EMBRACING OPTIMISM
One of the most fun interior design trends is optimism. In simplest terms it means embracing fun and cheerful looks that just make you feel good when you’re in them. It can mean adding splashes of colour, playing with shapes and patterns or building backdrops for fun, eye-catching pieces of decor.
Optimistic design is ultimately going to be slightly different for everyone, but the goal is to play with colours and looks that imbue spaces with your personality and imagination. The finished results should make you smile, give you an immediate mood boost and give your guests something to talk about.
Here are some ideas for embracing joy in interiors:
Keeping it chic and simple
For Resene colour consultant Jackie Nicholls optimistic designs don’t have to mean sacrificing style and sophistication.
“Optimistic colours create a fresh and fun vibe but can be more stylish if you choose slightly complex colours.
“Colours that are very clear can appear a bit cold and lacking in character. Some of the latest Resene shades are beautiful colours with a twist,” she says.
A coloured ceiling can be one way for those with a minimalist aesthetic to add extra optimism to their spaces without them feeling cluttered or visually busy.
To add colourful optimism that won’t interfere with a simple minimalist finish, paint a single piece of furniture in an uplifting shade or add colour inside a cupboard or small study nook that can be closed off.
Uplifting outdoors
When choosing bolder, brighter colours outside, Jackie suggests testing with larger swatches each painted with a Resene testpot to make sure the colours work.
Outside furniture is the perfect thing to be more adventurous with, especially when you surround it with flowers and plants in similar tones for a fun and inviting finish.
“If you think of exterior spaces as another room and a chance to express your personality, you will get more enjoyment out of them,” she says.
The joy of surprise
One of the simplest ways to add joy and optimism to any finished space is through the unexpected. For example, in a house that is almost entirely neutral and minimalist in its colour scheme, there might be one room that is a celebration of your favourite colour; perhaps a sweet aquamarine like Resene Retreat or warm violet Resene Honey Flower.
These contrast colours don’t need to be bright. The optimism and joy in the finished look comes from the unexpected. The same effect can be achieved in a single monochrome room, where classic Resene Alabaster and Resene Black are interrupted by a single note of contrast on a chair or shelf in something dramatic like magenta.
Finding optimism in the unexpected can also come from simply combining two bolder colours you might not have considered as natural partners. Perhaps it’s teal blues and brick reds; coral pink with emerald green; deep purples with rusted copper; or sea blues with vivid yellows.
The light fantastic
Lots of natural light is an instant way to make a room more uplifting. Where you can, maximise your windows by pulling back curtains or raising blinds to bring light in. Where you’re battling against a room that is naturally darker, add bright sunshine shades on feature walls or showcase decor pieces and opt for good bright artificial lighting with a few mirrored or metallic surfaces to help bounce light around.
You can also find joy in cosy spaces, so you could lean in to the darker nature of the room with walls in grey, then find your optimism in those sharp contrasts with a soft pink.
For help choosing colours t visit your local Resene ColorShop, ask a Resene Colour Expert online, resene.co.nz/colourexpert or book a colour consultation, resene.co.nz/colourconsult.