HOME TRENDS

spice will inject an extra layer of immersive warmth into your blue scheme. Accents in Resene Pizza, Resene Pirate Gold and Resene Laser are joyful examples of this.

A mid-toned, regal blue such as Resene Aviator resonates beautifully in a sensual way when next to terracotta, pale blue and soft butter yellow. Or for primary blue, pair Resene Torea Bay with tangy terracotta.

When it comes to using shades of blue that feel welcoming, Amy’s favourite depends on the space in which it resides. “But I like the dark blues as a feature wall as I find they are great backdrops for your wall art,” she says. “Colours Like Resene Tangaroa, Resene Dark Knight or Resene Coast. Or if you want a whole room painted in a strong blue, I would go for a mid-toned blue like Resene Lynchpin, Resene Bermuda Grey or Resene Frozen.”

Although many of us love the soothing qualities of blue, some feel being around it every day might be too much. Ideally, we want the perfect balance of colour between relaxing and stimulating. This is possible by choosing the right blue tones with a hint of green edge to them, Amy says. “The green undertone helps to brighten up the space and often allows you to bring in stronger colour tones with your soft furnishings. I would recommend looking at colours such as Resene Reservoir, Resene Half Kumutoto or Resene Retreat.”

Children’s rooms are always fun to bring in blues, whether they be soft, baby tones, dusky or bright. For a light and cheerful child’s room interior, a perfect paint combination is the green-turquoise of Resene Java, murky green of Resene Highland, golden yellow of Resene Broom balanced with the fresh white of Resene Saltpan.

Ultimately, whether it’s cooling and calming or warming and enlivening, blues bring dynamism and serenity to a setting that rarely dates.

For more ideas and inspiration to bring out the best in your home, ask a Resene colour expert free online, www.resene. co.nz/colourexpert or visit your local