Is there a colour more in need of an image boost than beige?
Like vanilla, the name has often become associated with meaning bland and dull, but, we’d argue, unfairly so!
In fact, beige is one of the most versatile colours there is, working in serene soothing colour palettes just as well as a backdrop for bolder, invigorating looks.Modern beige
“It’s so much more inviting than white,” says Resene Stylist Monuean Ryan of using beige in your interiors.
The key, she says, is recognising that ‘beige’ doesn’t refer to one colour, but a whole spectrum of neutrals. Beige takes its name from the French word for cloth made from undyed wool and is often used as a ‘catch-all’ name for any neutral that isn’t white, grey or black.
Beiges can refer to anything from yellow-based creams like Resene Spanish White to deeper pink-toned tans like Resene Mongoose, all of which actually makes it a really fun, adaptable colour to work with.
Popular modern beiges tend to be warm, pale shades which offer an organic, natural feel.
“Paired with other nature-inspired colours and materials they help a space feel cosy and soft, Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey says. “Add pops of deeper tones like green Resene Clover, rustic reds like Resene Pioneer Red and browns like Resene Trek to add depth.”
The beauty of beige
Once you see beige in a new light and realise not all beiges are created equal it opens up a whole range of possibilities in how and where they can be used, Meryl says.
As well as making a practical and adaptable base colour from which you can start to build a complex – or minimalist – colour palette, they can help add warmth to cool spaces, or add airiness to small, confined spaces. They can help rooms feel both more spacious and cosier and they are excellent at complementing key pieces of furniture or decor in brighter accent colours, by neither completely fading into the background, nor dominating a space. “Beige is not only for aesthetic purposes but will also optimise a room,” Meryl says. “Mushroom beiges like Resene Triple Blanc, for example, are great at brightening up a space and can make a room feel larger than it is. “Sandy beiges such as Resene Bison Hide with its green edge, are, on the other hand, ideal for rooms which have cooler accents or hard surfaces, adding contrast without the starkness of a cool-toned white.”
Warm minimalism
Using neutrals to create a pared back palette is a straightforward way to create a classic minimalist palette. Traditional minimalist looks are often anchored in a simple white like Resene Eighth Rice Cake, or a subtle off-white like Resene Blanc but a different approach could be to warm up your minimalism with layers of subtle beiges.
Let’s talk about greige
If classic tan-toned beiges are not for you, you can veer more toward the charcoal end of the spectrum to discover greige. The word is an obvious portmanteau of grey and beige and refers to shades that sit in the not quite grey, not quite beige area of the spectrum.
Resene Greige is a clear example as a perfect balance between a warm grey and a mushroom-y beige. Other examples from the Resene colour range are Resene Stonewall and Resene Truffle. These mid-toned neutrals are a good choice to add to otherwise-white interiors and exteriors to make them feel more colourful than they are. Their blend of grey and taupe means they are particularly versatile and open up new areas of the colour spectrum to play with.
If you need help getting starting or deciding on the colours that best suit your home, come in and visit your local Resene ColorShop, Ask a Resene Colour Expert free online or book a Resene Colour Consultation free instore or virtually or a paid home visit in selected areas.
This blog post was written for the Resene Decorating Blog and kindly supplied to Fowler Homes. Your local Fowler Homes team will be able to provide help and inspiration with making your final selections on your new dream home. Contact us today.
