Creating a place where you can just relax need not involve changing around a large room, it can be a quiet corner in a bedroom, a place in the garden, a bathroom or a reading nook on a landing.
Think about what you, or your family needs to relax. It might be cosiness and warmth; it might be light and airiness. You might need a comfy seat, large cushions or a whole bed, but what you’ll also want to consider is which colours are going to help get you in a calm, mindful and relaxed state.
The dreamy teal of these Resene Juniper walls set the scene for a relaxing night’s rest. The walls are complemented by the floor finished in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash. Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.
Declutter first
Whatever space you’re turning into your relaxing retreat, it’s a good idea to remove all distracting clutter first so you have a blank canvas.
Decorate simply, with one or two things that you really love and will help give you a mood boost. It might be a piece of art, a vase of flowers from your garden, or perhaps an upcycled and repainted table topped with your favourite book or a magazine.
Add in items to your relaxation space thoughtfully rather than just because you need somewhere to put something. Everything in your space should be there to serve the function of making you feel good and relaxed.
If you need to share your space with others, keep the things you need to make it relaxing for you in a handy drawer or storage box so you can set up your space in a few minutes and be relaxing.
Symmetry and light bring balance and a zen-like calm to this outdoor relaxation and meditation space. The upper wall is painted in Resene Eagle, with a lower wall in Resene Waiouru. The floor is Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash and the skirting is Resene Ottoman. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.
Choose your palette
Choosing colours that relax you is a very personal thing. As a rule, it will make sense to choose more muted or even pastel shades, rather than bright primary colours – but that doesn’t mean your room needs to be one-dimensional and strictly neutral. There’s still plenty of room for personality.
One way to do this is to play with different colour strengths of one Resene paint colour. If you want a moody olive green, you could try Resene Colins Wicket as your main shade, but paint different surfaces in eighth, quarter, half, double or even triple strengths of it. It will give your space depth and interest without cluttering it with competing colours. If you wanted a pop of something different add some highlights in deep blue Resene Indian Ink, or a fresh note of pastel Resene Provincial Pink.
Colours in the ‘natural’ spectrum such as beige, taupe and cream often feel immediately calming because they can make a space feel very grounded and earthy, and in the right combinations can make your room feel light and airy. Try the grey-brown of Resene Greige, with creamy Resene Half Scotch Mist. Add some leafy plants, and floaty sheer curtains and you’ve created an at home spa-suite.
Top tip: Before you commit to colours, think about whether you want your space to feel cool or warm, light or dark, cosy or spacious.
Keeping the linen and accessories lighter against the dramatic Resene Dark Slate rear wall, keeps this room calming instead of becoming overbearing. Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.
Remove distractions
The other aspect to consider when creating a soothing space is to look at balance and proportion, and whether there is anything in the space that’s going to irritate you. Keep the space gadget and screen free unless you’re there to watch a movie.
Make sure your couch or chair is not too big or too small for the space, or there’s not too much furniture overall.
Do you have enough light, or too much? Is the light fitting in the right place so you don’t have glare when sitting in your favourite seat? Are there draughts? Do you need a heat source?
Balance in your colour scheme is important too. Does one colour dominate too much so that your colour scheme feels out of sync? A good guide for using multiple colours is the 60-30-10 rule; your main colour takes up 60% of the room, 30% for your secondary shade, and 10% of your third or impact colour.
Top tip: Think about incorporating organic curved shapes into your relaxing space, either in your furnishings, or in your decoration. Organic shapes are thought to be more calming for our brains than lots of angles and edges.
Dreamy muted natural colours and organic shapes make this a very restful sitting area. The rear wall is painted in Resene Half Athens Grey with shape in Resene Quarter Perfect Taupe while the floor is Resene Quarter Delta with shape in Resene Atomic. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.
Spending some time getting all of these little details right will definitely help you relax, once you’re finally in your space with your feet up!
For help choosing colours and products to suit your projects, visit your local Resene ColorShop, ask a Resene Colour Expert online, www.resene.co.nz/colourexpert or book a Resene Colour Consultation, www.resene.co.nz/colourconsult.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
