This space has been given a massive mood lift with a few coats of Resene Yes Please on its tongue-and-groove panelling to complement the creamy yellow undertones of the Resene Elderflower walls. Staining the floors with Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash gives the room a bit of a casual, beachy feel. Resene Wishing Well on the pendant lamp, Resene Submerge on the cacti pots, and Resene King Tide on the rattan table. (Styling by Megan Harrison-Turner, photo by Bryce Carleton).
Aqua is at the front edge of trending interior colours at the moment for walls, painted furniture, accents and accessories. From lighter versions like Resene Freelance to saturated shades like Resene Deep Teal, you can almost never go wrong when opting to decorate with beautiful blue-greens like these.
“Aqua is a universal colour that I find almost everyone likes,” says Vanessa Webb of Dress My Nest. “Resene Raindance is a great example. It’s a stunning greyed off-aqua that works perfectly with whites and neutrals as well as timber – which is especially handy, as we are using a lot of timber in interiors right now. Think American oak floors, plywood ceilings, pale oak furniture and Resene Raindance is the perfect partner to create a calming environment at home. It’s a shade that can be used as a wall colour in almost any room, as it gives that soothing feeling that many people are searching for in their homes.”
Since aquas are often associated with peaceful and calming things – the ocean, clear skies, and mother nature in general – it makes sense that people would want to surround themselves with the colour that makes them feel at peace and reduce the stress of the breakneck pace of our everyday lives.
With walls in Resene Freelance and paneling in Resene Yes Please, this bedroom is about as aqua as they come! The painted rug adds plenty of interest to the Resene Wishing Well floors. We created this one using Resene Deep Teal, Resene Maestro, Resene Hullabaloo, Resene Blue Chill, Resene Yes Please and Resene Freelance. Rattan desk, bedside table, and chair in Resene Poured Milk, and vases in Resene Meditation and Resene Kandinsky. (Styling by Megan Harrison-Turner, photo by Bryce Carleton)
“Resene Yes Please, another bright and happy aqua, is absolutely perfect for a caravan renovation! I have used it on the exterior of a caravan and it always makes heads turn. Paired with a bright white such as Resene Alabaster, it’s such a fun and fresh combination.”
“Resene Freelance is a similar shade and it looks fantastic in a kids room. I love pairing it with corals such as Resene Rapture and pale pinks like Resene Sakura to create a gorgeous and fun girls room.”
Interior stylist Kate Alexander considers aqua to be among of her favourite colours. “The last time turquoise and aqua were trending was when contrast was queen and we all had feature walls. Today we seek environments that provide interest but don’t overpower. Try for a tone-on-tone look instead.”
The watery tones in this kitchen are calming, from the dark slate architraves, light and hooks in Resene Safehaven, to the icy blue of Resene Slipstream on the door, Resene Mystery on the upper wall, Resene Raindance on the lower wall and shelf, and Resene Artemis on the cabinet top and legs. Accessories thrown into the mix include soft apple Resene Aura on the jug and bowl, and Resene Unwind on the fluted vases. (Styling by Megan Harrison-Turner, photo by Bryce Carleton)
“Turquoise and aqua have an unfortunate reputation for being flippant colours, and too bold for those who don’t ‘love’ colour. However, if you combine them with muddier versions of their opposites it takes some of the punch away - for example, Resene She’ll Be Right with Resene Moccasin or Resene Sunbaked in a terracotta kitchen with glazed aqua tiles and stone floors or a burnt orange chair with a turquoise cushion,” recommends Kate.
Studies have shown that bringing an aqueous colour palette into your kitchen may actually curb your cravings. Some researchers say that the colour blue is unappetising, psychologically-speaking, because it rarely occurs naturally in food (save for mould) and thus doesn’t trigger an automatic appetite response – so a toned-down aqua can be a great fit.
The positive punch of turquoise can also be used to enliven coastal interiors. Use it to lead the eye around an otherwise crisp white backdrop, such as Resene Black White, in artwork, cushions and objects. Alternatively, you could opt for a grey-white like Resene Sea Fog or Resene Merino to soften the look “Turquoise is a fun way to add punch to a black and white interior. For a real kick try Resene Yowza with Resene Charcoal and Resene Alabaster and use the vibrant teal to draw attention to a feature, like the doorframe.”
One of Kate’s favourite aqua combinations she recently used in her own home. “I’ve created a ‘winter room’ by painting all four walls in Resene Green Meets Blue, and it’s made the space feels encompassing and sophisticated, but I’ve thrown a fun curveball at it by adding a table in Resene Endeavor and cushions to match. This combination is actually a grey-green base with cyan features, but you could take it deeper into the greens by painting the walls Resene Fast Forward and using Resene She’ll Be Right as a feature colour.”
In this lounge, the dark walls in Resene Atlas with architraves in Resene Indian Ink create a cocooning effect, but the Resene Colorwood Mid-Greywash floors provide balance. The tray pops in Resene Yowza while the rug mixes in a healthy dose of visual interest. The petrol blue velvet ottoman adds to the luxury, while the vases (from left to right) in Resene Meditation, Resene Kandinsky and Resene Poured Milk add a degree of softness. (Styling by Megan Harrison-Turner, photo by Bryce Carleton)
Swirly waves inspired by the sea create a peaceful environment for sleeping. The wall is painted in Resene Grey Seal with overlapping painted swirls in Resene Mystery and Resene Remember Me. The design works almost in the same way as a bedhead to anchor to the room. Bring the wall colours further into the space by painting a chest of drawers in Resene Remember Me and some vases in Resene Unwind, Resene Grey Area and Resene Slipstream. (Styling by Gem Adams, photo by Wendy Fenwick)
Other amazing aqua and terrific teal colour combinations:
• Aqua swims well with a whole range of pinks - go deep by pairing Resene She’ll Be Right with Resene Pink Ribbon or, for a softer take, combine Resene Freelance with Resene XOXO or Resene Shilo.
• Try Resene Yowza with an inky navy, such as Resene Indian Ink or Resene Twilight Zone.
• Add just a few surprising pops of aqua into an otherwise neutral room. Keep walls light and calming in Resene White Island or Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue and try painting a few small accessories in Resene Blue Lagoon or Resene Java and place them throughout your space.
