Other trends

From habitat plus - decorating and colour trends 2024

View a range of popular interior design trends – lined up, pattern play, well-rounded, blast from the past, furniture revival, send a message, make a statement, talking points, temporary tiles, and artwork alternatives

Lined up

One of the most classic patterns around, striped paint finishes are an unquestionably eye-catching design choice. Depending on the Resene colours you choose to use and the width or scale you paint them at, stripes on walls, floors, furniture, plant pots, vases or artwork can lend your home timeless or bold flair. Thin stripes in crisp white and powder blue, such as Resene Black White and Resene Frozen, can be used to create a Hamptons look, wider stripes in high contrast hues like Resene Half Sea Fog and Resene Scoria can make a statement in a contemporary eclectic space and hand-painted pinstripes in Resene Designer White over a background in Resene Halcyon can add a casual, beachy vibe to a bach. If you’re looking for a sense of height and airiness in a space, vertical stripes or lines will make a room feel taller. Horizontal stripes, on the other hand, can make larger spaces feel cosier and more contained.

Pattern play

There’s no limit to the type of designs and patterns you can create using Resene paint and high-quality painter’s masking tape. Geometric designs are among the easiest effects and painting them behind your bedhead can eliminate the need to find a headboard that fits with the rest of your décor. Bring your pillowcases, sheets, duvet cover or throw into your local Resene ColorShop team and they can help you find just the right paint colours that match or coordinate with your bedding.

top tip  No matter how simple or complex the design you wish to create with paint, it’s always smart to plan out your design on paper or card first before you take it to your surface.

Media maven havens

Those that enjoy taking in films or watching sports can often be picky about the quality of what comes out of their televisions and sound equipment. But to make the picture look and sound its best, you’ll want to put some thought into your media room’s design. Reduce screen glare by using darker hues and flat and low sheen paint finishes such as Resene SpaceCote Flat or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

Well-rounded

Arches and circles continue to be a hugely popular detail in architectural design and interior décor. If you like the trend but don’t have arched or rounded details in your home, it’s quick and simple to add them using Resene paints. For the perfect painted arch or circle, use the ‘pin and pencil’ method. Simply decide the radius you would like your curved portion to be and cut a piece of string a few centimetres longer. Tie a pencil to one end of the string and attach the other end to a push pin so that the length of string between the two is the same as your intended radius. Push the pin into the centre of the surface you will be painting and keep the string taut and your pencil perpendicular to the surface as you draw your circle in one smooth motion. To turn the circle into an arch, use a level to draw straight vertical lines down from the circle’s left and right outer edges. Use high-quality painter’s masking tape along the outside of your pencil lines for a clean finished edge.

Blasts from the past

Many decorating trends attempt to create something fresh and new, but for those keen to put a contemporary spin on styles that were popular in decades past it has never been easier. Retro looks inspired by the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s are all trending – and it’s understandable why. The popularity of looks that embrace the essence of homeliness and a wistfulness for the ‘good old days’ – are an attempt to ground ourselves during uncertain times. These looks are also often fun and lighthearted, which can be comforting to come home to after a busy day.

Furniture revival

Before purchasing new items, think about all the vintage furniture and decor in second-hand shops, auction houses and online selling sites. With a bit of creative flair and a lick of paint you can adapt your second-hand finds into something unique to you and your space. Bring older items back to life with Resene paints or wood stains. Try Resene Enamacryl on reclaimed or upcycled furniture to get a durable, gloss finish or try Karen Walker Chalk Colour paint for a weathered matte finish. Look to stains like Resene Colorwood Natural or wash finishes like Resene Colorwood Whitewash or Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash to enhance timber or create an aged look.

Send a message

In our increasingly busy lives, it can be hard to keep track of everything you’ve got on the go. Create a dedicated spot for your family to keep on top of everyone’s plans, make lists and improve communication with a message board in your kitchen or home office. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen waterborne enamel is not only a popular choice for colouring walls, but it also works just like a chalkboard and can be tinted to a huge range of colours. Use a darker colour, such as Resene Cinder, to create your own chalkboard feature in any shape or size directly on your wall or on a separate board or panel. Simply wipe it clean with a damp cloth whenever you want to start fresh. Or try Resene FX Blackboard Paint or Resene FX Chalkboard Paint, which are washable waterborne finishes for interior and exterior smooth wallboards and panels where a hard-wearing blackboard coating is required. Resene paint colours and wood stains can also be used to colour or create customised designs on corkboards for those who prefer to pin up their notes.

Make a statement

Graphic wallpaper designs, both those with bold geometric shapes and those with nature motifs like flowers, leaves, trees, animals, insects, shells and feathers, are among the top wallcovering trends. When you have a large wall that you want to make a big splash with, wallpaper murals are especially effective at making an impact due to the scale of their designs. With thousands of wallpaper designs to choose from, the Resene Wallpaper Collection has something to suit every style, taste and space. Visit your local Resene ColorShop to browse the latest wallpaper releases or visit www.resene.com/wallpaper for a taste of the latest releases.

Talking points

Among the most popular designs in the Resene Wallpaper Collection are ‘conversational designs’ – which are those that tend to become a topic of discussion among visitors. These cute and quirky designs that’ll get everyone talking are perfect for bathrooms and powder rooms. Cut lengths and offcuts of these wallpapers can also be used to decorate furniture and other accessories around your home, from drawers to lampshades to placemats. Plus, these playful and colourful options will let you experiment with complementary Resene paint colours in other parts of the room.

Temporary tiles

Tiles can be a costly investment – particularly if they are in any way interesting or unique, produced with expensive materials like marble or are laboriously handmade. Creating the same effect using Resene products means you can change the look of your space in a weekend without it being a major financial commitment or having to wait for tiles to turn up. And it’s far easier to change later on down the road when you’re ready for something new, or if you rent your home and aren’t allowed to make ‘permanent’ changes.

Artwork alternatives

After you’ve chosen the perfect Resene paint colours for your walls, the perfect statement piece to create a focal point in your room might not be a traditional artwork. For oddly sized or shaped sections of wall that are missing a certain something, use Resene testpots to paint and upcycle interesting items from your local op shop. Or use wallmounted planters painted to match or coordinate with your colour scheme and fill the area with vertical greenery.

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