The 12 colours of Christmas

Published: 20 Dec 2012

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].

The classics with a twist

As a fun Antipodean take on the 12 days of Christmas, Resene has published a 12 Colours of Christmas selection – a collection of bright summery shades to sit alongside some traditional classics. Here are examples of those colours in action. 

Thanks for your company and comments at Habitat of the Week during the past year. We hope you have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We’re taking a two-week break but will be back with new projects and inspiration on January 10.

Resene Pavlova  (shown above)

It wouldn’t be a kiwi or Aussie Christmas without pavlova. Put your puddings back on the shelf and serve up a strawberry laden pav smothered in cream. Resene Pavlova, the perfect colour for this kitchen, is a toasty shade of palest brown, just like the caramelised edge of the meringue crust on a homemade pavlova. The walls of this kitchen are painted Resene Pavlova – perhaps as inspiration for creative cooking.

Resene Havoc

Hot, bright red, Resene Havoc is one of the classic colours of Christmas decorations along with deep green, gold and white. It’s also the colour of that portly, joyous, white-bearded gift-giver, Father Christmas or, if you prefer, Santa Claus. 

And here, its close colour cousin, Resene Guardsman Red, is shown on another holiday classic – the bunk bed. Other colours used on this creative piece of furniture designed by homeowner Michelle Elsmore for her son Sam are Resene Trinidad (orange), Resene Wham (green) and Resene Zomp (turquoise).  

Resene Flashback

Resene Flashback is a fire-fuelled jaunty orange, illuminating and cheery. It’s the colour of barbecue and bonfire flames. Perhaps the name also refers to the nostalgic flashbacks we have of the summers of our youths, and all of the fun we had.

This door is a clever device, ‘flashing’ out of its cavity to close off the dining room and living area of an interior designed by Liz Kerby of Workspace Design. It’s actually painted in Resene Kamikaze.  

Resene Buzz 

Bright, unapologetic yellow is unmistakably a colour that belongs to summer. A sunshiny shade, it’s a colour that makes you smile - energetic and  zingy. It’s also the  colour of the lemon in the tall g&t you make to cool off at the end of the day.

The colour of this recycled segmented garage door is actually Resene Turbo. The shed was designed and made by Darren and Sharon Hunter of Hunter Design and Red Shed out of demolition materials on the couple’s holiday property in Martinborough.

Resene Decadence

Another clear colour but this time from the cooler end of the colour spectrum, Resene Decadence is a bold cobalt blue. The name entices us to live it up over the holidays – good food and plenty of it, a drink or three and lots of good-hearted socialising.

Photograph from http://fancycribs.com

Resene Relax

Resene Relax is not only the crisp pale blue colour of the early morning or late afternoon summer sky in this part of the world, but it’s name is the perfect description for what we should be doing during Christmas and New Year – relaxing.

Resene Pohutukawa

The iconic, classic colour of Christmas has been transported from its European roots to the colour of the flowers of our majestic pohutukawa tree. We wait with bated breath in the North Island for the grey-green buds to burst forth, often doing so just before Christmas Day. It’s a bit like our Northern Hemisphere cousins waiting for a white Christmas. It’s a popular front door colour, as seen here with Juju the miniature schnauzer.

Resene Top Secret

Along with all of the other bright colours – the sizzling reds, vibrant oranges, purest cobalts and hot pinks – lime is a colour that belongs to summer. It’s the colour of kiddie’s bathers, picnic sets and beach balls. This ceiling (yes, someone painted their ceiling lime green) is painted in Resene O’Leary Green, named after the homeowner Greg O’Leary in his house designed by architect Graham Lane.  

Resene Smitten

A hot almost acid pink, Resene Smitten is in your face and unashamedly girly. Perfect for a child’s room as seen here, it’s also the colour of beach towels and bikinis. It’s also the colour with the ouch of a sunburnt back – so remember the sunblock. 

Photograph from http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-peek-into-some-pink-rooms-128803

Resene Holly

The deep rich green of Resene Holly is, of course, reminiscent of the glossy leaves of the holly bush. It and its bright red berries are, of course, a traditional decoration for Christmas in many western cultures, especially used in Christmas wreaths.

Resene Chill Out  

The name says it all – it’s what Christmas, New Year and summer holidays are all about – chilling out. Well, that and eating lots of food, drinking too much alcohol and soaking up too much sun.

Resene Melting Moment

The colour and description of the French vanilla ice cream as it drips down the cone and onto the hand of a child, Resene Melting Moment is the creamy, mellow shade of sweet treats.  

Resene Havoc

Hot, bright red, Resene Havoc is one of the classic colours of Christmas decorations along with deep green, gold and white. It’s also the colour of that portly, joyous, white-bearded gift-giver, Father Christmas or, if you prefer, Santa Claus. 

And here, its close colour cousin, Resene Guardsman Red, is shown on another holiday classic – the bunk bed. Other colours used on this creative piece of furniture designed by homeowner Michelle Elsmore for her son Sam are Resene Trinidad (orange), Resene Wham (green) and Resene Zomp (turquoise).  

Resene Flashback

Resene Flashback is a fire-fuelled jaunty orange, illuminating and cheery. It’s the colour of barbecue and bonfire flames. Perhaps the name also refers to the nostalgic flashbacks we have of the summers of our youths, and all of the fun we had.

This door is a clever device, ‘flashing’ out of its cavity to close off the dining room and living area of an interior designed by Liz Kerby of Workspace Design. It’s actually painted in Resene Kamikaze.  

Resene Buzz

Bright, unapologetic yellow is unmistakably a colour that belongs to summer. A sunshiny shade, it’s a colour that makes you smile - energetic and  zingy. It’s also the  colour of the lemon in the tall g&t you make to cool off at the end of the day.

The colour of this recycled segmented garage door is actually Resene Turbo. The shed was designed and made by Darren and Sharon Hunter of Hunter Design and Red Shed out of demolition materials on the couple’s holiday property in Martinborough.

Resene Decadence

Another clear colour but this time from the cooler end of the colour spectrum, Resene Decadence is a bold cobalt blue. The name entices us to live it up over the holidays – good food and plenty of it, a drink or three and lots of good-hearted socialising.

Photograph from http://fancycribs.com

Resene Relax

Resene Relax is not only the crisp pale blue colour of the early morning or late afternoon summer sky in this part of the world, but it’s name is the perfect description for what we should be doing during Christmas and New Year – relaxing. The colour in the background of this coastal collection is actually Resene Comfort Zone. 

Resene Pohutukawa

The iconic, classic colour of Christmas has been transported from its European roots to the colour of the flowers of our majestic pohutukawa tree. We wait with bated breath in the North Island for the grey-green buds to burst forth, often doing so just before Christmas Day. It’s a bit like our Northern Hemisphere cousins waiting for a white Christmas. It’s a popular front door colour, as seen here with Juju the miniature schnauzer (a puppy for Christmas, anyone?).

Resene Top Secret

Along with all of the other bright colours – the sizzling reds, vibrant oranges, purest cobalts and hot pinks – lime is a colour that belongs to summer. It’s the colour of kiddie’s bathers, picnic sets and beach balls. This ceiling (yes, someone painted their ceiling lime green) is painted in Resene O’Leary Green, named after the homeowner Greg O’Leary in his house designed by architect Graham Lane.  

Resene Smitten

A hot almost acid pink, Resene Smitten is in your face and unashamedly girly. Perfect for a child’s room as seen here, it’s also the colour of beach towels and bikinis. It’s also the colour with the ouch of a sunburnt back – so remember the sunblock. 

Photograph from http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-peek-into-some-pink-rooms-128803

And the rest...

Resene Holly

The deep rich green of Resene Holly is, of course, reminiscent of the glossy leaves of the holly bush. It and its bright red berries are, of course, a traditional decoration for Christmas in many western cultures, especially used in Christmas wreaths.

Resene Chill Out  

The name says it all – it’s what Christmas, New Year and summer holidays are all about – chilling out. Well, that and eating lots of food, drinking too much alcohol and soaking up too much sun.

Resene Melting Moment

The colour and description of the French vanilla ice cream as it drips down the cone and onto the hand of a child, Resene Melting Moment is the creamy, mellow shade of sweet treats.  

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Resene Melting Moment

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