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Demo to Reno: Master bedroom refresh

Tyge and Christina Dellar have been renovating their home and working through room by room. The next space on the list is the long awaited update to their master bedroom. When it’s finished they want it to feel like a sanctuary where they can relax and retreat in private.

To achieve this, the couple have created a really cosy lounge area as part of their room. “A place for us to get away from the kids, have some peace and quiet and chill out,” says Tyge.

As with all previous Demo to Reno transformations, Tyge and Christina headed to their local Resene ColorShop to discuss colour inspiration with Resene Colour Expert Brenda Ngatai. While Christina knew that she was after beautiful whites for a calming and relaxing vibe, the room is very sunny with high ceilings, which can impact specific colour choices.

Brenda recommended Resene Black White to work best with the room’s dimensions and proportions. “It’s not too glary and there’s a lovely softness to it,” she explains.

The couple’s original room was a little dark and needed a stylish modern makeover.

Pouring paint from your main paint can into a Resene paint pot means your brush won’t contaminate the main container with dirt or loose hairs. Plus it’s easier to carry as you work your way around the room.

Back at the house, Tyge and Christina got to work preparing the extensive amount of varnished timber within the room. First they sanded and dusted it, then coated it with Resene Waterborne Sureseal pigmented sealer. Tyge’s top tip is to always pour your coating into a smaller paint pot, which is not only easier to carry, but prevents any contamination from the brush occurring.

Once the prep and priming was done, they painted on two topcoats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Black White for the walls and Resene Ceiling Paint in Resene Quarter Black White for the ceilings.

To say they’re thrilled with the result is an understatement. “Call me biased but I think this might be my favourite room in the entire house,” says Christina. “Using the Resene Quarter Black White has created a really seamless look coming up the walls and up to the ceiling and it has created that lofty, airy look we were going for.”

“The main thing I’ve noticed is just how much bigger this room feels and for a guy my size, that’s just perfect,” continues Tyge.

As the room is sunny with very high ceilings, Resene Black White was the perfect choice as it’s soft and not too glary. Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Black White, trims and joinery in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss in Resene Black White and ceiling in Resene Ceiling Paint in Resene Quarter Black White.

The generous space allowed them to create a dedicated lounge area to relax and reset in private. Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Black White, trims and joinery in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss in Resene Black White and ceiling in Resene Ceiling Paint in Resene Quarter Black White.

While Christina and Tyge opted for all white in their bedroom, the world is your oyster when it comes to choosing the perfect Resene paint for yours. Check out our tips below for what to consider when deciding.

Colour psychology

It’s a good idea to think about the colour psychology of each hue when looking at colour palettes for bedrooms. Quite often people just choose a colour they like, and while it’s great to choose your favourite colour for your personal space, colours have distinctive associations which can stir particular emotions and moods. The warmth radiated by hues such as red and orange is frequently linked to energy, passion and excitement, whereas the cooler tones of blue and green instill a sense of tranquillity and relaxation.

Mix and match

You can alter the mood of a colour by putting other colours with it. A bedroom on the cool side of your home drenched in pale blue might feel a bit cool and open, which can induce depressive emotions for some. The addition of complementary colours, such as a pop of terracotta for accessories, will provide warmth and soften the cool tones. Play with proportions to see how much the mood of the blue changes in the room. Pale blues like Resene Half Spindle or Resene Comfortably Numb pair well with warm earthy tones like Resene Dawn Glow.

Deep sleep

Deeper, cooler shades for your bedroom walls create the illusion of warmth and intimacy and can help with sleep. Opt for darker shades which have complex undertones and a brightness to them (without appearing too bright), such as Resene Rolling Hills or Resene Epic – these shades tend to have a vibe of positivity amongst their depths. Continue your colour from your ceiling onto your wall to create a cosy cocoon of colour that will have you feeling snug in no time.

Setting the sheen

The effect of colour can be further manipulated with your paint finish – lower sheen paints such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene SpaceCote Flat create a warmer feel, while higher sheen levels are more reflective, therefore attracting more attention.For more bedroom inspiration, pick up a copy of the free habitat plus – bedrooms book at your local Resene ColorShop or view a copy online.