Tufty Time sofa by B&B Italia, Mocki coffee table by Frigerio, Awkward floor light by Karakter and Soft Corners ottoman by Cassina, all from Matisse. Costine buffet and Koppar vase (on floor) from Bradfords. Liepa table lamp by Soho Home, Alma vase and Sesso vase, from Obery. Tactility fabric in colour Paper as curtain from James Dunlop Textiles. La-de-da candle holder from Night Works Studio. Broste classic taper candle from Tessuti. Synoptic wool rug from Designer Rugs.

The best warm neutral paint colours for a cosy winter living room

Forget the crisp look of summer interiors. As the light softens and the days draw in, the home’s most occupied rooms are reaching for warmth with weight, tones that invite us to curl up in comfort, emitting a candlelit glow. While the palette is subtle, the changes in tonal shades add a nuanced confidence that can make even the coldest room in the house feel inviting.

Tufty Time sofa by B&B Italia, Mocki coffee table by Frigerio, from Matisse. Alma vase and Sesso vase by Soho Home from Obery. Koppar vase (on floor) from Bradfords. Synoptic wool rug from Designer Rugs.

The starting point is Resene Thorndon Cream, a soft shade that holds its own in low light and is perfect across the walls. Lifting the ceiling with Resene Half Thorndon Cream, a barely-there variation that quietly opens the room. On the floor, Resene Half Truffle in a Walk-On finish grounds the scheme with a putty-toned warmth that flatters furnishings in timber and stone in equal measure. The effect is cohesive without ever feeling forced. This often overlooked colour scheme has the ability to allow bouclé sofas, marble tables and dark timber sideboards to work together in natural harmony. 

Four Resene paint swatches and sample pots arranged in a gradient from white to terracotta brown.
Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Thorndon Cream, ceiling in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Half Thorndon Cream and floor in Resene Walk-On tinted to Resene Half Truffle. Through doorway painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Milk Chocolate. 

Awkward floor light by Karakter and Soft Corners ottoman by Cassina, from Matisse. Xano 360 Swivel Accent chair and Costine buffet from Bradfords. Liepa table lamp by Soho Home from Obery. Tactility fabric in colour Paper as curtain from James Dunlop Textiles. Synoptic wool rug from Designer Rugs. 

The masterstroke is what happens at the threshold. Add a darker colour like Resene Milk Chocolate and the contrast does the work that art might otherwise do. A deep but warm tone that turns the passage between rooms into a moment. This is winter colour at its most comforting. Quiet, layered, and built for staying at home.

resene.co.nz

Get The Look


Knoll Biboni sofa from Studio Italia
Audo Copenhagen
Reverse Table Lamp from Dawson & Co.
Minotti Aurore Coffee Table from ECC

ARTEMEST Brown Tall Bao Ottoman from Obery 
G21 FLOOR LAMP from Ligne Roset
Timothy Oulton Valais Swivel Chair from Dawson & Co.

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