Put it on MUTE
How to create muted masterpieces
IF BOLD BRIGHTS and deep-jewel tones are a bit over-the-top for your tastes, and pale pastel palettes aren’t your cup of tea either, there is another colour theme option that might be just the thing. Maybe it’s that we’ve all had so much screentime recently our eyes need something soothing, but muted shades are having a moment. They represent a way to experiment with different colour combinations, or simply add more colour to a space without the risk of clashes or a finished space that feels intense and overwhelming.
The result will be a room that is elegant and modern, without having to resort to the safety of a completely neutral palette.
What are muted colours?
They are shades with a low colour saturation, subtler versions of colours that aren’t as bright or vivid. Often they have been tinted with blacks or greys or a complementary colour (for example a vivid red can be desaturated with green) so they are softer and more subdued while still adding touches of personality to a room.
Muted colours are not hugely dissimilar to pastels which are also low saturation, but are often thought of as more pale, and cooler in tone — such as mint greens, baby pinks or duck-egg blues. Muted tones are warmer, slightly deeper in colour.
Muted versions of your preferred colours can often work better than clashing brights. For example, instead of an overwhelming bright red, green, blue and yellow combo, try a mix of muted shades in a similar palette such as Resene Paprika,
Laurel, Tarawera and Sweet Corn. The softer tones make the colour combination easier on the eye, and more relaxing because the colours don’t compete.
Where and how to use them
Muted colours might lend themselves to certain rooms or use areas. As a rule, muted colours are inviting and relaxing, even nurturing or romantic.
With that in mind, a muted colour scheme can work well in bedrooms, lounges and study areas. Think soothing blues such as Resene Undercurrent, with a fresh but understated note of Japonica. Or the soft yellow of Chenin with the muted red/brown of Old Copper.
Muted colours can also be a way to add unexpected, even bold touches to a room that has an otherwise pared-back or neutral palette. The calming green of Resene Bush, for example, works well as an accent colour against the warm neutral of Half Spanish White or Pearl Lusta, and wood flooring or features in Colorwood Oregon.
Or flip the formula around into something more dramatic, with a muted but striking colour on the walls such as the on-trend ‘greige’ of Millbrook with paler, warm accents in a neutral like White Pointer or Sea Fog.
The X-factor
To give your favourite muted shades the impact of a bold colour scheme without the risk of it becoming overwhelming, try layering different tones of the same colour.
A simple way to do this is to choose a muted shade you like and use it in eighth, quarter, half, full and even double intensities. While the finished result is essentially a one-colour or monochrome room, the different shades add depth and texture so it feels inviting and comfortable. This can be a good way to play with neutrals for a simple, clean effect. Resene Tea is a good choice as it can go from a pale neutral at eighth strength, to a warm muted grey/green at double intensity.
For something more bold, try warm tones of an earthy colour such as terracotta, greens or browns. Resene Apple Blossom works well with Sebedee and Sakura. Or try Oilskin with Settlement and Bronco. Add highlights in a fresh white such as Alabaster for lightness and one or two touches of an unexpected contrast for interest, such as Envy for the terracotta or Avocado for the brown shades.
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