Colourful ideas for your kitchen and dining space

Not everyone has the time or funds to take on a full kitchen or dining makeover, but luckily there are heaps of creative ways you can freshen up these areas that, while small, can add up to feel almost like an entire redo!

With the help of some Resene colours, you can breathe new life into the heart of your home by repainting, upcycling or reworking things you already own. From blues, to greens and pops of pink, we’ve got some inspiring ideas to get you started.  

Dreamy blues

This kitchen is a river of blues with the lower wall painted in Resene Raindance, the upper wall and shelf painted in Resene Mystery, cabinet top and legs in Resene Artemis, door architrave, pendant light and hook rack in Resene Safehaven, door and cabinet drawers in Resene Slipstream, jug and bowl in Resene Aura and fluted vases in Resene Unwind. Tap from Archant, tray and bowls from Farmers. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.

From the dark slate tones of Resene Safehaven to the icy blue of Resene Slipstream, there is a full range of Resene blues that can be seamlessly paired together, as this dreamy tonal blue kitchen shows. Grey-blues are an ever-popular interior choice, and if you’ve never thought of matching them with copper tones you are missing out on this heavenly combo!

To save the scheme from becoming too excessively blue, warm the room up with a range of copper accessories and fixtures and timber touches like chopping boards and wooden utensils. You could also try adding some smaller accessories with a green twist, like the soft apple green of Resene Aura or a pale lichen green like Resene Unwind used on these small vases. 

 

Earthy hues

Giving European vibes, this earthy kitchen and dining floor and lower wall are painted in Resene Canterbury Clay while the top part of the wall, table and chairs are in Resene Spanish White, with a batten stripe in Resene Brown Sugar. The hall table is Resene Wood Bark with cabinets in Resene Brown Sugar and small vase in Resene Spanish White with Resene Brown Sugar stripes. The medium jug is Resene Canterbury Clay and small dish in Resene Wood Bark. Serving bowl from Citta, throw from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

As we look for our homes to create solace from everyday life, it makes sense that we’re seeking warmer paint colours for walls to create cosier spaces. Earthy clay browns can be a great choice for areas of the home where you like to relax, such as dining, kitchen and living rooms.

Try earthy shades with rosy undertones, such as Resene Beethoven and Resene Crail. These are easy on the eye, and as neutral shades there are almost endless ways to combine them with other hues you’re drawn to. Rosy-toned and well-balanced whites like Resene Spanish White or Resene Blanc will pair well and help to cut through your scheme if you’re finding it is too monochrome. 

 

Farmhouse greens

Try new ways to mix your colour scheme with a chequered floor painted in Resene Dingley and Resene Quarter Spanish White. Wall in Resene Pale Leaf, cabinet in Resene Clover, chair and shelf in Resene Toorak and vase in Resene Triple Spanish White. Project by Gem Adams, image by Wendy Fenwick. 

This kitchen corner is giving off friendly farmhouse vibes, with its springtime grassy green shades. Greens can be an inspired choice if you’re wanting a pop of colour and can freshen up a room immediately. You can add some intrigue to otherwise plain flooring by trying a chequered pattern in your chosen colours. These chequered floor colours are used to enhance the colour scheme in the room, extending off the walls and cabinet for a cohesive look. Add greenery from outside or dried flowers and wicker baskets to complete your colour scheme. 

 

Hints of teal

 

A serene dining room with subtle intrigue. The walls are painted in Resene Wan White, mandala in Resene Thor, flooring in Resene ColorwoodGreywash, dining table in Resene Half Duck Egg Blue, chairs in Resene Dark Slate and vases and tray in Resene Half Inside Back, Resene Innocence, Resene I Do, Resene Vintage and Resene Quarter Wan White. Art painted by Hannah Tapner, project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.

Looking for something a little different? Try using your chosen colour in a wall mural. This mandala was painted on a wall to add something unusual and interesting to the space, without drowning the whole room with colour. These teals and whites form a serene tonal colour scheme that are anchored by a textured rug, creating a gentle and calming dining room.

Some mandalas are painted in lots of vibrant colours, but to instil a sense of calm you can use just one colour like the one here, in Resene Thor, a gorgeous teal. Or try a tone on tone style using varying strengths of the same colour. Mandalas have been shown in clinical studies to boost the immune system, reduce stress and pain, lower blood pressure, promote sleep and ease depression. So if you’re trying to think of a pattern to use, this might be the one for you.

 

Pops of prettiness

 

These gentle pops of colour pair well with the neutral walls in Resene Rice Cake and ply floor finished in Resene Aquaclear. The kitchen cabinet is painted in Resene Aura, shelf in Resene Atlas, stools in Resene Away We Go, Resene XOXO and Resene Party Zone, plant pot in Resene Rice Cake with Resene Away We Go, cutting board in Resene XOXO and vases in Resene Away We Go, Resene XOXO and Resene Party Zone. Bar stools from Mocka, planter from Nood, table from Cintesi, art from endemicworld. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton. 

While introducing colour to walls can seem scary for some, a life in a home without any colour at all, can be a pretty dismal one. While this look is vibrant, it’s also clean and simple. Small pops of vibrant shades have been added to furniture in the room as a fast and easy way to change the space. You can add fresh Resene paint in any colour you’d like whenever your tastes change or the creative mood strikes, and you might find that Resene testpots will provide you with just enough to do so. 

For more tips and advice on what colour scheme to use in your home, speak to a Colour Expert at your local Resene ColorShop or ask a Resene Colour Expert free online, www.resene.com/colourexpert.

Published: 08 Feb 2023

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.

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Resene Canterbury Clay

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Resene Spanish White

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Resene Brown Sugar

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Resene Quarter Spanish White

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Resene Triple Spanish White

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Resene Half Duck Egg Blue

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Resene Half Inside Back

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Resene Quarter Wan White

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Resene Double Rice Cake

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