Party at your place this summer! If even the thought of this strokes fear deep into your heart, fret not – there are plenty of easy ways to update your interiors for summer entertaining, according to Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey.
Some changes are as easy as painting vases or plant pots with Resene testpots in your favourite Resene colours, or you can go bigger and paint an entire feature wall or your kitchen cabinetry. Painting your trims is another great way to instantly uplift and refresh a room – the top five Resene whites to try are Resene Black White, Resene Alabaster, Resene Half Black White, Resene Rice Cake and Resene Half Rice Cake.
Read on for more of Meryl’s tips to help brighten up your place for summer.
Coveting colour
I am drawn to softer colours and lighter textures for summer – blues, honey yellows and soft terracotta colours. For me they resonate with our summer landscape and overseas holidays. Blues are great for accenting in living rooms, while deeper shades are ideal for games rooms – Resene Azure is the perfect cornflower blue.
Resene Muka from the Traditional Māori Colour Palette is a honey tan that I am crushing on now. Honey yellows can work well in the kitchen, where brighter yellows can be overwhelming. Pair it with a sky blue and an off-white, either accented in the kitchen or for adjacent rooms such as the hallway, creating a calm, inviting social space that’s reminiscent of sky and land.
Resene Awaken and Resene Japonica are soft muted terracotta hues that are not too heavy for summer – they work well in dining rooms or living spaces, layered with tonal shades and warm neutrals or a pop of red.
Social spaces
Comfort is a key consideration for social spaces, especially living areas. If you’re hosting a larger group of guests, use bean bags and large floor cushions as a cost-effective way to add more seating – or add some custom-made cushions to an old sofa to dress it up.
