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Walls in Resene Quarter Grey Olive, ceiling in Half Rice Cake. Design by Kirkcaldie, image by Stephen Goodenough.
Walls in Resene Soothe, left wall in Peppermint, side table in Blackout. Project by Amber Armitage. Image by Wendy Fenwick.
Feature wall in Resene Helix, surrounding walls in Rice Cake, ceiling in Quarter Rice Cake. Design by Home Factor, image by Sampford Cathie.
Walls in Resene Half Sour Dough, floor in Resene Walk-on in Alamo. Table from Matisee, chairs from Soren Liv, vase from Ligne Roset. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.
Near-neutrals for a home with subtle colour
For centuries, people have gravitated towards all sorts of wild and wonderful interior colours. While you may not be brave enough to try the highly saturated Klein blue or carmine red, there are ways to add colour while still feeling like you live in a calm, neutral home.
Soft, desaturated hues are relaxing and can create a sense of quiet luxury. They also prevent a space from becoming too sterile while shifting beautifully throughout the day and night, giving a room mood and atmosphere.
These ‘near-neutral’ colours can be more forgiving than bolder hues. And rather than forcing the eye to one focal point, the soft colour allows the eye to rest comfortably and take in the room’s details and design.
Quarter Grey Olive
Walls in Resene Quarter Grey Olive, ceiling in Half Rice Cake. Design by Kirkcaldie, image by Stephen Goodenough.
Near neutral greens, especially those with an earthy tone or beige base, like Resene Quarter Grey Olive, create a tranquil atmosphere that reconnects us with nature. They look especially good when paired with warm whites like Rice Cake, green-edged whites like Half Thorndon Cream and timber floors and furniture. For similar colours try Moon Mist, Secrets and Terrain.
Soothe
Walls in Resene Soothe, left wall in Peppermint, side table in Blackout. Project by Amber Armitage. Image by Wendy Fenwick.
Soft, warm pinks like Resene Soothe have a softening effect on the nervous system. They create a comforting, gentle atmosphere and work especially well in bedrooms. Pair them with crisp whites such as Black White and Alabaster, or pastel greens and blues such as Peppermint or Breeze.
Try similar tones like Half Pot Pourri, Ebb and Cest La Vie.
Helix
Feature wall in Resene Helix, surrounding walls in Rice Cake, ceiling in Quarter Rice Cake. Design by Home Factor, image by Sampford Cathie.
Misty, blue-toned greens impart feelings of safety, clarity and calm, and work well in almost any space in your home. Colours such as Resene Helix, Hermitage, Nebula and Half Inside Back can be used on all walls, or as a subtle feature wall paired with whites like Merino or White Pointer.
Half Sour Dough
Walls in Resene Half Sour Dough, floor in Resene Walk-on in Alamo. Table from Matisee, chairs from Soren Liv, vase from Ligne Roset. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.
There is something incredibly inviting and welcoming about a warm, peachy beige. Colours such as Resene Half Sour Dough, Bone, Just Right and Cashmere provide warmth and cosiness, and are still bright without being stark.
Athena
Top half of wall in Resene Athena, bottom half in Solitaire, floor in Resene Colorwood Bask. Clothes from Showroom 22, clothes and lamp from Faradays, chair from Slow Store. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.
If you’re a fan of warm off-whites, then a delicate, buttery yellow could be your first move into colour. Sunny hues such as Resene Athena, Anglaise, Half Popcorn and Dairy Cream inject instant sunlight into a room, especially in areas that lack natural light – or have none!
Resene Pro Tips:
- For general wall areas, use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. This is a go-to interior paint for walls, it’s easy to clean, durable and has a beautiful low-sheen finish.
- For an extra soft, powdery feel, especially on gentle pastel colours like these, consider using a SpaceCote Flat finish. A flat or low-sheen finish will also hide surface imperfections more so than a gloss finish, and you can also use the same paint on your ceiling. Deeper shades will also take on a different, almost chalky look when used with SpaceCote Flat. Which while not quite as washable as its cousin SpaceCote Low sheen, is better than most competitor low sheens.
- If you’re painting wet areas like kitchens, bathrooms and laundries, use the Resene SpaceCote Kitchen & Bathroom range, which prevents mould growth, minimises bacteria, and provides a durable, easy-to-clean waterborne enamel surface.
For more near-neutral colours and inspiration, check out Resene’s blog: Soft neutrals that harness quiet beauty.
Published: 30 Jul 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Quarter Grey Olive
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Inside Back
Resene White Pointer
Resene Half Sour Dough
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
Resene Quarter Grey Olive
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Inside Back
Resene White Pointer
Resene Half Sour Dough
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
