Much is made of our lovely light. Its striking clarity has been marvelled at and thanks to our relative lack of air pollution, it’s considered a key element of Aotearoa’s natural beauty.
But there’s a ‘but’. All that exists under our sky is also subject to damagingly high UV levels, and as anyone with a dark-hued rug, wall or curtains will attest, it can be troublesome not only for our skin but also our homes. With all its classic sophistication and inky decadence, lovers of black sometimes find that the colour can fade or look washed-out, its drama diluted. So what’s the solution?
Go deep
Certain rooms in your home will make the most of a true black – identify them and you’ll love the classic effect for years to come. Spaces that maximise the intensity of black and won’t fade fast include those in which most or all of the light comes via a switch, not through the window.
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First, turn your attention to small spaces. Your powder room or laundry, for example, could become a haven painted in hues such as ebonised Resene Black or leathery Resene Blackjack; use lighting and accessories to warm and beautify so they don’t feel cramped and gloomy. The same can be said for larger areas such as media rooms, in which low light is essential. Near-black Resene hues such as Resene Nero and moody grape Resene Upstage are among the options that can be stellar scene-setters for at-home cinematic experiences, while subtly picking up on like colours in the room.
A sprinkling of black pepper
Black carries with it a certain weight but can also be light-hearted and convey either feminine or masculine energy depending on what else it’s been paired with. Play with this shape-shifter in places other than your walls using staunch Resene All Black or black-meets-deep-blue Resene Blue Charcoal to make an accent of a coffee table or lightshades, open shelving or photo frames. But for visual cohesion, it’s best to stick to just one black for all the accents in a room. White walls offset by a black rangehood, splashback and island create delicious contrast in the kitchen, or boost black bathroom fixtures such as tapware and towel rails with cabinetry in a similar colour.
Try an off-black wallpaper design such as Resene Wallpaper Collection 386532, which still has plenty of drama without feeling domineering.
Fancy that
Luxury is another thing black does beautifully. Consider colour blocking by using it on architraves to skirtings and down onto the floor to create a cocooning, soothing sanctuary. Reintroduce romance to a low-lit bedroom or welcome wow into a walk-in wardrobe with green-black Resene Marshland paired with a dark wallpaper for textural depth. Coat your ensuite in Resene Blackout, a deep carbon brown-black, adding brass fittings for a glamorous gleam.
Grey power
If black is best in these scenarios, when is grey greater? Rooms in which there’s lots of natural light often respond better to a dark grey that stands its ground and isn’t diminished by the sun. It’s also a versatile option as it contrasts more gently with other colours in a space than black does.
Interior designer Kelly Gammie, of Eucalyptus Design & Interiors, says, “Greys are a softer choice for living areas and dining rooms. Balancing them with vibrant colour or brightness from a pale neutral – in the form of window coverings, furnishings or flooring – will stop them becoming oppressive.”
Instead of the usual white, you might like to couple dark grey with softer cream for window frames and the like. “Resene Baltic Sea walls teamed with ceiling, trims and doors in Resene Chalk Dust brings immediate modernity to a villa or bungalow and is great combination for a standout dining room,” says Kelly. “In a new home, try colour zoning – using blocks of dark grey and paler neutrals or other colours to give a space depth and personality, and remove that sense of void that can happen with a contemporary home. I like Resene Shark with Resene Pearl Blush.
Deep Resene Armadillo adds drama and contrast to this return wall in Resene Beachcomber. Shelves in Resene Rolling Stone, floor in Resene Black Haze and Resene Sugar Loaf, plant pot in Resene Rodeo Drive and pendant light in Resene Rolling Stone. Higher sheen trims in Resene Blackjack add a crisp edge to the dark wall. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.
“Dark greys are also an excellent choice for kitchen and bathroom cabinetry – Resene Fuscous Grey or Resene Colorwood Tiri wood stain are my go-tos. They work so well with stone or concrete-look benches and splashbacks, and are superb teamed with timber and metal fittings, such as brass and stainless steel.”
If you’re a weekend-paint-project type, Kelly suggests revitalising dated bedside tables with mountain-range Resene Grey Friars, then tucking them in alongside pale grey, white and turmeric bedding. Modernise kids’ rooms by freshening up tired furniture with storm grey Resene Squall set against walls in calm blue Resene Escape.
Out there
Yes, painting your home a dark colour is a bold move, but the aesthetic rewards are undeniable. Go for black or dark charcoal to really ground your house in the landscape – a particularly effective approach for rural properties in wide open spaces. Think dark grey Resene Double Gravel or Resene Waterborne Woodsman Sheer Black for timber elements to let the beauty of the woodgrain shine through. Soften and enhance a black exterior with lush greenery and light-reflecting glass.
The material you’re painting will determine the appearance of a paint, so factor that in when talking to the experts at your local Resene ColorShop. You’ll also want to ask about getting your chosen hue in a Resene CoolColour formula, which includes pigment technology that absorbs light to maintain the integrity of dark colours, while deflecting more heat than the normal colour.
Greys are a popular choice for villas teamed with trim in fresh whites and off-whites to add presence to the home and highlight the architectural detailing. This home by Amber Hamilton is finished in Resene Tapa, Resene Fuscous Grey and trim in Resene Black Haze. Image by Katie Laird.
Top tips
Although white is often considered the ultimate blank canvas, dark walls make a great backdrop for artwork too. Try arranging several frames together to create a stop-and-stare gallery wall.
Layer greys for a cosy, tonal effect for your walls, curtains and carpet, complemented by soft furnishings in grey and other neutrals including white, cream and oatmeal. Textural natural materials such as cotton, linen and wool are ideal companions for a scheme like this.
A semi-gloss or gloss finish like Resene Lustacryl or Resene Enamacryl will reflect the light and make dark colours look brighter. Conversely, a flat or matte finish like Resene SpaceCote Flat provides a velvety effect that absorbs light for an even moodier mood.
Visit your Resene ColorShop for more colour ideas and inspiration, or search for black or grey decorating ideas using the colour and room filter at www.habitatbyresene.co.nz.
