Seven earthy colour palettes for grounding your next project

15 Jul 2021

Thanks to the internet, we’re seldom short of places to look for inspiration these days. Like us, you might have a few favourite sites bookmarked – heck, maybe even this one – which have become your first port of call when you’re shy on ideas. But when we ask specifiers where they turn when they’re stuck in a rut, the vast majority don’t credit the web with alleviating their mental block – most say it’s Mother Nature herself.

With the rise in the awareness and benefits of biophilic design, it’s understandable that architects and designers would look to their natural surroundings to inform their colour and material choices. There is concrete evidence to support what a grounding effect that using a natural palette has on a space and the people who spend time within it. But nature is also just plain beautiful and certainly something worth emulating.

From restrained and neutral through to rich and bold, these seven earthy Resene colour palettes span the natural spectrum and are diverse enough that you’re certain to find one to suit the needs of your project and your client’s tastes – which added biophilic benefits to boot. 

Stone tones

While flat, cool greys have been the preferred variation of this popular neutral over the past two decades, stone greys are a far toastier and trendier alternative that are more reflective of the greys found naturally in our surroundings. But take a stone tone like Resene Eagle, which very nearly reads visually as a green, you’ve got an absolute ideal base for building a strong natural colour palette that’s ripe for a whole range of pairings. Thinking of going the green route? Add Resene Hemlock. Need a darker hue to anchor it? Try Resene Possessed. Want to warm it up? Opt for Resene Blank Canvas. Missing that ‘pop’? Resene Hot Toddy will work wonders. What’s stopping you from mixing together all of the above? Absolutely nothing.

Background in Resene Eagle with lidded dish in Resene Blank Canvas, fluted vase in Resene Hemlock and bud vases in (clockwise from bottom left) Resene Moon Mist, Resene Possessed and Resene Hot Toddy.

Dreamy creams

The majority of colours across the spectrum have been trending warmer, and whites are certainly no exception. If you’re looking to embrace a base with creamier undertones, you can’t beat a classic like Resene Half Spanish White. It’s pretty much as versatile as colours come but it pairs exceptionally well with naturally-occurring leafy hues, which almost universally have at least some amount of yellow in them. Try it in complementary combination with a pea green like Resene Dingley, a minty green like Resene Pale Leaf, a greened taupe like Resene Grey Olive offset with a strong raisin red like Resene Fahrenheit.

Background in Resene Half Spanish White with large bowl (with apples) in Resene Grey Olive, small bowl in Resene Dingley, vase in Resene Pale Leaf, large coat peg in Resene Spanish White and small coat peg in Resene Fahrenheit.

Sage advice

There’s an exception to every rule, and eucalyptus and sage greens are the notable exception to our aforementioned blanket statement on leafy undertones. Rather than a warm yellow glow, these plants hold a bluish grey appearance – which can’t be said of all parts of the world. Hues like Resene Half Rivergum pave the way for other cool, dusty and greyed colours to join them in a palette. For an earthy look that’s right at home in New Zealand or Australia, pair Resene Half Rivergum with a range of tonal greens and neutrals such as Resene Lemongrass, Resene Linen, Resene Eighth Joss and Resene Bison Hide finished with petal pinks like Resene Coral Tree and Resene Soothe.

Background in Resene Half Rivergum with bowl and largest vase in Resene Lemongrass and other vases (from largest to smallest) in Resene Eighth Joss, Resene Quarter Bison Hide, Resene Linen,Resene Soothe and Resene Coral Tree.

A blush with greatness

Resene Wafer isn’t a true pink-pink and is instead more reflective of the tones you’d find on the outer reaches of a sunset. Warm yet dusty, this soothing biscuit blush brings a unique take to an earthy palette. We like it as an alternative to predictable tones like blues and greens in a trend forward spa or bathroom with soft suede browns, slate blue, sharp yellowed white and a hint of ochre yellow in Resene Half Doeskin, Resene Twine, Resene Dark Slate, Resene Rice Cake and Resene Hot Toddy.

Background in Resene Wafer with plate in Resene Half Doeskin, vase in Resene Dark Slate, cup in Resene Twine, soap dispenser in Resene Hot Toddy and lidded container in Resene Rice Cake.

Taupe meets terracotta

Mushroom taupe, with its hint of mauve, is another hue that might not leap to mind when you think of earthy tones – but earthy it certainly is. Variations like Resene Martini and Resene Innuendo are essentially chameleons, shifting and changing depending on what lighting situations and colour pairings they’re subjected to. Browns and other taupe tones are simple pairings that’ll fit the bill, but for a palette that’s earthy yet unexpected try them with a ruddy terracotta like Resene Prairie Sand, a couple of greyed greens like Resene Bud and Resene Mangrove offset with a crisp white like Resene Half Rice Cake.

Background in Resene Martini with painted vessels in (clockwise from bottom) Resene Prairie Sand, Resene Half Rice Cake, Resene Bud, Resene Mangrove and Resene Innuendo.

Enviable olive

The true colour of the year in our eyes, olive green is the hottest hue around. From fashion through to interior décor, shops are simply saturated with this yellow-based bushy green. Resene Olive Green makes a phenomenal pairing to native timber tones – another popular decorating trend – and the ease to which it marries with other woody hues like Resene Mangrove and Resene Wood Bark feels like a virtual no-brainer. If you think you space will need a bit of softening and a lick of sophistication, you can’t go wrong with introducing Resene Spanish Green, Resene Rice Cake and Resene Ecru White to your scheme.

Background in Resene Olive Green with placemat in Resene Spanish Green and painted vases in (clockwise from bottom) Resene Wood Bark, Resene Mangrove, Resene Rice Cake and Resene Ecru White.

Sun-baked splendour

When talking earthy colour palettes, we’d be remiss if we didn’t cover off colours that are the colour of literal ‘earth’. You can always count on a warm clay browns like Resene Chelsea Gem and Resene Hot August to bring the heat. Soften their spiciness with pinkier tones like Resene Coral Tree and Resene Tuft Bush, add mossy grey greens like Resene Jurassic and Resene Spanish Green as a counterpoint, then anchor the scheme with a strong brown like Resene Rebel.

Background in Resene Chelsea Gem with bowl in Resene Coral Tree, plant pot in Resene Tuft Bush, mug in Resene Hot August and bud vases in (from left to right) Resene Jurassic, Resene Spanish Green and Resene Rebel. 

styling Laura Lynn Johnston
images Bryce Carleton

Published: 15 Jul 2021