This painted colour blocked feature in Resene Fast Forward clearly defines this workstation. Surrounding walls in Resene Sea Fog, floor in Resene Truffle, shelves and desk top in Resene Fast Forward, chair in Resene Jailbreak, desk organiser in Resene Alabaster with drawers in Resene Truffle and Resene Earthen. Small plant pots in Resene Moccasin and Resene Soulful, large textured plant pot in Resene Noir and hooks in Resene Secrets.

2. Embrace minimalism

Be rid of distractions by leaning into the minimalist trend. Go with a clean neutral colour palette and keep your desk clear of clutter. Have an organised and refined filing system that can be neatly stored away, and keep only crucial items on your desk like your laptop, notepad and maybe a lamp or small plant.

Resene Wallpaper Collection 64660 is a beautifully textured design that’s remarkable in its ability to be both neutral yet visually enticing. Pair it with flooring in Resene Alabaster, a simple desk in Resene White and a chair stained in Resene Colorwood Natural timber stain. This home office set up is the perfect minimalist example, with a desk that’s neither cluttered nor fussy.

3. Get crafty with colour

If you have carte blanche to do as you please in your office space, you may as well get creative and build a look that speaks to your soul. Inject some creative flair with bold furnishings that inspire you to get down to business, like a vibrant desk, chair and shelf in different colours. Use your main colours as a base for other accessories like pen holders, magazine files and pin boards.

This desk is hard to miss in Resene Influential, and pops against the lower wall in Resene Coast. Top half of wall and floor in Resene Poured Milk, chair in Resene Yes Please, bookshelf and magazine file in Resene Raging Bull, plant pots (on bookshelf) in Resene Influential and Resene Coast and wooden box (in bookshelf) in Resene Coast. Mini draw unit (inside bookshelf) in Resene Poured Milk, Resene Yes Please, Resene Coast and Resene Influential, pencil pot in Resene Yes Please, little bowl on bookshelf in Resene Raging Bull and vase on desk in Resene Yes Please. Circles painted on wall in Resene Influential, Resene Shilo and Resene Yes Please, cork placemats (as pin boards) in Resene Raging Bull,Resene Coast,Resene Yes Please, Resene Shilo and Resene Influential.

4. Lean into green

Adding refreshing green tones in an otherwise neutral space will do wonders for your mind and overall wellness. Resene Happy Hour and Resene Conifer are perky greens that’ll make you smile while Resene Nourish, Resene Peace and Resene Unwind are restful hues that’ll keep you calm during those deadline-heavy weeks. Try bringing in potted plants and other small accessories like lampshades, pencil holders and vases to evoke a sense of natural beauty in your surroundings. 

Resene Wallpaper Collection FD23808 calmly recedes into the background while the clean neutrals of the desk and pops of green elevate the overall feeling of wellness. 

This upper wall has been painted in Resene Moonlight, the panelling is in Resene Untamed and the shelf (on top of panelling) is in Resene Noir. Floor in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, spare chair in Resene Moccasin and Resene Noir, hooks in Resene Moccasin and pencil holder/desk organiser in Resene Moccasin. Plant pot is painted in Resene Noir, tall textured vase in Resene Moccasin, rounded dimpled vase in Resene Mystery and low plate (with apple) in Resene Family Tree. Chalkboard painted in Resene Family Tree with letter magnets in Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Daredevil, Resene Cleopatra, Resene Away We Go, Resene Moana. 

5. A study in contrast

Choosing a desk colour that contrasts with the tone of your wall is a simple yet effective way to define your office nook.  Going with a lighter hue on your desk against a dark wall, for example, will immediately draw the eye to what’s important – getting to work. Try to keep the contrast theme alive by matching desk accessories to the hue of your desk, including pin boards, vases and your filing system.  You can give these a quick paint to bring them into your colour scheme.

This desk looks pretty in pink in Resene Dust Storm and beautifully contrasts with the lower wall in Resene Pohutukawa. Upper wall, noticeboard, vase and magazine box painted in Resene Dust Storm, floor in Resene Double Rice Cake, and chair and tall vase in Resene Sauvignon.

This wall effect in Resene Influential and Resene Time After Time has been painted over two coats of Resene FX Magnetic Magic to create a handy magnetic note board. The rest of the wall is in Resene Wishing Well, the side table is in Resene Half Tea and the vases are in Resene Soulful, Resene Time After Time, and Resene Influential.

styling Annick Larkin, Vanessa Nouwens, Laura Lynn Johnston

images Melanie Jenkins, Bryce Carleton