Colours for the soul

Colour consultant Megan Harrison-Turner says colours are her happy place

Stylist and colour consultant Megan Harrison-Turner loves her job: “For photo shoots, homes, showrooms and offices as a stylist and colourist I get to create ambiances that make my clients happy.” Why do you love working with colour? Colour makes my soul sing. I love that with colour there is always more than one right answer. A room can be in any number of different Resene colours with any number of styles of furniture and it can feel and look great in any of those styles.

Homes are a huge expression of ourselves and colour helps express that. Over the years I don’t think I’ve ever repeated a colour scheme – the needs of each client, each setting, the light, the scale, the progression of one room to another have all been different, so the colour schemes have all been different. Do you have a top colour tip? I can’t possibly leave it at one – there are many.

Choose what you love and don’t settle for less – every time you look at that wall in the wrong colour it will remind you of what you wish you had.

Choose the paint colour last. This stops you from literally painting yourself into a corner. There are many more Resene paint colours than say carpet or marble benchtop colours so choose those first then find the best coordinating paint colour.

Use Resene testpots. Check the colour on the largest sample possible in both daylight and at night. Fold the paper or card you’ve painted at right angles and place it in the corner of the room, next to the sofa, peeping from behind the curtains – everywhere to check the colours work together.

Megan loves Resene Suits because it sits so well with the landscape and bush, Resene Nero “is the best kind of black” – handsome when paired with cedar or white, and Resene Cut Glass (on the walls above) for its relaxed beachy vibe. She painted the tile effect at left with Resene Gull Grey, Resene Solitaire, Resene Double Stack, Resene Sour Dough and Resene Longitude.