Tip: If you’re painting furniture, use a tough, durable option like Resene Lustacryl semi gloss or Resene Enamacryl gloss. For a matte or rustic look, consider using a Karen Walker Chalk Colour.
Japandi comfort
Upper wall in Resene Miso, lower wall in Rewilding, trim in Iko Iko and floor in Rice Cake. Sofa, rug and ladder shelf from Matisse, coffee table from Soren Liv, artwork by Dominique Marriott from Ligne Roset. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.
Japandi is an interior design style that merges Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality. It often emphasises nature, warmth and rustic simplicity, making it a great choice for a relaxed and comfy home over cooler months. The upper wall in Resene Miso keeps the space from becoming too dark, while the lower half of the room is rooted in a cosy, nature-inspired scheme.
Resene Pro Tip: Use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for general wall areas. It combines the durable, easy-clean properties of enamel paint with a subtle, low-sheen aesthetic that hides wall imperfections.
Published: 13 May 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
Resene Spanish White
Resene Double Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Cape Palliser
Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay
Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay
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 Spanish White
Resene Double Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Cape Palliser
Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay
Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
