Nature inspired ideas for your home

Forests, mountains and desert sunsets are just some of the environments that have long been a source of inspiration for how we decorate our interiors. They connect us with our surroundings and create spaces that inspire fond memories and appreciation for natural beauty. With the help of Resene paints and wallpapers, we have some tips and ideas to help you capture what you love about the natural world in your home.

Experts say that exposure to nature improves our mood, decreases stress and muscle tension, and improves our overall physical and emotional well-being. With interiors becoming an important part of creating happiness and health, why not fill our homes with these elemental inspired colours?

  

This biophilic banana leaf wallpaper is Resene Wallpaper Collection 2960 – a 1950s-inspired design which works well in modern homes or with mid-century furniture. Pair it with walls and a ceiling in a crisp white such as Resene Black White, furniture or trims painted in a charcoal black like Resene Nero and warm stained flooring in Resene Colorwood Natural. 

Bringing a nature theme or design into your home can encourage a ‘biophilic reaction’, increasing your connectivity to the natural environment. Keep growing your plant themed interior with this stunning banana leaf wallpaper, or why not try a nature-themed wall mural from the current Resene Wallpaper Collection.

To further your biophilic design, try bringing some physical plants into your home. You can add them in plant pots painted to complement your wallpaper design, such as a chlorophyll green like Resene Green Pea, a vivid blue-green like Resene Bingo or a freshwater green like Resene Spring Rain. Wooden floors also have a natural appeal and can elevate your natural colour theme, why not try Resene Colorwood wood stains in Resene Natural, Resene Mid Greywash, or an earthy blend of black, brown and green with Resene Bushtrack.

Terracotta-based looks are very striking and this African-inspired lounge, with walls in Resene Sunbaked and flooring in Resene Napa, could not be more current. Accents in Resene Moccasin, Resene Sambuca and Resene Rocky Mountain lock in the earthiness of the look. Project by Claudia Kozub, image by Melanie Jenkins. 

With warm tones on the interior trend watch this coming year, toasty desert terracotta will keep you feeling warm and mellow all year round. The Resene Sunbaked walls create a moody yet relaxing feel, whether you are going for a single feature wall or all four. This colour will look as good in the daylight as it will during a candlelit evening. 

Along with cosy, warm toned décor and furniture, try pairing this colour with a true green, creamy peach or coffee brown, such as Resene Burnham, Resene Bud or Resene Sambuca.

Creating balance through symmetry and repetition, the upper wall is painted in Resene Eagle, lower wall and shoes in Resene Waiouru, skirting board and planters in Resene Cut Glass, floor cushion tops in Resene Ottoman and lantern bottoms in Resene Sweet Corn. Art from endemicworld, floor cushions from Nood. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

From sunflowers to snowflakes, symmetry is present everywhere in nature and can often evoke feelings of stability and comfort. Perhaps we are drawn to this regularity as we navigate through an ever-changing world. A zen-like room might be just the thing you need to enjoy some peace and mindful time, and it’s not a difficult look to achieve in your home.

Opt for a dark olive green like Resene Seaweed, a great shade to build on with plenty of flexibility. You can go for a lighter shade on the surrounding walls or create a colour blocking effect above the darker tone with gentle colours like Resene Ottoman or Resene Pale Leaf. You can also try introducing some climbing vines to soften hard edges. Physical plants will bring freshness and a sense of growth and renewal, ideal when creating your own tranquil and serene space.

 

The light shade in Resene Umber White and rope side table in Resene Sugar Loaf add plenty of visual interest to this neutral room. The wall is Resene Copyrite and the timber floor is Resene Colorwood Natural. Along the shelf the vases are painted in Resene Sugar Loaf, Resene Alpaca, Resene Raptor and Resene Half Rickshaw. Sofa, coffee table and cushion from Citta, rug from Freedom. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton.

Building a colour palette on grounding and earthy hues like Resene Copyrite and Resene Alpaca will bring a sense of warmth and comfort to your space while at the same time being playful and energising. Earthy tones are any colour that contains brown pigment and often these hues evoke warmth, helping us to find our centre, working especially well in living spaces and kitchens. 

Complementing each other and pairing together well, like they naturally do in the wild, these earthy tones create a sanctuary-feel that you can mix and match with little hesitation. To turn a space in your home into an earthy retreat, try a warm suede like Resene Quarter Colins Wicket, a soft pale beige like Resene Swirl or a deep solid brown like Resene Cioccolato. If you need a pop of colour through all those browns, try complementary shades in a different colour, such as a cloudy green like Resene Ravine or a deep dark red like Resene Lonestar.

This rich green retreat has the bedroom walls and lower ensuite wall painted in Resene Waiouru. The upper ensuite wall and white faux tiles are Resene Eighth Black White with black tiles in Resene Nero. The shelf and ensuite table are Resene Waiouru. The door is Resene Nero. Bedlinen from Kinship, sink, faucet, mirror and soap dispenser from Plumbline, bedside cabinet from Bed Bath & Beyond, towels from H&M Home. Project by Melle van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

It can be a bold move opting for an almost monochromatic colour scheme, but the result is visually appealing and can bring balance to an otherwise lost or forgotten space. You can let your favourite colour shine while achieving a visually cohesive and harmonious look.

Green is a great option to try if it’s monochrome you’re after. The many nuances and tones will conjure feelings of the natural world and create a calming nook, plus any plants and greenery you have with just add to your theme! If you’re new at trying this end of the colour wheel, try a subtle grey green like Resene Rainee or a deep emerald green like Resene Deep Teal.

For more nature inspired looks and colour trends ideas, see the habitat plus – colour trends book.  Pick up a free copy at your local Resene ColorShop or view online at www.resene.com/habitatplus

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

Published: 01 Feb 2023

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

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Resene Black White

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Resene Spring Rain

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Resene Rocky Mountain

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Resene Half Rickshaw

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Resene Quarter Colins Wicket

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Resene Eighth Black White

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