Here's a taste of some of the Colour Expert questions and answers to help you with your own colour scheme.
If you would like more colour advice for your project, please ask our Colour Expert for help or come in and see our staff at your local Resene ColorShop or Reseller. Colours are a representation only.
Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.
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Q. I have a 1960s weatherboard house that has natural (I think) stonework on one wall. I would describe the colours of the stonework as tan, cream, yellow, brown with the overall tone warm yellow brown! The grout is an unattractive brown. Unattractive as it is, it’s staying because the general consensus is that is easier than removing it. I have been told that the stonework may be Limestone or Oamaru stone. The plan is to first reroof the house with COLORSTEEL® in either Karaka (because I like green) or Ironsand (which might suit the brown/yellow undertones of the stonework and grout). Then following the roof being replaced, the exterior of the house will be painted. I would appreciate any thoughts as to colour schemes that would work well with the stonework and a Karaka or Ironsand roof. A. I do suggest that an Ironsand roof will pair better, and although we may like a colour it doesn’t mean it will look good. Karaka may only emphasise the stonework rather than blending it in. For wall colours check out Resene Eighth Arrowtown, Resene Eighth Friar Greystone, Resene Half Nomad, Resene Sugar Loaf or Resene Awaroa Bay.  Resene Eighth Friar Greystone  Resene Awaroa Bay May 2024 |
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Q. We want to repaint our house with a more modern colour scheme – maybe a light white/creamy colour for the cladding? We’re keen for advice. It's likely it will be sold in the next 5 years. A. I suggest for the main cladding, house and garage: Resene White Pointer or Resene House White, these whites will blend with the joinery, and for the roof Resene Porter. For the window surrounds, I suggest painting these the same colour as the house – so they are disguised. Paint the fascias, downpipes and garage door – to match the roof in Resene Porter – this will modernise the overall appearance. For any decks, I suggest a colour such as Resene Tino Pai. May 2024 |
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Q. I want to paint my house exterior which is currently dark blue weatherboards upstairs and white block wall downstairs. I’d like something softer. A. Going for a softer look will help to harmonise the appearance. I recommend choosing a modern deep grey with a softer contrast. To modernise and simplify the exterior, and as you have plenty of height – I suggest painting the base darker and the top and gable end in a softer colour – keeping the top half the same colour will still give the house height but will ground the house visually and modernise the overall look. This can be balanced with a dark bargeboard and white eaves to match the windows – the roof if going to be painted – could be the same dark colour. Colours to try for the base, bargeboard and roof are: Resene Tuna or Resene Half Tuna. For the top half and gable end: Resene Double Concrete or Resene Triple Concrete, with the eaves in Resene Double Alabaster. May 2024 |
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Q. We are building a transportable house. At this stage we have an Ironsand roof as well as Ironsand windows. What wall colour options do you suggest for vertical stria board cladding? A. Having Stria means you can go darker without issues, and I feel with transportable homes using a darker colour creates impact, however, if you are wanting to maximise the look, then lighter options are the answer. Perhaps a colour midway between will be the solution. The location will also affect the colour selection. Darker options are: Resene Bokara Grey, Resene Night Magic, Resene Rocky Point or Resene Double Masala. Mid options are: Resene Solstice, Resene Dune, Resene Quarter Ironsand or Resene Castle Rock. Pale options are: Resene Eighth Masala, Resene Credence or Resene White Pointer.  Resene Credence  Resene Solstice  Resene Rocky Point  Resene Night Magic May 2024 |
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Q. We are wanting to paint the inside of a commercial container white to use at trade shows. Would you suggest Resene Half Alabaster or something else? A. Resene Half Alabaster might be a little too white – I suggest Resene Alabaster or Resene Black White. May 2024 |
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Q. We are repainting a very large country home. We want it to be all white. It is heritage listed with detailing, finials, gable ends, dormers and two turrets. The new iron will be sandstone COLORSTEEL®. It is set in trees and lawns with grey gravel. A. Resene Sea Fog is a great white for heritage homes as it looks great on timber claddings, and it isn't too glary which suits most environments – it will pair with your surroundings and works very well with Sandstone Grey. You may want to create subtle contrast with a low sheen waterborne paint for the weatherboards and gable ends, such as Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen, teamed with a semi-gloss or gloss finish for the windows and ornate detailing mentioned in your email – Resene Lustacryl or Enamacryl are waterborne enamels – which are more hardwearing than standard acrylics for areas which are exposed, and are necessary for joinery. You might also consider painting the trims (not the gable ends) a brighter white such as Resene Alabaster, but this is a personal preference. All colours, including whites appear lighter/brighter in natural light – hence why typically we don't specify bright whites for the main cladding. May 2024 |
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Q. My partner and I are in the middle of our new build at the moment. We are keen on some kind of a shade of white to go with the roof (Titania), medium tone cedar and kwila decking. We are keen on a creamy kind of white but there are so many to choose from. A. For the exterior, I suggest Resene Double Rice Cake – it pairs well with Titania and is warm enough to sit with cedar and Kwila. Colours and whites do appear up to 30% paler outside, due to bright natural light, so hence the double strength recommendation. For the interior consider Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream for the base white – it does depend on the window joinery colour, flooring and colours such as the kitchen finishes, but it flows from the exterior colours nicely. May 2024 |
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Q. We are looking at using Resene Half Linen in our living area, and either Resene Ash or Resene Double Ash on the exterior (both with Resene Alabaster trim). Our front door is currently Grey Friars, same as the garage door and roof. However I’m wondering if we should now use a warmer colour on either or both of the front and back door. It’s a small space and both doors are large fibreglass doors which open off either side of the living area so it’s quite a big block of cold colour on each side of that room. Do you have any recommendations for a warm or lighter colour that we could look at for both doors, which would go with the Resene Half Linen on the inside and the Resene Ash/ Resene Double Ash on the outside, and the Grey Friars garage and roof? A. Yes, I agree the fibreglass doors probably will look better with a warmer colour, than Grey Friars. I suggest you try Resene Lemon Grass or Resene Double Villa White. May 2024 |
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Q. I am painting an outside concrete retaining wall. It is located close to and directly opposite the living/dining room and skirts a deck. The house is painted Resene Half Tapa on one side and Resene Half Taupe Grey on the other (the previous owner got confused!). What colour options would you suggest for the wall? A. To link the two exterior wall colours – I suggest trying Resene Thunderstorm or Resene Dune – which is a bit softer. May 2024 |
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Q. I want to experiment on our letterbox and front/back concrete doorstep. Which primer paint shall I use? Which concrete paints shall I use? The entrance/exit doors are peeling back when entering the house after the pouring rain etc. Subsequently there are flaky pieces of paint inside the laundry and kitchen area and on my shoes/boots. I think the letter box could do with a fresh lick of paint too. What are some lucky colours for number 17 (residential address)? A. If the letterbox is metal – make sure it is cleaned first – with Resene Heavy Duty Paint Prep & Oil Remover, scrub with a soft bristle brush, rinse thoroughly with clean water, then apply a coat of primer – Resene GP Metal Primer and finish with two coats of Resene Lustacryl – a semi-gloss water based enamel, which makes it easy for clean up, but durable for an exterior application. For the concrete doorsteps – scrape, sand and prime with Resene Sureseal – pigmented sealer, then apply two coats of Resene Walk-on flooring and paving paint. The luckiest colour for front doors is Red – because it denotes protection and prosperity – it also looks fabulous! Resene Pohutukawa is one of our most popular front door colours and looks great with a white or off white door step. Number 17 = 8 in numerology and an 8 house is enhanced with earthy colours and pops of red. White trims are also suitable for a 17 house. May 2024 |
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Q. We are looking for a colour scheme for our new house. The COLORSTEEL® roof is New Denim Blue and the aluminium joinery and front door look to be the same colour. The board and batten cladding is a red/brown. There are some schist stone pillars at the front of the house. We are going to paint the roof and the house cladding and we definitely want to get rid of the red/brown. We would like to move away from the blue, and go more towards a dark grey, but will need to keep the existing aluminium joinery. What colour would you recommend for a darker roof and a lighter cladding that will tie in with the joinery and the schist features? The house is set on large grounds, with a stunning mountain backdrop, and I'd like something clean and modern, that sits the house on the site, but ties in with the environment. A. To link the joinery with the roof and new cladding colour, I suggest you try Resene Grey Friars for the roof. Cladding colours to try are Resene Half Ash, Resene Concrete, Resene Quill Grey or Resene Cloudy. Colours generally appear lighter outside in bright light. I recommend you keep the soffit white such as Resene Alabaster. May 2024 |
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Q. We have a 90s red brick two storey house with an Ironsand roof. There is a chimney and box window that it’s plastered in cream. We want to paint the plaster surfaces out so is a bit less conspicuous. I was thinking of a dark grey. Can you suggest a colour? A. I suggest you paint the plaster a mid-grey with warmish undertones. This will tone with Ironsand and the warm white windows, but also if the grey is not too dark, then the windows will blend a bit more, rather than becoming a significant contrast. I suggest you investigate using Resene CoolColour paint – as plaster is prone to heat absorption which can cause cracking for example – darker colours absorb heat. Resene Lumbersider CoolColour Paint is perfect for plaster, it is a low sheen waterborne paint, and the CoolColour pigment will help to reduce heat absorption and subsequent issues. Colours to try are: Resene Solstice, Resene Eighth Masala, Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey or Resene Trojan. May 2024 |
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Q. We have recently painted our house Resene Half Foggy Grey. We now wish to repaint the concrete patio to better match/contrast the house (I think it’s Resene Half Tea). We are thinking something a little darker might be better. A. Investigate Resene Tino Pai, Resene Delta or you could opt to paint the patio Resene Foggy Grey. I suggest you investigate using Resene Walk-on flooring and paving paint – it is a tough waterborne paint, which gives maximum durability and abrasion resistance. Talk to staff at your local Resene ColorShop regarding prep and application. May 2024 |
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Q. We have recently moved house and would like to update the kitchen as the walls are looking a bit tired. We want the kitchen to feel a bit more modern. I would like to keep with the neutral colour but my husband would like to try a colour. The west facing kitchen adjoins two other rooms and is quite open plan. One room is a green colour and the other room is the same colour as the kitchen and the walls join up. Currently it is grey white which I am not a fan of. I prefer something warmer but ‘clean’. In terms of colours we tend to like green and blue but are completely open to new ideas. The worktop is a black marble, the cupboards are maybe birch colour and the floor is solid wood jarrah floor. Can you suggest please some colours that would complement the kitchen and also some whites? A. In west facing kitchens blues and greens will feel drab most of the day. Warm whites, taupe and beiges work well and will pair with the other elements, bring the accent colours you are drawn to (such as blues and greens) into art and accessories, which will then also link the other rooms. Try Resene Cararra, Resene Half Cararra, Resene Milk White, Resene Perfect Taupe, Resene Half Perfect Taupe, Resene Serene or Resene Half Fossil. April 2024 |
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Q. We are building a cottage to go with our house. The roof is Grey Friars, the joinery is Titania. We want a slightly less beige than Resene Half Tea for the walls, what would you recommend please? A. Try Resene Half Cloud, Resene Eighth Arrowtown or Resene Ash. They need to sit next to Titania as this can be a tricky colour to pair, hence a slight grey/green undertone such as Resene Ash works well with Grey Friars and Titania. April 2024 |
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Q. We are trying to find a suitable colour for a bedroom bach by the sea. We are likely to take the colour throughout the house. We are looking at a colour that is warm in winter and cool in summer. Something like an egg yolk colour. The wooden frames have been taken back to wood. A. Basically there are warm and cool colours, however, some can sit between both, depending on the aspect of the room and how you decorate it – so slightly cooler colours can feel warmer in winter, with warmer tones for linen, accessories etc and adding more texture. Wooden touches is one way of adding texture and making a room appear warmer and if the bedroom faces north for example, then colours with a yellow undertone (such as egg yolk) in summer will appear warmer as the yellow will be enhanced. To pair with the timber and aspect I suggest warmer whites which are not too yellow or pale. Colours which have a bit of depth can appear warmer regardless as they have less white, so a duck egg blue might also look good with the timber and view and works well with yellows as accents. Try Resene Meringue, Resene Double Rice Cake or Resene Double Duck Egg Blue. April 2024 |
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Q. Our house was built in 1975 and designed by architect Gordon Moller. We want to refresh the bathroom but keep the overall colour scheme intact. Is it possible to know which colour chart was available at the time, and could we recreate those colours? A. This may have been the BS101 (2660) chart which was available in the late 70s. This is in our colour chart archive online. These colours can be tinted now for you – you just need to request them at your local Resene ColorShop. April 2024 |
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Q. We are currently painting the inside of our house Resene Black White. At the moment we have aubergine coloured doors and I would like to also get those painted but unsure as to what colour. I don’t want white as it will be too bland and stark but thinking maybe a light grey. What would your recommendations be to match with the Resene Black White? A. Resene Black White is so neutral that it will pair with many greys – however, it does look good with Resene Concrete, Resene Double Concrete or Resene Triple Concrete. You might also like to consider Resene Triple Black White. The flooring colour/s that the doors are above also need to be considered when choosing the right grey. April 2024 |
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Q. What are some complimentary colour options/ideas for interior feature walls to complement/tone in with Resene Half Merino as the main interior colour? It’s a small house but with high pitched ceilings and also some low walls We were initially looking at ‘grey’ colour options i.e. Resene Double Stonehenge but are open to other recommendations. A. Stone browns such as Resene Double Stonehenge and Resene Double Friar Greystone will pair well – also blues such as Resene Wayfarer and soft terracotta such as Resene Sante Fe or Resene Kalgoorie Sands.  Resene Double Friar Greystone  Resene Wayfarer April 2024 |
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Q. I need to freshen up concrete block walls in a women's clothing store. At present they are shades of white. My thought is to use Resene Quarter Alabaster in Resene Sonyx 101. A. If it is the exterior you are refreshing – then yes Resene Sonyx 101 is suitable. Resene Quarter Alabaster outside will appear very white and bright – consider Resene Alabaster – which is generally used for trims, so will still be a fresh, bright white. April 2024 |
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Q. I am painting walls in my villa Resene Half Bianca – what colour would you recommend for the window trims? The same colour? Or another white? Also I need to give the painter a ceiling colour – is there one you suggest? Is it ceiling white? I am also looking for a duck egg blue shade for a living room – would you be able to recommend a Resene shade? A. Resene Half Bianca is a lovely fresh white with a hint of warmth – it looks great teamed with Resene Alabaster for the trims and ceiling – or if you want a lighter ceiling – Resene Half Alabaster. Duck egg shades to consider are Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Half Duck Egg Blue, Resene Periglacial Blue, Resene Emerge or Resene Half Emerge. April 2024 |
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Q. We are building a house with Midland Ruapehu brick. Our roof, joinery, front door and garage are Matt Lignite. Could you please suggest a Resene colour for the weatherboards which will be positioned on top of the garage door and front windows. A. I suggest a warm white which has a bit of depth, but won't appear too yellow outside, such as Resene Double Rice Cake. I suggest keeping the soffit a crisper white such as Resene Alabaster. April 2024 |
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Q. We are looking to repaint our black bathroom to a nice light white colour. We think though it might be time to refresh all our walls. We won't be able to do them all at once but think it’s time for a newer shade? Currently our walls are Resene White Pointer with ceilings and frames etc in Resene Alabaster. We have timber flooring. A. Warmer tones are in vogue and may work better with your timber flooring. Investigate Resene Merino – it is a warm neutral that pairs well with Resene Alabaster, or Resene Sea Fog and Resene Barely There as options which have cooler tones than Resene Merino but are brighter and fresher than Resene White Pointer. For the bathroom a soft grey such as Resene Rakaia might work as you can make the bathroom a separate identity by painting it in a warmer light beige such as Resene Truffle or Resene Cloud. April 2024 |
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Q. We have exterior walls painted in Resene Tuna. Which yellow would go best with Resene Tuna for a front door? A. Try Resene Quarter Turbo, Resene Switched On or Resene Wild Thing. A high gloss such as Resene Super Gloss enamel will look fabulous in a bright yellow and is durable for a front door. April 2024 |
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Q. I am looking for a crisp, fresh white for the external windows of my weatherboard home. I want a pure white, not one that throws to another colour. Am I right in thinking Resene White is the whitest of whites? What would other alternatives be e.g Resene Alabaster? A. Yes, Resene White is a true white in its purest form as it has no tint added. Resene Alabaster and Resene Half Black White are popular whites for trims. Resene ColorShops have a colour library instore which includes large A4 drawdown paint swatches of these whites for you to compare and you can buy Resene testpots to take home and try. April 2024 |
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Q. I want a warm, earthy grey for our exterior weatherboards. I like Resene Concrete, but it is too white and light when I applied the testpot. Resene Sea Fog is too brown. The joinery is black and other cladding is recycled red bricks – old, with grey, black, chalky cream colours in additional the soft red. A. You might like to try deeper variants of Resene Concrete such as Resene Triple Concrete. Resene Kensington Grey is a lovely warm grey for weatherboards or Resene Half Foggy Grey and Resene Quarter Foggy Grey, look great with recycled red brick. Resene Quill Grey is a lovely, warm neutral grey, and Resene Triple Sea Fog may lean towards a lighter grey that is more what you are after. All colours will appear lighter outside, so please view colours outside when you are testing them. April 2024 |
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Q. We have Melteca Warm White as our kitchen cabinetry and benchtop with oak cabinets up the top. I want a white or off white (e.g. I've seen Resene Blanc on a swatch) that won't make the benchtop and cabinets throw too much cream. It's a light and sunny kitchen. I will also be needing a white for the skirting and ceilings. I'm also looking for a sage green for the laundry. This room has a small window and warm white cabinetry so I want a white to paint the cupboard doors, for the skirting, ceiling and a sage green for the walls. A. I suggest an off white which has a slightly cooler undertone – so that it neutralises the yellow, such as Resene Half Sea Fog. For the laundry walls see if any of these Resene sage greens appeal: Resene Green Spring, Resene Bud, Resene Secrets, Resene Half Washed Green or Resene Half Robin Egg Blue. I suggest using the same white as for the kitchen. April 2024 |
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Q. We have a Fraemohs Lockwood type home in Hanmer Springs which has been rented out for years. Tenants are leaving and we thought it needs a big tidy up inside and out. I love the colour Resene Epic and if we painted the walls (outside) in Resene Epic what could the trim around the windows be – perhaps Resene Sea Fog or a red? We are open to other colour ideas? I think we will need to reroof so what COLORSTEEL® would go best. Also is it feasible to paint inside to lighten and brighten. And would you do everything or just the ceilings? A. I suggest if you use a dark colour for the exterior, consider using a Resene CoolColour paint if possible as this will help with reflecting UV light away from the darker colour to maintain it longer and reduce any heat related issues. I like the idea of a blue exterior and there is a current trend towards navy – you might also like to check out Resene Midnight Express. I would keep the trims a type of white – the red will dominate the dark blue and I feel it is too much for the size of the house – Resene Rice Cake will lend some warmth to the blues. For the interior, consider Resene Colorwood Whitewash – it will allow the grain of the timber to show, which gives the nod to Scandinavian style, which the Fraemohs Homes are known for – I suggest you do the ceilings and walls if possible to keep the home feeling open and spacious. If you prefer a solid paint finish – Resene Half Rice Cake will flow nicely from the exterior – or if you do choose Resene Sea Fog for exterior trims, consider Resene Half Sea Fog for the interior.  Resene Epic April 2024 |
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Q. My parents are having the interior of their 20 year old home repainted. It’s located in the Bay of Islands overlooking the bush and sea views. I've attached some pics to give you an idea of the current vibe. The carpet is new and the blue/purple kitchen cabinetry and blue aluminium windows will remain. The existing colour is Resene Tea on the walls and Resene Double Tea on skirtings, architraves and doors. They would like to paint the ceiling, skirtings, architraves and doors Resene Black White and aren't sure about the wall colour. I’ve been looking at Resene Half Truffle and Resene White Pointer as an example but want something neutral that will work. They want to freshen it up and modernise it a little from the old colour without making it feel cold. A. Resene White Pointer feels right – it looks good with Resene Black White. For a warmer alternative try Resene Milk White for the walls. April 2024 |
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Q. We are looking at painting our house. The aluminium windows are a pale green. We are thinking of a lighter colour, possibly grey or something else fresh and modern that will be complementary with the light green window frames. We also need a contrast colour for doors, window ledges and pillars from the upstairs balcony. The house is currently painted in Resene Evolution. A. Investigate Resene Foggy Grey – this will appear lighter outside. For the doors, try Resene Half Gravel or Resene Gravel. I suggest painting the remaining areas the same colour as the walls – posts, window ledges and pillars to keep the scheme modern and fresh. April 2024 |
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Q. We are doing a small build in Waihi town. It is 5 x 8m cabin. The cladding is BGC Durasheet, fibre cement sheeting. I would love advice on suggestions to provide a fresh modern look using natural colours. We also have two smaller black cabins and we would like to tie them in, but we do not want another dark or black look for the new build. A. See if any of these Resene colours appeal – there are restrictions on deeper colours with this type of cladding (LRV ratings) – Resene Bud, Resene Eagle, Resene Half Grey Olive, Resene Copyrite, Resene Terrain or Resene Eighth Stonewall. April 2024 |
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Q. For our interior colours, we are thinking of walls painted in Resene Wan White, kitchen cabinetry in either Resene Quarter Wan White or Resene Half Wan White. I was thinking of bringing in a green colour on the kitchen island. Resene Ravine is nice but may be too strong? Would you suggest a lighter green tone like Resene Pewter to go with the granite benchtop which is super white (grey). I thought introducing the green is quite the in colour. What is your suggestion please? Or should I leave the kitchen island Resene Wan White and not introduce colour? I do have Resene Quarter Silver Chalice on bedroom walls. A. I think a sage green will work well as it ties in the grey tones and works with white. It nice to add colour to an island bench and sage green is quite neutral, I would try Resene Ravine – Resene Pewter might be a bit too coloured. You could also try Resene Half Washed Green, Resene Green Spring, Resene Flax or Resene Field Day. April 2024 |
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Q. I have a small two bedroom flat. All the rooms are Resene Half Tea with Resene Alabaster trim except the bathroom which is now Resene Half Lemon Grass and Resene White trim. I love the bathroom now. And I want to paint the bedrooms one east facing and one west facing in a colour in a similar tone to the Resene Lemon Grass. I like Resene Half Tea. I think it goes well. I just want a change. I'm happy to keep the living room Resene Half Tea but thought I'd brighten up the dark hallway with Resene Quarter Tea. I feel I'm not being very adventurous. A. I suggest painting the hallway Resene Quarter Tea will work quite well or you could brighten it further with Resene Milk White. I feel with the natural aspect of the bedrooms that a colour like Resene Half Lemon Grass might look drab. West facing rooms suit mid toned muted colours as the rosy natural light will enhance cream, beige and taupe, and blues/greens might turn drab, if you do want to use a green then deeper colours will alter the least and do not appear as cool as their lighter variants. East facing rooms suit complex neutrals such as Resene Half Tea, because greens and blues are enhanced and can be cool in the afternoon. I suggest painting both bedrooms differently to accommodate the aspect, and to create interest. Try Resene Half Fossil or Resene Half Parchment as an alternative to Resene Half Tea and perhaps a deeper green for the west facing room such as Resene Half Washed Green or Resene Robin Egg Blue. April 2024 |
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Q. I am working on interior colours. The house is an old wooden villa from the start of the century. It’s quite dark inside. We will have original rimu floors. I was then thinking of painting the remaining skirtings (in rimu currently) and dado rails white to lighten the place up. Some people are horrified I’m painting the wood. Any thoughts on this? I was then going to paint the whole interior Resene Quarter Villa White. I know some people paint skirtings, architraves and ceilings the same colour but one shade darker or lighter. Any thoughts? Do I need to choose different finishes for different surfaces? Lastly we have a new bathroom being built. Our old bathroom was destroyed in a landslide last year so we are starting from scratch. We have old style white bathroom fittings and I’m going to wood panel the lower wall. We have a black and white tile looking vinyl floor going in. I was keen to paint it a bluey grey colour on the panelling, then white up the top. I have found the colour Resene Dusted Blue and was going to stick with my Resene Quarter Villa White for the top of the wall but was unsure if it’s white enough. Do you have any other suggestions or other colour ideas? A. Regarding the interior timber trim – this is very much personal preference, but if you have beautiful rimu floors, and these are the feature – they will remain the feature even more so if the dark trims are painted out. Are the doors timber and are they remaining unpainted? I suggest you leave the doors and paint the skirtings, dado rails and architraves. This will really open the space and give a seamless feel. Gone are the days of always having to have white skirtings (although in some instances, this still works very well). Darker trims can also work and helps to open a space, but I feel for your interior one colour will work best, alongside the timber doors and floor. With off white walls, I do prefer white ceilings – so they appear fresh and clean – and will emphasise height. I suggest bringing the white to the dado line and painting the dado line white. To recap – the walls, skirtings, and architraves – Resene Quarter Villa White, ceiling and dado line in Resene White and doors and floor to remain timber. I do feel you should use a combination of finishes – this creates impact when using one colour throughout. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen is a waterborne enamel, which gives a durable, silky finish to the walls – a durable paint allows the finish to remain looking better longer and is easier to clean, especially important when using whites – and a lower sheen is less reflective and therefore, creates a more enveloping atmosphere. For the ceilings – Resene SpaceCote Flat is the flat version of the waterborne enamel family – it is easier cleaned and sits well with the low sheen and semi-gloss versions. I feel it is important you have a durable ceiling paint if you choose to bring the ceiling white down to the dado line. For the skirtings, architraves, and timber dado line – I suggest Resene Lustacryl, a semi-gloss, water-based enamel, it has the toughness of a traditional enamel but with a low odour and faster drying. The dado line (although to be white) – in a semi-gloss finish will give a nod to the heritage details of the room as it will contrast with the flat ceiling paint. Resene Dusted Blue is a beautiful bathroom colour and suits the heritage of the space. Consider using a whiter contrast – try Resene Wan White. Bathroom walls are generally finished in Resene Space Cote Low Sheen Kitchen and Bathroom as it has the added benefit of MoulDefender and anti-bacterial silver protection for wet areas. April 2024 |
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Q. I am looking for a soft chalky white for the exterior of a stucco plaster home; no blue, green or yellow tint so more grey tint but not too grey. We are painting over the mid grey already there. The window trims are Resene Alabaster with the roof and garage in Resene Element. A. Try Resene Wan White. April 2024 |
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Q. We are repainting our weatherboard house in Resene Quarter Mondo and would like suggestions for complementary window trim and a feature front door. A. Consider Resene Quarter White Pointer for the trims, with Resene Ming or Resene True Blue for the feature door. April 2024 |
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Q. We are repainting the exterior of our house and we are looking to paint it white. I'm wondering what white you would suggest we paint it to complement the COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars roof. A. You could try Resene Alabaster, which is a very popular Resene white, however, it will appear much brighter outside in natural bright light. I suggest also trying Resene Double Alabaster and Resene Half Sea Fog (which is the equivalent of Resene Triple Alabaster). April 2024 |
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Q. We want to paint our cream coloured windows either white or Monument (to match the roof) on our Surf Mist coloured house. Which would match in with the existing colours of the house and roof? Note the gutters need repainting and we are thinking of doing it Monument to match the roof. A. I suggest you paint the gutters and windows the same – Monument (Resene Nocturnal is the Resene paint equivalent). This will look quite stunning. April 2024 |
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Q. Can you, please advise on limewash? I would like to use Resene limewash in Resene Dawn Glow in the lavatories and limewash in Resene Half Drought on the wall with semi-gloss Resene Drought on the panelling. A. There is a habitat plus booklet called 'special effects create with paint' which has a section on colourwashing/limewashing – it explains step by step how to achieve this look and what products to use. Limewashing is basically colourwashing onto a textured surface – so sometimes a textured paint like Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect is applied first. Testpots are available for Resene FX Paint Effects Medium (the glaze which produces limewash effects) and testpots of the colours you desire – it is always best to experiment with testpots first – as the combination might have to be adjusted. If you are hiring someone to create the painted effect for you – ask them to prepare a small panel and agree on that before the project starts. I suggest you start with a lighter variant of the colour you have chosen as your basecoat. April 2024 |
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Q. My bedroom walls are painted in Resene Kangaroo. I want to paint my wooden bedroom furniture... what colours would go? A. Smokey greens and blues such as Resene Blue Bayoux, Resene Bluff, Resene Ravine, Resene Smokey Green and Resene Half Periglacial Blue. Or try ivory such as Resene Half Ecru White or Resene Merino and a navy such as Resene Biscay. The colour will need to pair with any existing/intended colours. April 2024 |
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Q. Can you tell me with the colour Resene Surrender if we go to Resene Double Surrender does it appear more blue hued or grey? We are looking for more of a blue hue. A. Resene Double Surrender may become more grey than blue. For an alternative, try Resene Gull Grey, Resene Dusted Blue, Resene Quarter Powder Blue or Resene Casper. April 2024 |
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Q. I am painting a cold not well lit room in Resene Half Rice Cake. The tiles are grey and the joinery is O’Keefe Grey. What colour should I paint the doors and windowsills – please don’t say a grey colour! I thought once painted I would add vibrant colourful furnishings. A. A current trend is to colour drench – this means enveloping the same colour on all substrates – this works particularly well in low lit, cooler rooms as it creates a cosy atmosphere and opens the space (as the eye isn’t stopping at contrasts on doors and trims), and you are going to add accents via furnishings etc which is the best option – therefore I suggest you paint them the same colour as the walls – Resene Half Rice Cake. Using varying sheen levels creates subtle impact – the most popular option for doors and trims is Resene Lustacryl a semi-gloss waterborne enamel, which is easy to clean and more durable than a standard acrylic (walls are generally low sheen). April 2024 |
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Q. I have a 1920s bungalow that is painted a dark grey colour. The windows are white but they are mismatched, awful windows so I would like them a lighter shade of grey I think. A. I suggest you try a grey white such as Resene Sea Fog or you might like to try the slightly warmer Resene Wan White. If you want a bit greyer as the walls are dark – Resene Double Sea Fog works well for windows and trims too. April 2024 |
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Q. I am looking to paint my weatherboard home Resene Sage. Do you have a colour recommendation for the windows that will look good with Resene Sage? A. Try Resene Merino for a modern take or Resene Bianca for a cleaner, warmer classic look. April 2024 |
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Q. We are building and considering painting the walls in Resene Double Black White as I am after something a bit deeper than just ‘white looking’. We were thinking of the ceiling and trims in Resene Half Black White. The flooring will be in a classic natural oak beige colour. Would these go ok together? The main living area gets a lot of sun but not the rest of the house. Will Resene Double Black White be too dark for the darker sides of the house? We will also have timber railings for the stairs and a timber slat feature wall that I'm looking to do in a dark Resene colour leaning on the black/dark charcoal colours. Is there one that complements Resene Double Black White and the flooring that you would recommend? A. Your home is going to be fabulous! The colours will pair well with the floor. Resene Double Black White will not be too dark for low lit areas, in fact if you go lighter, it will just appear cooler and uninviting. The timber slat feature will bring warmth through depth of colour and texture – I suggest you try testpots onto an offcut of the same timber if possible (two coats). See if any of these Resene colours work for you – Resene Element, Resene Blackjack or Resene Charcoal. April 2024 |
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Q. We have just had stone benches installed and that has made the existing walls look a dull cream. We would love your input for a suitable colour to paint the walls in our open plan kitchen, dining and lounge room please. The carpet is a warm mid grey. We are getting new curtains. A. Yes, stone benches generally are from a cool, fresh white palette, so this is perhaps why the walls appear more cream and are lacking that lustre now – it is great you are considering repainting them. I suggest you try Resene Quarter Rice Cake, Resene Half Merino or Resene Half Bianca. April 2024 |
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Q. I have to select a roof colour and I was hoping you could help. We are looking at Resene Half Delta for our weatherboards with Resene Half Merino trim and Resene Atomic as an accent (we are open to other suggestions!) but I’m stuck on the roof colour. Is this something you can assist with? A. Check out Resene Grey Friars – it pairs well with Resene Half Delta. April 2024 |
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Q. I need to find a monochromatic scheme from the colour sheet R9? I don’t want to use Resene Glorious, Resene La Bamba and Resene Jalapeno. Are there any other good tint, tone and shades, please? A. It really depends on what application the monochromatic scheme is being used for. You could use Resene Bullseye, Resene Flash Point, Resene Red Hot and Resene Vibe – going from saturated red to palest tint. I suggest you order A4 drawdown paint swatches online or via a Resene ColorShop of any colours from R9 (or view them at your local Resene ColorShop) and see how they look together – for a monochromatic scheme you can include shades, tones and tints of one colour which is red in this instance. April 2024 |
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Q. Based on a paint colour consultation about 14 years ago, I painted my 1920s bungalow in the following colours: weatherboards in Resene Quarter Bison Hide, windows in Resene Half Rice Cake and sills in Resene Hot Chocolate. The roofing is dark brown decramastic. I need to get some maintenance done to the gable end and bargeboards and have decided to paint these a different colour to detract from the dirt that accumulates because it is difficult to access for cleaning. What colour would be best? I think perhaps a slightly lighter shade or similar to the roofing. A. If you want to go dark then I suggest a similar shade to the roof – but we can't match decramastic tiles online, so you will need to take a range of charts, in similar colours, home and see which will work best. A current approach is to paint the bargeboards and gable ends a deeper colour of the weatherboards. Investigate the deeper variants of Resene Bison Hide when instore and try painting two coats of a testpot onto A2 card (available at Resene ColorShops) and see how the colours look onsite. April 2024 |
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Q. We are changing all our joinery to silver and want to go for a very light grey or similar. A. Try Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Concrete or Resene Double Concrete. April 2024 |
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Q. We have a Karaka long-run roof which we didn't want to repaint. We have painted the brickwork Resene Tapa which we are really pleased with it as it makes the new silver joinery pop! Above the garage door we have used Resene Double Tapa which we will also use on the garage door but our issue is we can't decide on a paint colour for inside the covered porch areas. We were thinking Resene Double Sea Fog but we have painted the top part above the roof Resene Tapa and this doesn't look quite right. We also have brown aluminium joinery. A. I suggest you actually paint the walls the same as the brick – Resene Tapa, for consistency. I feel the colour needs to flow on and there are enough different elements going on – for example you have brown aluminium joinery in this area and changing colour is going to highlight this – you could opt to try a lighter variant such as Resene Half Tapa, or even a darker variant – Resene Double Tapa – but I assume you might feel this is a bit dark for the area. I also suggest painting the fascia. April 2024 |
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Q. We have a basement garage house from the 1970s. It has clinker brick on the bottom and Resene Quarter Masala weatherboards upstairs. We want to paint the brick and would like it to be a charcoal. What charcoal would blend in with the Resene Quarter Masala weatherboards? The joinery is bronze and the garage door is Ironsand which looks very brown so we hope to paint the garage door too. A. Try Resene Element, Resene Fuscous Grey, Resene Baltic Sea, Resene Charcoal or Resene Bokara Grey. Any darker and you are heading towards Resene Black. April 2024 |
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Q. We own on old wooden villa in the Sounds and are about to repaint the outside. I am nearly there with my colours but need some advice on the main outside wall colour. I have chosen Resene Grey Friars for the roof, Resene Quarter Villa White for the trims (around window) and Resene Grey Friars on the doorsteps and window apron. Where I need help is with the main wall colour. I wanted something grey with a little blue it in. I have looked at Resene Forecast or Resene Dusted Blue. Or Resene Regent Grey. The old house is surrounded by native bush. A. It’s great you are updating the colour scheme of your villa. I feel the colours you are leaning towards are more grey/blue than blue greys – which means the blue will be further enhanced outside. Resene Regent Grey might be a little heavy. I suggest tweaking them slightly – see if any of these appeal: Resene Gull Grey, Resene Ted, Resene Neutral Bay or Resene Forecast (one that you chose). The hint of blue definitely reflects the surrounding coastline of the Sounds, so this makes sense. Being surrounded by greenery – I also suggest considering greys with green undertones such as Resene Quarter Lemon Grass or Resene Ash – both work with Resene Quarter Villa White and Resene Grey Friars.  Resene Ted April 2024 |
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Q. What are the best whites and neutrals to use in an apartment which has all day sun? A. Cooler toned whites and neutrals are best with all day sun. I suggest not using the lightest variants of whites, as this might produce too much glare in some rooms. Consider colours such as Resene Alabaster, Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Black White, Resene Double Black White, Resene Kinship, Resene Quarter Linen, Resene Concrete, Resene Milk White, Resene Quarter Lemon Grass, Resene Half Merino, Resene Wan White or Resene Quarter Ash. Choose three or four that appeal and paint A2 card with two coats of Resene testpots and see how they appear. Warmer whites and neutrals are trending – the above suggestions include these – but are not too deep, so won’t be too yellow in a sunny space. From there you can look at accents of beige and taupe if desired.  Resene Kinship April 2024 |
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Q. We have a new build looking out over the sea. We've got an aerial shot of waves crashing on to a golden sand beach and we're trying to use this as our palette for the house. At the moment we've settled on Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay for the colour of the walls and were thinking we could add the blue highlights via artwork and sheer curtains. The ceiling and skirting/trim would be white. The carpet would be a sandy colour as well (maybe darker than the walls). I'm keen to hear your thoughts on this or any suggestions. A. Warmer, softer neutrals as opposed to whites are on point and Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay overlooking the sea is perfect – it is an ochre cream. You might like to also investigate Resene Half Biscotti or Resene Blanc, but these are more rose beige. They might be an alternative for a powder room or bedroom. The aerial shot for inspiration is wonderful and I agree, bring the blues and greens into fabrics, soft furnishings and art. A soft sheer, blue or green, won’t distract from the view. You might like to consider a duck egg blue like Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue, Resene Half Periglacial Blue or Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue or a soft blue such as Resene Half Halcyon for bedroom walls. These can be used together successfully. It is quite good to connect colours to rooms in different applications – so paint in one room, art in the same palette in a separate room or adjoining room, and linen in another – the colours don’t have to be exact and can be of varying strengths. Definitely bring in a soft white for the trims and ceilings – Resene Alabaster is always a winner. A sandy-beige or caramel carpet – a bit earthier again than the walls, will look great on the floor – carpet colours do tend to appear lighter on mass – but a carpet consultant will be able to show you samples, which will pair with your ideas.  Resene Half Halcyon April 2024 |
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Q. I was after a colour for our home’s concrete base which would go well with cream brick, either a blue, grey or white. A. I suggest a soft grey – white will be too clean against cream brick and a blue will draw attention to the base. Try Resene Foggy Grey. April 2024 |
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Q. We are building a house, rectangular in shape with lots of windows. The main bedroom, ensuite, TV room and lounge/dining get all day sun. We have painted the bathroom walls and ceiling in Resene Black White. We do not know what to paint the rest of house. I'm thinking Resene Alabaster for the ceilings. I like Resene Orchid White because it is a warm colour and Resene Lemon Grass for a feature wall in our bedroom. I don't know if this will work as I was wanting the coastal look but have gone and done white bathrooms with black features !! I’m so confused. A. Grey whites are typical for a coastal scheme, where there is lots of light, so you haven’t gone off course so to speak. Warmer whites can also be used, however, keep in mind that with bright light the yellow undertone can be highlighted more. I suggest you paint an A2 sample of Resene Orchid White and see how it appears in North facing light – also try Resene Half Orchid White – slightly less warmth might pair with Resene Black White better. The other option is to paint the ceilings and the walls Resene Alabaster – in bright light Resene Alabaster is actually quite warm and looks great coming off Resene Black White (good flow). Or you might opt to try Resene Half Rice Cake which is warmer. Sheen levels also help with the look and feel of whites – so a paint such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen which is a durable, low sheen, waterborne enamel with a silky feel – which means that for whites, a durable paint allows the finish to remain looking better longer and is easier to clean – a lower sheen is less reflective and therefore, creates a more enveloping atmosphere. April 2024 |
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Q. We’ve painted our bedrooms in Resene Quarter Tea with Resene Alabaster trim. Our roof, garage door and front/back doors are Resene Grey Friars. We’re unsure about what to do with the living area and the outside colour (all trims will be Resene Alabaster). For the living area we’re keen to do something different to the bedrooms and are leaning towards either Resene Sisal or Resene Linen. We’re then thinking of Resene Double Linen for the outside – but are not sure if Resene Grey Friars and Resene Double Linen will work well together? Any views on that and Resene Linen vs Resene Sisal for the living area would be much appreciated. A. You are on the right track as far as creating flow from the exterior to interior and throughout the home. I’d recommend a little tweaking, just so the colours harmonise – I suggest Resene Ash or Resene Double Ash for the exterior, it pairs well with Resene Alabaster and Resene Grey Friars. For the interior I suggest trying Resene Half Linen. April 2024 |
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Q. I've purchased a beautiful moody wallpaper which I intend to use as a feature wall in the kitchen. Now I am having trouble picking a paint colour to match. I either want a colour that is similar to the dark blue undertone of the wallpaper or a lighter colour. A. The wallpaper will be the feature of the room, so deciding whether to go lighter or darker depends on how you want the space to feel. Consider whether there is a lot of natural light and do you want the kitchen to feel more enclosed, moody and comforting, or open and spacious. A darker colour or one which matches closely to the background colour of the wallpaper will enclose the space and blend the wallpaper into the room. A lighter colour will open the space and allow the wallpaper to be the feature. It is a personal preference, but for a modern approach and to sit in the middle somewhere, I suggest a colour a couple of shades lighter than the background colour. I do advise that you visit a Resene ColorShop and take a sample of the wallpaper with you and look at colours similar, then choose colours a few shades lighter. Resene ColorShops have an instore colour library of A4 swatches which you can compare with the wallpaper, before purchasing testpots to try. April 2024 |
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Q. If we use Resene Half Sea Fog on the walls and full Resene Sea Fog on the doors, we were wondering if that would be enough difference? A. It really depends on how much contrast you want between the doors and walls. For a contemporary, sophisticated look it will work. The contrast will be subtle – this works if you have a lot of doors. For example, hallways tend to have multiple doors and sometimes the look works better if the contrast is subtle so the eye isn’t drawn immediately to the doors. Typically, I suggest going two shades lighter or darker for contrast if the doors are in good condition. The recommended paint for use on your interior doors is Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel – it is harder wearing than a standard acrylic, non-yellowing, fast drying and easy to clean. The semi-gloss finish will also add a subtle sheen difference from your walls which would normally be finished in a low sheen. Painting A2 card with Resene testpots of Resene Half Sea Fog and attaching to that to the walls, and Resene Sea Fog and Resene Double Sea Fog and attaching those samples to the doors will help you decide which look you prefer. April 2024 |
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Q. I am choosing between Resene Bud and Resene Green Spring for the exterior of our house. I love the intensity of Resene Bud but am worried it would look too dark in the shade. A. Resene Green Spring and Resene Bud are both fabulous pale sage greens. Resene Bud is what I would call a mid-toned colour – so, yes Resene Green Spring will reflect more light outside – all colours will appear lighter outside and it is only the shaded areas where they will appear a bit darker. It does depend on which area you are applying the colour to that is shaded, for example if it is the eaves, then yes Resene Bud will possibly be too dark, but if it is the shaded side of the house – then personally I wouldn’t be too concerned, as the other sides of the house may appear quite a bit lighter, so on the other hand Resene Green Spring may appear a bit too light for your liking. Consider sheen level – if the main walls are in good condition/new, and a weatherboard type cladding, then a waterborne semi-gloss paint, such as Resene Sonyx 101, will help to reflect more light if choosing the darker option. If the walls are masonry or old, or with surface imperfections that are quite noticeable, then a low sheen waterborne paint Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen is recommended, as the lower sheen will help to hide these imperfections. I suggest you paint A2 card with two coats of testpots of both colours and move around all sides of the house to see how they look at different times of day and in different weather conditions. April 2024 |
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