New energy for a new year

17 Dec 2025

From a completely different part of the colour wheel to Pantone’s Colour of the Year, Cloud Dancer, comes the vibrant colour for December from Color Marketing Group (CMG): Wonder.

Described by CMG as “confidently in control”, Wonder is an upbeat, bold orange hue full of warmth and energy; perfect for saying goodbye to one year and ushering in another.

Whether you’re after soothing neutrals or a bold colour statement the Resene colour library has you covered – and it’s worth knowing that if you’re making the change from dark to light Resene paints have great coverage, making the transition easier and faster.

Wonder: A flair for the dramatic

CMG’s colour Wonder is an upbeat, bold shade full of warmth and energy; perfect for saying goodbye to one year and ushering in another.

In home décor and accessories, bold, fiery oranges like Wonder work as a visual exclamation point. Try it as an accent shade against warm minimalist backdrops, try it in a high-gloss finish like Resene Super Gloss Enamel or Enamacryl as a bathroom splashback or in semi-gloss Resene Lustacryl, as a contrast colour block behind your sofa, or go bigger with a matte feature wall using Resene SpaceCote Flat for a suede-like finish.

Pair your bold orange with greige browns like Resene Half Stonewall, muted violet blues like Astronaut, smoky lavender like Echo Blue or warm greys like Innocence.

Find your expression of this bold orange hue in Resene colours like: 

Resene Daredevil, Chilean Fire, Grenadier and Clockwork Orange

Here’s some inspiration for how to work with rich orange hues in your home:

Bold orange works beautifully as an accent against an otherwise neutral palette, bringing a punch of energy and visual interest. Here, Resene Clockwork Orange on the door frame, skirting, and door handle adds contrast against walls in Truffle and floor washed in Colorwood Breathe Easy. Tabletop in Truffle, base in Blank Canvas and edge in Putty. Chair and door in Ebony Clay, door edge in Putty. Tall vase in Triple Truffle and Ebony Clay, small vase in Blank Canvas, light shade in Urbane and Ebony Clay. Project Kate Alexander. Image Bryce Carleton.

Going all-in on a bold orange with equally colour saturated contrasts creates drama and impact like nothing else. Here, the rear wall, lamp base and candle holder are Resene Tangerine, with chair, floor, and bowl in Whizz Bang. Front wall, shelves, small bowl and hook in Marionette. Project Amber Armitage. Image Wendy Fenwick.

Add bold orange to a colourful palette that adds a moveable layer of fun and creativity to a kids’ zone. Walls in Resene Eighth Bison Hide, floor washed in Colorwood Breathe Easy, hook shelf in Tana, left stool in Sebedee, right stool in Butterfly, cubbies in, from left Wonderland, Fringy Flower, and Grenadier. Lights in Turbo, mason jars in Lola and Drop Dead Gorgeous, cat ornaments in Quarter Tana and Bison Hide, pen pot in Reservoir, storage box in Amulet, storage boxes in Aqua, Wax Flower and Vista Blue. Project Annick Larkin. Image Bryce Carleton.

Top tip: For the best results when switching from a dark to light paint colour, sand then apply a primer such as Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Undercoat.

Published: 17 Dec 2025