The trends have come around to perennial favourites – deep blue reds, the striking tone of black and near black, the soothing restfulness of duck egg blue and greyed blues and the bold pops of orange and yellow to add a touch of upbeat liveliness.

Remember childhood – that playful streak, a willingness to embrace the new and the joy and wonder in the smallest of things? Embrace that inner child and be spontaneous, add that bold happy colour for a touch of fun. Sure, it might not last ten years but the enjoyment will far outweigh feeling trapped by safe choices.

There is a sense of rejuvenation, of reintroducing happy memories from the past to the present, bringing favourites from childhood into the lives of the present.

Dusty and smoky, there is a new palette of colours coming through, such as Resene Mesmerise, Resene Soulmate and Resene Abercrombie, that feel timeless, gently weathered and softened over the passage of time. Easy to live with and coordinate, they’re a sophisticated alternative to cleaner pastels. They bring with them a sense of being more grounded and less airy than the pastels of recent years.

Reds are strong and powerful, with influencing blue tones, such as popular Resene Pohutukawa and Resene Poppy. Fire engine red is not to be ignored with hues such as Resene Havoc.  Equally bold is the frivolity of hot magenta pink captured Resene Scrumptious.

The bold pops of colour are still popular for a quick hit of uplifting colour and as a useful device for wayfinding, with colours such as Resene Bright Light and Resene Daredevil commanding attention.

Browns are turning more yellow toned, making them more complementary with wood. Warm dark browns, such as Resene Sambuca and the lighter Resene Rough N Tumble, are sought after; an excellent sophisticated pairing with timber or to contrast other colour choices.

Grey has hidden depths; sometimes blue, sometimes green. Once the complement, it is now a feature. Deep grey, such as Resene Gumboot and Resene Half Bokara Grey, appeals to those who yearn density and depth but don’t want to commit to the starkness of black. Tones of beige are turning greige as they cool into greys and lose some of their warm beige edges. Beige is still big, but greige, such as Resene Triple Rakaia, offers a new sleeker alternative for those looking for something new.

When it comes to green, the coming trends are diverse. On the dark side there are the earthy camouflage and nature inspired shades that would look right at home in the deepest jungle with hues such as Resene Seaweed. On the lighter side there are the striking bright greens, such as Resene Kakapo and Resene Curiosity. For something a little more restful there are fresh mint and airy greens, such as Resene Kandinsky and Resene Secrets, light on the senses.

Blues become mutable, crossing over to stormy sea-washed tones, such as Resene Dusted Blue. Fresh blues, like Resene Skydiver, ground the more powdery tones, such as Resene Frozen. Ever popular duck egg blue, such as Resene Duck Egg Blue and Resene Half Duck Egg Blue, bridges the gap between neutral and coloured with just a touch of colour to lift it from monochromatic greys.

Purples, such as Resene Fascinator and Resene Gypsy Queen, are wild and glorious, shining forth with alluring boldness.

Neutrals as always are the balance. The backdrop to the brights, the favourite accessories, the respite from busy life and the soft cocoon that can be used as a launch pad as down the path of bolder choices. Blackened neutrals such as the Resene Black White and Resene Alabaster colour families are on the upswing and work well with the deep grey accents.

Use colour blocking and stencilling to combine favourite colours and really show off a space. Stripes once strictly only for wallpaper, are increasingly being painted over in a range of hues and widths for a personalised look. While vertical stripes have been traditional, they’re finding themselves reinvented and rotated into the horizontal. No longer limited to just walls, stripes have found themselves onto the floor and more recently even ceiling areas, making the most of the canvas available.

Ceilings, once pure white, are increasingly at least tinted to neutral hues and painted to complement or accent the wall colour. In bedrooms and living areas, wall colours that extend from the walls onto the ceiling, create a sense of cosiness and a relaxing cocoon of colour. Bold feature colours on ceilings are the next frontier for colour lovers, a new twist on a feature wall.

For many natural surfaces, the look is pared back and minimalised. Rather than covering up the raw beauty, the key is to enhance it. Natural materials tend to show their age very quickly, so the trend is to finish them clearly for protection, keeping their natural good looks for the future. Think concrete wax on concrete floors and benchtops, clear finishes on timber and water repellents on exterior concrete, protecting the surface but not changing the aesthetic; keeping the look true to the original character.

Where walls once used to be just a pretty colour, they are now becoming part of the function of the house, particularly in the heart of the home or office where people congregate. Think a write on whiteboard in Resene Write-on Wall Paint painted onto an office meeting room or kitchen wall for reminders, notes and sharing information. Or for the more nostalgic, a blackboard wall in Resene Blackboard Paint taking homeowners back to the days of childhood, when life was all about being hands on and creative, rather than being tethered to technology.

Where once there were rules, guidelines and boundaries, now there is free will, free choice and endless possibilities. The only limit is imagination.