Red-letter days: How to use this rosy shade in your home 

Warm, bold, chic or cosy – red can do it all. From glam to retro, bright to burnished, red hues bring personality and style to your interior.  And while winter may be with us for a while yet, Resene has a shade of red that will lift your spirits and keep the cold at bay. 

If livening up your home isn’t reason enough to paint your part of the town red, this month we are supporting Red Nose Day, so every 60mL red testpot bought from Resene owned ColorShops (NZ) means Cure Kids will receive a $1 donation. Cure Kids relies on generous contributions to carry out its vital work funding child health research – making a big difference to little lives.

Many might shy away from red, thinking it’s too overpowering to use at home. And while painting a whole wall or room does make a dramatic statement, you can easily incorprate red tones in smaller ways too – making elements pop against more muted backgrounds. 

Bursts of red 


Relax and revive with pops of red against classic greys and whites in this elegant bathroom. These walls are painted in Resene Alabaster with tile effect painted in Resene Double Stack, Resene Alabaster, Resene Eighth Stack,Resene Half Stack and Resene Half Baltic Sea, floor in Resene Double Stack, stool and small bowl in Resene Incarnadine, shelf in Resene Invincible and orchid pot in Resene Half Stack. Bathtub and freestanding mixer from Plumbline, towels from Father Rabbit. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton. 

A few items in a bathroom in a deep shade such as Resene Incarnadine, Resene Salsa or Resene Shiraz can make the whole room feel like it’s had a makeover. Add towels in a matching shade and the effect is luxurious – just the kind of environment for efficient mornings or a blissful hour in the bath while the rain falls outside. 

All about red 


Stripe up your life - a bright block of red is broken up with a more delicate pink tone. It's fun and uplifting, ideal for a breakfast nook or workspace.

This left front wall (bottom) is painted in Resene Volcano, top in Resene Smashing with stripes in Resene Paper Doll, centre rear wall in Resene Half Gull Grey and right rear wall in Resene Volcano. The floor is finished in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, sideboard in Resene Smashing, dining table in Resene Half Tuna, light pendant in Resene Roadster and jug in Resene Paper Doll. Chair from Cintesi, jug from Freedom, Rachel Long handwoven tapestry from Public Record. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton. 

This approach works just as well in a kitchen or study space. Try painting a single cupboard door in Resene Red Berry, Resene Del Toro, Resene Paprika or Resene Mexican Red. Those who favour their reds more on the orange-tomato spectrum might like to try the same approach with Resene Apple Blossom, Resene Lusty or Resene Tall Poppy. 

If a small burst of red just isn’t enough – and you might find once you start that bolder is better – a wall design is a dynamic way to bring more than one shade into your life. The intensity of a bright red like Resene Poppy can be balanced with a cooler grey-blue such as Resene Concrete or Resene Ghost, or interspersed with fresh pink stripes of Resene Paper Doll. The effect is playful and energetic, just the thing to bring some get-up-and-go to your mornings. 

Earthy and brick toned 


Pair reds with soft apple greens for an uplifting feel. These walls are painted in Resene Springtime, with the wall through the door in Resene Dawn Glow, floor in checks in Resene Scoria and Resene Alabaster, vases in Resene Scoria and Resene Thunderbird and plant pot in Resene Summer Rose. Lamp from Bauhaus and side board from Mocka. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick. 


Bring the warmth of Morocco into your home with earthy shades and a washed effect that soothes the soul. The walls are in Resene Fahrenheit, with smudges created withResene Mocha and Resene Apple Blossom mixed into Resene FX Paint Effects Medium. The floor is finished in ReseneColorwood Shade, side table in Resene Cashmere, books in Resene Wax Flower and Resene Cashmere and planter in Resene Apple Blossom. Rugs and cushions from Yuva Rugs, lantern from Exhibitionist, chair from French Country Collections, glassware from Hunt and Foster. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Red can be restful, too. Earthy, brick-coloured hues paired with lighter neutrals can bring a classic, timeless feel. Shades such as Resene Scoria, Resene Crail, Resene Hote August and Resene Wild West evoke a Mediterranean mood - formal if you want, but also warm and welcoming.

We red a rainbow 

In the DIY mood? These colourful bookends will do the trick!Show off your reading list with these gorgeous rainbow bookends that you can make in a day. You could use the colours of the rainbow, or make the most of Resene Paint It Red in July and use varying shades of red from light to dark, such as Resene Glorious, Resene Rapture, Resene Vibe and Resene Candy Floss.  

You will need:  

Step 1:Use a drawing compass to draw ten arches on to the wood.  The width of my arches are 4cm, 6.5cm, 9cm, 11.5cm and 14cm.  Use a jig saw or band saw to cut them out and then sand any rough edges smooth.  Prime the arches with Resene Quick Dry.

Step 2: Once the primer is dry, paint the arches with two coats of paint.  Ours are painted (from smallest to largest) in Resene Midnight Moss, Resene Lemon Ginger, Resene Iko Iko, Resene Apple Blossom and Resene Persian Red. 

 

Step 3: When the paint is dry, glue the arches together with some wood glue.

Wall painted in Resene Element.  

project and images Fleur Thorpe 

Whether you’re going all out red or just adding some small touches, Resene has a red for everyone! Head into your local Resene owned ColorShop (NZ) this July to pick up some testpots and support Cure Kids.  

Published: 10 Jul 2024

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.

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Resene Double Stack

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Resene Eighth Stack

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Resene Half Baltic Sea

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Resene Incarnadine

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Resene Mexican Red

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Resene Apple Blossom

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Resene Thunderbird

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Resene Summer Rose

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Resene Candy Floss

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Resene Midnight Moss

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Resene Lemon Ginger

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Resene Persian Red

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