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’m a student and I'm studying blue. I need 100 facts about blue to pair with the 100 artworks I'm making. Despite much reading of books and searching on the internet I'm running out of steam at the 89 mark. I wondered, given that colour is your jam... if the colour team had any interesting facts about blue they could share with me. A. My suggestion to you is to include a few basic tips about blue, regarding interior design/decor, because that is where the colour is mostly applied. Here are a few to get you started:
If you search 'All things blue’ on the Resene website – more info regarding this fabulous colour will pop up. May 2025 |
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Q. I am after a green-grey for my daughter’s wall panelling. A. Try Resene Half Taupe Grey, Resene Quarter Taupe Grey, Resene Half Delta or Resene Quarter Tapa. May 2025 |
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Q. I am looking forward a pale pretty grey for our south/west facing lounge room and dining room. A. Warmer greys tend to work for this aspect of room but I have also included some cooler pretty greys as I feel these may appeal more to you – I recommend you try three and include a warmer grey so you can see the difference in the room. Painting two coats of testpots onto A2 card allows you to move the colour around the room. Try Resene Quarter Taupe Grey, Resene Half Cloud or Resene Eighth Napa – all warmer. Or Resene Athens Grey, Resene Half Rakaia or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey – all a bit cooler. May 2025 |
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Q. Could you please advise the best warm black to paint cement or plaster exterior walls next to a dark brown stained cedar? The idea is for the black painted area to disappear, rather than contrast, and definitely not to clash. I am thinking of Resene Double Diesel? What are your thoughts please? A. I suggest Resene Bokara Grey which is a lovely brown black or deeper Resene Element. May 2025 |
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Q. We have a new build and have painted our bedrooms in Resene Quarter Joanna. The hall is in Resene Alabaster. What’s the best colour to use on our new doors? A. I suggest you use Resene Black White – it looks great with Resene Alabaster and will pair with Resene Quarter Joanna but is of similar depth – so you could also try Resene Half Black White – which will show more contrast between Resene Quarter Joanna. May 2025 |
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Q. We are going to be undertaking a large renovation of our house this year. You’ve been really helpful so far in helping us select Resene Double Truffle for weatherboards, Resene Element for the roof and the garage door to match our Appliance White new joinery (it’s the only colour available in this type of joinery). The interior walls will largely be Resene White Pointer. The ceiling will be 'All things blue’ Black White. Floors are light oak. I’ve selected Resene Truffle for the kitchen wall cabinetry with brushed nickel hardware. I’d like to introduce a bit of contrast with a darker neutral for the kitchen island cabinetry. The bench top is Caesarstone Organic White. I’m not sure what colour would match Resene Truffle? I’d also like some suggestions for a tongue-and-groove feature wall in the living area and main bedroom if possible. I really like earthy colours and warm greys. A. The colour combos are sounding fabulous! For the kitchen Island try Resene Stonehenge, for the living room panelled wall Resene Half Fuscous Grey and for the bedroom panelled wall Resene Arrowtown. These are warm natural colour which will pair with Resene Truffle and your natural elements. May 2025 |
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Q. We have a 1920s weatherboard railway house that needs an exterior paint. The roof is COLORSTEEL® New Denim Blue we won't change. We are thinking of a soft blue or grey for the weatherboards with a white on the windows/trims to make them pop. We are not sure what to paint the porch and front door. Something colourful or complementary? A couple of options – one classic and one more modern/playful would be helpful. A. The following colours suit weatherboards and pair with New Denim Blue: For the weatherboards: Resene Double Duck Egg Blue, Resene Powder Blue or Resene Baring Head, paired with Resene Black White for windows, trim work, and picket fence with Resene New Denim Blue for the base and steps and Resene Ocean Waves for the front door. Or try a warmer palette of Resene Cloudy or Resene Half Truffle with Resene Tuna for the base and steps/porch with Resene Alabaster for the windows, trim work, and picket fence and Resene Sorrento or Resene Destiny for the front door. Resene Half Stack or Resene Gull Grey are also contenders for the weatherboards with Resene Quarter New Denim Blue, Resene Ebony Clay and Resene Black White as accents. Consider keeping the corner boards, plus the gable end, including the vertical trim of the gable end – all the weatherboard colour to soften the overall look – highlighting detail such as the windows, bargeboards, posts and picket fence with a white, and draw attention to the front door with a gloss finish such as Resene Enamacryl. May 2025 |
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Q. I'm currently decorating our spare room. We have painted our bedroom door Resene Half Ash as it is suggested as a complementary colour to Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream (which covers the rest of our living room/hall). We have left over paint from the rest of the house so plan to paint the ceiling, wardrobe doors and trims Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream too. I am looking for a colour to paint the walls and am leaning towards Resene White Pointer but don't want it to clash with any of the other colours. Our curtains and duvet cover will be a light charcoal colour. The room is east facing and does not get a huge amount of natural light. Do you think there will be any clashes with Resene White Pointer? Or could you suggest an alternative colour which we could consider? A. Resene White Pointer is a bit too cool toned for an east facing room bedroom and does not pair well with the other colours in my opinion. An east facing spare room works well with slightly warmer colours, making it more inviting and versatile – try Resene Half Ecru White or Resene Ecru White. Consider sheen levels to help with the ambience – Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen is a durable waterborne enamel which means it gives the added perception of warmth with its lovely subtle sheen and is easily cleaned. May 2025 |
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Q. I am working with a retail space that has a ceiling painted in Resene Highball. The flooring is also somewhat green/yellow. The walls need to be painted again, in a shade of green, but the current selected Resene Summer Green is too pastel-ish. I am looking for a few colour suggestions for the walls that would work better with Resene Highball. A. It might be best to stay within the tone of Resene Highball. Try Resene Green Days, Resene Green Smoke, or a colour similar to Resene Summer Green but less blue – Resene Caper. May 2025 |
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Q. I am looking to paint the interior of a house that is primarily south facing and most of the rooms are quite dark and feel quite cold. I am thinking of Resene Blanc for the walls and Resene Quarter Blanc for the trim but am getting stuck at the ceiling. Would Resene Eighth Blanc or Resene Alabaster work? A. Resene Blanc is a good option. It is a lovely warm neutral. I suggest Resene Alabaster for the ceiling, Resene Eighth Blanc might be appear with a pink undertone on the ceiling. May 2025 |
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Q. We are looking to repaint our deck. Our initial thoughts are something light/sandy coloured. That won't get too hot and it will need some grip so it's non-slip in the wet. The interested colours we've done a paint test with are Resene Half Grey Olive and Resene Coral. The house is a light blue grey with white joinery. The fencing is Resene Element. I have found out the house colour is Resene Surrender. Does that affect your suggestions? We were originally keen to avoid greys and look for something a bit warmer, while keeping it quite light and forgiving with dirt marks. A. Try Resene Truffle – it is not perfect with a cool toned grey like Resene Surrender, but if you want sandy and warm it might work. Note that colours look lighter on decks and all light colours will show marks. Alternatively, try a colour that is light and co-ordinates well – such as Resene Quarter Surrender. Resene Non-Skid Deck and Path is the recommended product – note that non-slip products are a little harder to clean. May 2025 |
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Q. We are repainting our exterior. I think we want to keep the two-colour design that we have, but with different colours. I have considered recoating the existing green with Resene Deep Teal, but am not sure where to go after that. We imagine keeping the trim white and roof silver/light grey, but want advice on all of the exterior and more modern options please... any ideas you have starting from scratch! But preferably not a monochrome light and dark grey palette and not all white. A. Try Resene Bush for the green – Resene Deep Teal may appear a bit unnatural in your environment. I suggest you repaint the base, porch, and steps Resene Bush, the roof, gutter and fascia Resene Atmosphere and the eaves, windows, windowsills, railings, and handrails of railings – Resene Quarter Black White. The deck you might like to paint Resene Atmosphere. For the weatherboards I suggest Resene Quarter Linen – a green tipped neutral. Changing not only the colours but also a few areas of colour to lighter options will brighten and modernise the overall look of the house. May 2025 |
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Q. What colour from the Resene BS5252 chart would you recommend to match weathered bronze? It’s for a heritage building. We are painting the window frames and sashes, but would like to leave the bronze spandrels below the windows in their natural finish. A. I did look at bronze related colours from the Resene 5252 chart – like Resene Birch – but it is too khaki and could be a mistake next to the natural weathered bronze. Try Resene Uhi from the Resene Heritage colour chart – it sits between Resene Bunker and Resene Bokara Grey. It’s darker than both, but is not as grey as Resene Bunker or brown as Resene Bokara Grey, and has a lovely warmth to it. In natural sunlight it seems to take well with bronze tones. If you can’t specify from this palette, or find Resene Uhi is too dark, then Resene Bunker or Resene Bokara Grey will work. May 2025 |
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Q. This beach house needs painting. It has very sunny upstairs living. There is no direct sun in the bedrooms and the downstairs has concrete block walls. Could I use Resene Half Rice Cake throughout with standard ceiling white? I’m after an inviting fresh, soft but not stark white look. A. Yes, I believe the Resene Rice Cake family is a good option. Resene Half Rice Cake is warm enough for downstairs and the bedrooms, and hopefully in bright light it isn't too cream. To ensure you are choosing the best option – I suggest you also try Resene Quarter Rice Cake for the living areas – still not stark – and Resene Rice Cake for the block walls and bedrooms. May 2025 |
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Q. We are painting the outside of our house. We live on a farm. We have black window frames and a black roof. We like a light colour. Our cladding is plaster. The inside of the house is Resene Double Sea Fog and Resene Alabaster. A. Keeping it light will suit the architecture – consider Resene Wan White, Resene Quill Grey, Resene Triple Black White or Resene Poured Milk. May 2025 |
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Q. We’re converting a large garage into a second unit. The adjacent space will become an outdoor area, enclosed with fencing. We’re looking for suggestions on a modern colour scheme that feels cohesive but not too bold or out of place. The property has a long concrete driveway, a long fence, and a gate so if we decide to change the colour of the new unit, we may need to update the fence and gate as well for consistency. Would using a darker colour for the new unit make the space feel closed in or dampened, or would it still look sharp and balanced? A. I suggest you paint the garage a dark grey like Resene Half Baltic Sea or Resene Baltic Sea with a Resene Nocturnal roof – with this scheme you may need to change the fence to Resene Nocturnal. Alternatively, if you leave the fence colour then Resene Masala or Resene Half Masala for the garage might work with a Resene Porter roof – these colours pair with the brick and fence, but perhaps not so modern as the first option. May 2025 |
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Q. I am struggling to select a paint colour for my aluminium roof and your help is appreciated. I have a small three bedroom house with a low profile roof, near the coast. Built in the 90s it is clade with Hardiplank and all the joinery and the house is in Appliance White. The only contrast colour is the trim around the roof line, and the base board of the house, all in Resene Cod Grey. The garage door is COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey, which I could have painted to match the roof, or vice versa. I especially want a quiet light colour on the roof but am struggling to visualise and narrow the huge range of colours down. I am leaning to the grey’s or even a light blue that’s hardly a blue. Resene Geyser? Resene Forecast? Resene Half Surrender? A. In this instance the roof is typically painted the same colour as the garage, and it makes sense to paint your roof to match the garage door, otherwise the garage door does not tie into any substrate. I suggest you paint the roof Resene Gauntlet which is the equivalent of COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey – it is not considered a dark colour and will possibly appear lighter on the roof. May 2025 |
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Q. We're after a white for an interior that will work ok with existing wooden doors and frames, as we won’t paint those out for now. It’s a Far North property with lots of sun. It’s currently Resene Half Rice Cake but we’d prefer a bit less light reflectance and ideally more towards grey tone (but not too cool) than yellow/cream. Would Resene Sea Fog be an option? And ceilings in Resene Half Sea Fog. Any other suggestions? A. You could try a testpot painted onto A2 card (two coats) of Resene Sea Fog and see how you feel about it – it is a contrast to the warmth of the wood. If you want to enhance the native timber but not use a white that appears too warm – Resene Merino can be a good option. For the ceilings yes, half strength of the wall colour will create warmth rather than having a contrasting white which will further add to the coolness. Alternatively, if Resene Sea Fog is too grey and Resene Merino too warm – as it can appear this way in some lights – you might like to try Resene Half Sea Fog for the walls, with Resene Double Alabaster for the ceilings. May 2025 |
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Q. We have just completed some renovations to the exterior of our house. We have painted all the new cladding in Ironsand (looks good) however there a plaster wall and some brick work out the front we need to paint also, but we are not sure what colour. A. I suggest a contrast on the brick but earthy and in tone with Ironsand – try Resene Half Masala, Resene Quarter Masala, Resene Quarter Ironsand, Resene Greige or Resene Triple Truffle. For the fences and plaster walls – paint these Resene Ironsand – to keep it cohesive and simple, as there is quite a bit going on in the driveway area – plaster, retaining walls, fences, garage and brick. I am not sure if you are wanting to coat retaining walls but you have the option to stain this for a bit of textural difference – try Resene Charred Black or Resene Treehouse.  Resene Charred Black May 2025 |
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Q. I would like to get a colour suggestion for the windows and roof of our main house which we would like to paint Resene Ironsand. The windows are aluminium, and the roof is iron. The house is currently an off-white colour and is made of Hardiplank. A. I suggest painting the roof and guttering Resene Gauntlet (COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey) and the aluminium joinery Resene Half Sea Fog – Resene do have a powder coating range. To specify simple name the colour and code: Resene Powder Coating Half Sea Fog N94-005-102. If you are replacing the joinery – otherwise the paint colour and code is the same if you are painting the joinery. Consider painting the soffit Resene Half Sea Fog to match the windows and to keep the interior light (dark eaves, unless a minimal depth, can cut light into the windows), and it balances the scheme introducing the white elsewhere. If you would like to try a deeper roof colour – you can consider Resene Ironsand for the roof – this will make the windows pop more – so it depends on whether you want the joinery a feature, but this is an option. If you paint the joinery a darker colour the roof will feature depending on how much is seen, and if you paint the entire house dark – it might not work as there are no elements to break the colour for this type of house (apart from the natural timber railings). Also consider using a Resene CoolColour paint for the Hardiplank walls – as darker colours, attract heat and heat related issues – you have the perfect white base for a CoolColour paint. CoolColour paint helps to deflect heat away from the substrate, reducing these issues. If you do decide to use Resene Ironsand on the roof or elsewhere, I recommend using the CoolColour version for all the substrates that are to be dark – as there can be slight variations in colour otherwise. May 2025 |
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Q. I am looking to paint the exterior of my old bungalow house – Grey Friars roof, Resene Atmosphere shingles with a Resene Nero front door – with the weatherboards in Resene Half Villa White and the trims in Resene Quarter Villa White. I want it to look white but definitely not yellow and I was a bit worried that the Resene Villa White might look yellow. Will the other colours be enough to pull it back? I also love Resene Pearl Lusta and wondered whether changing out the villa for that would be better to worse in terms of a yellow tone. A. Yes, Resene Half Villa White might well appear too yellow and Resene Pearl Lusta will be worse in the fact it is a cleaner brighter cream outside. Resene Grey Friars and Resene Atmosphere will help to neutralise the yellow of Half Villa White, but not enough. I recommend you try Resene Half Cararra which is less yellow but with warmth and try it with Resene Double Alabaster for the trims which is a stony white to keep the weatherboards looking fresh. May 2025 |
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Q. Which Resene red for the front door would work best with Resene Ash walls and Resene Foundry garage door and roof? A. Try a wine red like Resene Cab Sav or a scorched red like Resene Red Planet. I recommend using a gloss finish, such as Resene Enamacryl, to enhance the red if the door is in good condition. May 2025 |
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Q. I am painting interior walls in Resene Half White Pointer – and our joinery is Grey Friars. I want a (warm) white for the doors and trim – but NOT cream. We are painting out a house full of 1990 beige-cream doors and trims. A. Resene Eighth Rice Cake, Resene Double Alabaster and Resene Half Sea Fog are all warm when paired with the Resene White Pointer family, without being cream. May 2025 |
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Q. I am helping my friend with her bathroom. We want to paint the walls/ceiling and the yellow existing bathroom cabinet. The bathroom window faces south. The bathroom cabinet is yellow and if you look up on the wall, the white that she's got in there looks quite blue/purple. Would you please suggest a white colour for the walls/ceiling that's warm but won't go, cream and won’t go blue or purple. What colour do you suggest for the yellow bathroom cabinet? What Resene product can we use to paint the yellow bathroom cabinet/benchtop? A. Try Resene Half Milk White for the walls. For the cabinet – it is a good idea to choose a colour from the wall tile – perhaps a warm beige/taupe – it is a bit difficult for me to see correct tones online but take home a few of the beige/taupe palettes from Resene and hold up to the tile – from there you can also test onto A2 card and attach to the cabinets. Try colours like Resene Half Truffle, Resene Cloud, Resene Half Perfect Taupe and Resene Quarter Stonehenge and see how they look with the lighting. May 2025 |
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Q. I'm currently re-bricking my house with a brown brick. And I want to strip off the old paint on the cedar weatherboards that the previous owners did. I want to use Resene Woodsman wood stain but am not sure what colour will work. The joinery is the old brown colour aluminium. The fascia is a type of blue which I can paint a different colour if need be. A. I suggest trying Resene Charred Black and Resene Treehouse to start with. Yes, the fascia/gutters should change – try Resene Ironsand or Resene Half Ironsand – which will pair with the brick and brown joinery – if the colour works with the roof. I suggest you keep the soffit white. May 2025 |
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Q. I'm painting my bathroom Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue and the rest of the walls Resene Half Tea. Which colour would work best for the trim/doors? A. I suggest you test Resene Quarter Black White and Resene Half Alabaster (a bit warmer) and compare with them with swatches of Resene Half Tea and Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue in the spaces. May 2025 |
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Q. Can you please advise a Resene colour match for Colorcote Terracotta? A. Resene Twizel is the equivalent to COLORSTEEL® Terracotta, I have checked the formulation and Resene Twizel is also very close to Colorcote Terracotta but not exact, however there is a custom match to Colorcote Terracotta available which can be tinted at your local Resene ColorShop. We recommend it is checked against the Colorcote sample, but as you are aware, sheen levels will also alter the match. May 2025 |
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Q. We’re going to be repainting our roof and garage door Resene Ironsand to tie in with the fence and gates. The house is currently Resene Triple Rice Cake with Resene Eighth Rice Cake trim but I’m not convinced this is the best option to connect the house with the orange brick fence, the pine deck and the Resene Ironsand. I’m thinking something a little warmer but not too dark. We tested Resene Half Napa but it looked a bit dirty next to the pavers. I was wondering about Resene Parchment, do you think this might work and could you please provide some alternatives. We could also stain the pine decking to complement the house and would appreciate ideas on this (the largest amount is on the north with entrance decking on the west and small deck on the eastern side). A. Yes, I agree, you do need something a bit more earthy to counteract the warmth and strength of the orange brick. Resene Half Napa can look grey on weatherboard type claddings – try Resene Truffle or Resene Double Truffle, I also recommend keeping your bargeboards, fascia, and soffit white – Resene Merino is great – but the current white may suffice. Yes, stain the decks so you get a natural, cohesive look – I suggest you try Resene Iroko. Resene Truffle or Resene Double Truffle, Resene Ironsand, Resene Merino and Resene Iroko all create a warm, welcoming cohesive scheme. Resene Parchment, I believe will also appear a bit too cream outside – but if you are drawn to it then by all means try it. Undercoat a few boards with Resene Quick Dry (available in 500 mL) and paint two coats of the samples within the white frame (leaving a white frame, which eliminates the effect of the adjacent colour). May 2025 |
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Q. Will Resene Double Tea clash with our COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey aluminium window and door in our new house entryway? A. No, they shouldn't clash as they both fall within the warm and neutral spectrum. If you would like to modernise and have a slightly cooler main colour you could try Resene Triple White Pointer in replacement of Resene Double Tea. May 2025 |
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Q. We're renovating a kitchen which is south facing. It doesn't receive any direct sunlight and is quite dark. We plan on making the windows bigger to help with light and we've decided on Resene Quarter Bianca for the wall colour to give brightness and a hint of warmth, but we're struggling with a colour for the kitchen cabinetry – we'd like just a hint of colour. The kitchen leads to the hallway and bedrooms (which are sunny) which are painted in Resene Quarter Ash which we love. We've looked at using Resene Eighth Ash on the cabinets (feels a bit too dark), Resene Half Barely There (feels like the right amount of colour but maybe too grey?) and Resene Half Bianca (too similar and boring?). What are your thoughts on those options and do you have any other suggestions? We're happy with either hints of grey or beige – not fussed either way as we have these colours mixed together anyway in our furnishings. Ceiling and trims throughout the house are all Resene Alabaster. A. Your instinct on what colour to use is spot on – the combination of Resene Quarter Ash, Resene Half Barely There and Resene Quarter Bianca is fabulous and Resene Half Barely There is not too grey for the cabinetry, especially if you have these tones in furnishings. May 2025 |
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Q. We have some Humepine, as well as James hardie bevel back and shiplap cladding to paint. We would prefer more simple colour like white, grey and timber like colours. The only limitation is that for Humepine, we are limited to LRV 45+. The roof and joinery colour is matt black. A. To replicate timber with a paint finish is not a great look – as paint being a solid finish will either be brown, red or ochre undertones when choosing timber colours and not natural. You could opt to use a dark brown but with your matt black joinery I am inclined to suggest a palette that complements this of grey, charcoal and white. The substrates that can take a darker colour – I would keep both colours in close tone – not too much contrast – use the white and black joinery/roof as the contrast. Consider a combination of Resene Sea Fog (a versatile white that isn’t too stark – as whites do appear brighter in sunlight), Resene Scarpa Flow and Resene Half Baltic Sea – a warmer dark grey. This is somewhere to start – there are variations of course and if you want a brighter white consider Resene Half Wan White or Resene Black White. May 2025 |
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Q. I am trying to choose exterior colour combinations for a home we are renovating. I would like to freshen it up. Thinking something like Resene Grey Friars for the roof and Resene Double Concrete for the weatherboards with maybe Resene Half Black White for trim. I would like that soft grey with fresh white trim look. Not sure if I have the right greys. A. I like the direction you are heading, Resene Half Black White will work well for the trim, including window trim, bargeboards, and soffit. Try Resene Double Concrete – it can be warm and not quite so fresh but does work well with the combination of colours. For your home I also suggest trying two paler fresher greys such as Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and Resene Half Iron. May 2025 |
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Q. I hope you can give me some advice about the external colours for our house – window joinery and facade. I'm planning to replace some windows and part of the cladding, as well as painting the rest of my house in Southland. We are on a limited budget, the focus is on increasing the thermal performance and keeping the cladding in good shape, while trying to minimise the maintenance. The house was built as a crib in 1969, with a double storey addition 10 years later. Both are monopitch. I don't think it was architect designed but it actually looks quite modern and well balanced in a way. It's not facing the lake directly but the light can be quite sharp in the summer, and we get fog in the winter. It's surrounded by basic, mostly 1970s houses, so I would like it to fit in. We have fabulous views from the top storey, we are facing the mountains and beech forest of Fiordland National Park. I have to choose the colour of the window joinery which will be one of the standard Fairview colours. What would you suggest, please? I haven't thought about the internal colours yet, but I'm more inclined to natural, soft, warm rather than sleek, clinical. Blue is not a big favourite in our family. We are not minimalists, not with a seven year old daughter and multiple hobbies. So the joinery would have to fit in this respect both in and out. The windows that remain for now are anodised thin Al profiles. I envisaged Resene Ironsand for the facade on the single storey, and a lighter colour for both levels of the addition (both the block and fibre cement planks would be painted)? Resene Ironsand because when we reclad and reroof the rest of the building at the back, it's one of the iron profiles and colours available locally, reducing the price significantly. It does seem to work really quite well around here, too, I like the range of colours it displays in different light. Once we reroof the addition we may go for a lighter roof colour as it works better with PV that we have planned. I'm not sure what to choose for the lighter colour. The street side faces west – south west, so it gets a lot of sun at the peak of summer. There will be a new veranda under the balcony at the front possibly with a wood cladding. It's quite low, just over 2100mm, so vertical perhaps? Again, this gets a lot of summer sun. Shall we stain or paint it? The slider on the balcony will be replaced with a somewhat smaller slider, so the cladding will have to be replaced – perhaps the timber again? The picket fence is staying for now but will get painted, and my daughter would love a colourful front door. A. If you are not replacing all the windows at some stage, then my recommendation is to choose a standard colour closest to your original colour – Fairview may be able to advise better for this as the colours online are not accurate. The timber windows of the single storey if not being replaced can be painted to match unless silver, then they can be addressed different to the two storeys as it will have a different colour cladding – Resene Ironsand will work well for the cladding. Yes, I recommend painting both storeys of the main dwelling – consider a natural warm, colour that complements Resene Ironsand and the environment, such as Resene Triple Ash which will look lovely with macrocarpa. I suggest you keep the macrocarpa natural – a clear coat will help protect the timber – check out Resene Timbercote. Consider keeping your picket fence white. For the front door – a blue green will look lovely with the other elements – try Resene Guru for a bright fun door, or Resene Retro for a sophisticated colourful door. A gloss finish, such as Resene Enamacryl, will further enhance the colour. May 2025 |
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Q. What colour is referenced in the CODC district plan as 5B030? A. The old Resene colour codes are referenced – 5 BO 30 – since then they have been changed to: Resene Schooner BR63-014-075. The colour itself has not been changed and is part of the current Multi-finish colour palette. May 2025 |
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Q. I can't decide what colour to paint our door. Our weatherboards are a blue/green grey so have some colour in them. Would a colourful door work or should we be looking at something neutral because the weatherboards have colour. The deck/rails are going to be Resene Crowshead. Resene colours to try. A. You can put colour on your front door – but perhaps more subtle – try Resene Tangaroa or Dark Knight. Resene Tangaroa looks sophisticated, yet adds colour – noting that once the whole door is painted and if you choose a gloss sheen, such as Resene Enamacryl, there will be more impact. A red orange might work – try Resene Thunderbird. May 2025 |
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Q. I want to seek advice and guidance on exterior colours for my house. I have COLORSTEEL® Lichen, which I'd like to repaint before replacing it due to costs. I'm trying to extend the life at this point. Our roof is New Denim Blue (COLORSTEEL®). We have replaced very old tea tree as the banister on our deck with bamboo. We used a maple/honey finish. There is a lot going on now with the colours. The doors downstairs have just been refinished with a stain. Not sure what the colour is but it took forever to do, so we'd like to keep them as is. A. To balance the blue of the roof and the brown aluminium windows I suggest a deep warm charcoal for the corrugated cladding – it will modernise the house and the corrugated iron can take a dominant colour – try Resene Fuscous Grey it is not black – and is available as a CoolColour paint which helps the iron to stay cooler in summer. For the bargeboard, fascia, soffit with rafters – one option is to stain it the same colour as the timber – this will balance the overall look – as there is none of this colour at the top level which can make the house feel like there are too many different colours. Alternatively with the darker corrugated cladding that should help to soften the effect of the stained joinery so you could opt to paint the bargeboards and fascia Resene Fuscous Grey, with the soffit and rafters a soft neutral such as Resene Double Merino. May 2025 |
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Q. I'd like some advice on which white to choose for my bathroom which is currently being renovated. It's fairly small but with a large north facing window so it gets a lot of light during the day. The cupboards will be natural plywood (coated with Resene Aquaclear Natural), two walls will be Resene Green Meets Blue as I feel this will go best with the existing tiles, which I want to leave as is. So I need a white that works with these elements. I'm also happy to hear any suggestions of other colours for the feature walls. I don't have a particular style I'm going for, but the rest of my place is pretty eclectic-natural timber furniture, Persian rugs, lots of art and plants. A. I think Resene Green Meets Blue is a beautiful match and is a current colour which is going to continue to be on point for quite some time. Try Resene Merino for the white – with the light it should bring some warmth, hopefully without being too yellow or cold, alternatively, try Resene Double Alabaster. May 2025 |
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Q. We are having the main part of the house painted Resene Sea Fog but would like each of the bedrooms to be painted different colours. Three of the bedrooms, including the master bedroom, gets the sun all day. The fourth bedroom gets no sun and is on the cold side of the house. The main colour in this room is Resene Half Rice Cake. I am wanting a cosy and calm feeling in these rooms. A. Resene Sea Fog is a versatile colour which will pair with many other colours in a home – look for a hero in each room for inspiration – this could be a piece of art; duvet cover or furniture style. Consider any colours you have used elsewhere and when the room is being used and by whom, for example East facing rooms can make great study/bedrooms because the light is brightest in the morning and to capture that warmth all day a warmer colour like a rosy beige might work, where in west facing rooms the light changes throughout the day so if the bedroom is used mostly at night cooler colours like blues or greens help to balance the warm light. The colours I suggest trying are on the softer to mid side so that you can paint all walls – which will create a modern effect. Try Resene Periglacial Blue, Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue, Resene Merino (for a warm white alternative to Resene Sea Fog – you might want to use with colour and pattern on the bed for example) and Resene Half Joss or Resene Serene. May 2025 |
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Q. I have a house with Titania joinery. It’s close to the ocean and surrounded by bush. I’m undecided what colour scheme to go with as I personally do not like the joinery colour and it is annoying me choosing colours to complement it. A. I agree with Titania joinery being tricky to pair with. I have found the best option is to work with the undertone and choose a slightly deeper tone, so that the joinery blends. Try Resene Half Ash – slightly more shadowy than Titania and a little deeper/green grey or Resene Half Tapa for a deeper colour again and contrasts with the warmth of Titania. Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Quarter Taupe Grey also might appeal. The current blue is perhaps making the Titania look more prominent as I have found blues don't really work so well with Titania – although they are a typical coastal colour – the grey greens might also appeal as the sea is not always blue! With these colours – consider painting soffit an off white – such as Resene Sea Fog for with Resene Half Ash, Resene Merino with Resene Half Tapa and Resene Quarter Taupe Grey or Resene Half Ecru White with Resene Foggy Grey. The bargeboards, base (currently grey), garage door and timber railings could all be a darker grey such as Resene Quarter Gravel, which will pair with any of the above suggestions, or paint the bargeboards the same as the soffit. There are deeper variants of all the colours mentioned. Alternatively, stay classic coastal and consider Resene Double Sea Fog which does work with Titania, you could then paint the entire house Resene Double Sea Fog, with a darker grey base, garage door and timber railings like Resene Nocturnal. May 2025 |
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Q. We have just had our three bedroom brick and tile freshly painted throughout in Resene Quarter Bianca. I am now looking to add interest to the open plan/lounge dining area with one feature wall in the lounge – perhaps another in a complementary colour in the dining room. We have an off white kitchen with a burnt orange splashback. I love greens and wondered which green would work best with the slightly creamy Resene Quarter Bianca? And what might go with the green wall in the dining room? A. Resene Green Meets Blue is a fabulous green and is currently on trend and will be for time to come – it's becoming quite the classic muted green with a slight hint of blue which pairs well with the Bianca family – I suggest you try this for the larger room feature wall. For the smaller space try Resene Robin Egg Blue – keeping it cohesive in tone – but much lighter as this space with one wall painted can close it in, if a darker green is used. May 2025 |
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Q. I want an exterior colour to complement the timber cladding of the new extension. I want a dark colour – the roof and gutters are COLORBOND® Basalt. A. Try Resene Fuscous Grey – the warm earthy undertone can complement the neutral tones of a basalt roof and harmonise with the warm light timber and add a bit of depth and richness, to soften the contrast try Resene Half Fuscous Grey, or for a different grey – Resene Half Grey Friars. I recommend keeping the soffit white. May 2025 |
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Q. What colours will be best for resale? A. With homes like yours I tend to believe a dark colour will give impact – and painting the brick will give a cohesive look, as at present my eye tends to jump from one colour to another – as you also have different joinery colours it appears. A darker colour will effectively hide the two different joinery colours – as the bottom level will blend, that alone will help, even if you choose not to paint the brick. Painting the frames (presently white) around the darker windows will also create a simplified look, so the potential buyer is looking at a cohesive, modern exterior. I recommend you try Resene Fuscous Grey for the brick and cladding – keeping the windows, soffit and fascia white, the white you choose depends on the white joinery – possibly Resene Wan White might work nicely – it doesn't have to match exactly. If you are keeping the brick – try Resene Bokara Grey with Resene Wan White. Dark colours on cladding do retain heat – a CoolColour version will help reduce heat related issues and it is a selling point to potential buyers – I recommend if you choose to use a CoolColour paint that you paint the brick as well in this version, so the colour is consistent. Alternatively, if you want to keep the house a light colour consider Resene Triple Truffle with Resene Alabaster windows, frames (top level only) fascia and soffit. Painting the brick will make a lighter scheme appear modern. Pale warmish neutrals, dark greys and warmer dark neutrals are good sellers. May 2025 |
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Q. We are repainting a portion of our house that we are giving an uplift to. It is an entranceway, laundry and hallway that goes to the garage and an office + second bathroom. We are putting vinyl planking down which will be in the colour bolsena. I have chosen Resene Soothe for the entranceway/porch, Resene Eighth Lemon Grass for the laundry, and possibly the hallway too, but there are also four doors that need repainting and am a bit lost as to what colour these should be please? The ceiling is currently white and will be staying white. We are also looking at getting new laundry cabinetry put in and wondering what colours would work with the Resene Eighth Lemon Grass? A. Your colour scheme is gorgeous – the colours harmonise well. I do suggest you bring in white to keep it classic and doors are not easily repainted – consider Resene Alabaster for your doors which will be in a semi-gloss to add further contrast – typically Resene Lustacryl is the preferred product as it is a durable waterborne enamel suitable for doors and trims. For the laundry cabinets if they are having a paint finish then try a deeper white such as Resene Merino – to balance the other colours – this allows you to bring in accents – like deeper greens such as Resene Yucca for accessorising etc – or if it is not a paint finish then a darker timber like a dark oak will work. May 2025 |
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Q. I want an exterior colour to go on our weatherboard house that will go with the cream brick. It is currently similar to Resene Grey Olive. I’d like a grey. A. Resene Half Tapa, Resene Half Taupe Grey or Resene Foggy Grey are my suggestions to pair with your brick, charcoal roof, and white windows. These will complement the warmth of the brick and the coolness of the roof, to create a cohesive look. May 2025 |
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Q. Resene Wan White for the walls looks great. I chose Resene Baltic Sea as a feature wall in the lounge. Now that it is up it does look quite blue. I was hoping for more of a warm charcoal, maybe more brown charcoal. I might have it redone. Can you recommend a charcoal that would work for this? The joinery eventually went in as a plain charcoal, not Windsor Grey as discussed (they couldn't do Windsor Grey) I have had the joinery colour matched as Resene Foundry. I thought this might have been a bit dark for the feature wall but maybe not? A. Yes, Resene Nocturnal and Resene Fuscous Grey are warmer, Resene Foundry does have warmth but maybe not quite enough. How dark to go depends on how much light the room receives. Resene Boris is softer than Resene Foundry and these colours will appear deeper at night. Resene Kina Brown is lovely – browns are currently the new charcoal! Resene Monkey is a walnut brown that might also work. Try Resene Foundry however as a start. May 2025 |
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Q. I am looking for a paint as white white as I can get not cream or grey like pure white – can you recommend me the best pure white you have so I can then order online? A. The purest white is Resene White as it is untinted, however, all whites are susceptible to the effects of lighting, and they can pick up on the colours of surrounding objects. It is a lovely white. May 2025 |
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Q. We are painting the walls of our main bathroom. We have had it tiled – floor, shower wall (three quarters up wall), and sink splashback. It’s a mid-grey tile with a natural stone pattern. The trims around the walls, door frame and window are timber – oak/cedar colour. The cabinetry is white, with fixtures in chrome and a large mirror. The room is south facing with one small window. The room is 202cm x 275cm and 240 cm from floor to ceiling. What paint colour would you recommend for the walls. I am not conservative or traditional in my tastes and I really do not want a neutral. I like Resene Scrub but am worried it is too dark. A. Dark greens can be a good choice, but it is essential to consider the shade and how it interacts with the existing lighting. There needs to be adequate lighting – both artificial and natural, Resene Scrub might be a bit too dense and earthy as you only have one small window. A warm white on the ceiling can also help counteract the coolness of green. I feel a green will work – try Resene Smoky Green or Resene Tic Tac Toe. May 2025 |
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Q. I have some rough sawn Abodo cladding in Ebony, which is adjacent to rendered blockwork. Resene has been specified as the paint for the render but with no colour though the architect has gone with a light colour to contrast to the Ebony she didn’t actually specify a swatch. As it is external and the block walk runs from the pathway to the roof I am conscious that we while we need a light colour, I am not sure about white as it will show dirt and marks, but would be interested in some colour options. This is for a studio that sits underneath an existing house. The house itself is an old villa and will likely be painted white when finished to contrast to the studio. A. A light grey might work better for you as all colours appear lighter outside – depending on shadowing from eaves and decks etc. When choosing the villa's white – ensure with the following light greys to choose a true white – not a cream or warm off white – so perhaps a greyed white or cool toned white for the villa. I suggest you try Resene Double Concrete, Resene Surrender, Resene Quarter Silver Chalice, or you could try Resene Double Sea Fog or Resene Triple Sea Fog. There are lighter variants of the above greys if you find they have too much colour. May 2025 |
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Q. I am going to paint my house a pretty pink (not the most popular choice) and will have a Gull Grey roof – this can't be changed as it has been ordered. I am looking at Resene Vanilla Ice. Will it go alright with Gull Grey and what whites would work for all the trim? A. Resene Vanilla Ice might appear a bit more purple/pink than appears – it won't pair so well with Gull Grey. A pink that looks lovely on weatherboard is Resene Blanched Pink and will pair better with Gull Grey. Pink will be enhanced outside so do consider this before choosing a pink that is too clean as it is a big job to repaint and purple pinks for example will fade quicker. Pinks look great on timber claddings mostly – I am not clear what the substrate of your basement is, but if it is not weatherboard reconsider pink here – perhaps use Gull Grey instead – the equivalent Resene paint colour to Gull Grey is Resene Atmosphere or you might like to choose Resene Half Atmosphere for a softer approach. For the trims – windows, railings, posts, eaves and bargeboards I recommend a warm white that isn't too cream, so it freshens the pink – try Resene Half Orchid White. If you love a particular pink then it is your house at the end of the day – we can only guide you to what we think is best overall. My one piece of advice is to ensure when you look at Resene Vanilla Ice or similar pinks, it gives you that happy feeling and you truly love it without doubt. Alternatively, you could choose a muted pink like Resene Blanched Pink and choose a brighter pink for the front door (if applicable) and pots/plants/outdoor seating etc – there are a lot of ways to bring in pink outdoors – which can be changed out for other colours seasonally or when you feel ready. This can be a creative way to upscale your house. When you are ready to repaint inside – or perhaps the rooms most evident from outside looking in – then prettier pinks look great indoors – you could then accent with colours that appeal. May 2025 |
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Q. I am trying to colour match my ceiling, I was told by the contractors that the paint used was Resene Black White. However, when I ordered a testpot of that paint, it doesn’t match, it leaves a noticeable darker patch on the ceiling. Do you reckon this is not the same colour? Or could it be an issue of different sheen? Is it possible to order a testpot in various sheens? A. Sheen levels can affect a colour – ceiling paints are generally flat paints where testpots are low sheen. Testpots are produced for sampling colour only – we cannot cost effectively hold in store or make testpots for varying sheen levels – particularly considering that different products are used for different areas, which can once again affect the colour slightly – for example wet areas such as bathrooms typically have a waterborne flat enamel on the ceiling where living rooms will have a standard acrylic flat ceiling paint – two entirely different products, but same sheen. If the patch looks darker – it is more likely to be darker than the colour on the ceiling – I suggest you try lighter variants first such as Resene Half Black White in a testpot, or a sample is required for the staff to match instore. If you are repainting the entire ceiling, then I recommend choosing a white that works for your colour scheme – it is very tricky to do touch ups on ceilings as even the exact same colour can look different due to fading and wear and tear of the old paint. May 2025 |
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Q. What green goes with pine in a Lockwood bathroom please? I’m looking at doing a green custom vanity but a lot of green samples look grey in there. A. What depth of green are you looking for? It sounds like the greens you are trying are from the sage spectrum so that's why they may be too grey in a bathroom with low light especially. Have you tried Resene Half Rivergum and Resene Spanish Green (might still be too grey), Resene Olive Green for a deeper green is more yellow based but this will pair with the timber, or mid greens like Resene Smoky Green or Resene Xanadu. A softer green like Resene Robin Egg Blue or Resene Half Robin Egg Blue, might appeal. May 2025 |
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Q. We want to paint our house and would love some ideas on colour schemes. The house is currently grey grey grey, like a battleship! We would like it not to be grey, white or beige! The front yard is being converted into a garden and orchard, so in ten years I expect there to be loads of trees, colourful flowers and general vegetation textures and colours. Our neighbourhood is wrapped in tall bushy hills to the south and east, with lots of tall deciduous trees, and we have a stream next door where ducks and pukeko live. I've always wanted a bright yellow house, though I've been told yellow paint needs lots of layers and fades quickly, so now we're looking at other ideas. I've looked at some pics online, but find it hard to imagine what colours would look good on our particular house! We have a large shed (ex garage) down the end of the driveway, so maybe we can paint that yellow so I can get my yellow fix. A. I like the idea of green for your house and with a Resene Grey Friars roof, a deeper natural green like Resene Double Lemon Grass with a golden yellow door and white trims could work quite well. Try Resene Golden Tainoi or Resene Sunbeam for the yellow. This will blend with the environment and the golden yellow opposed to a sunny yellow just feels more in tune with your surroundings. For the shed – if it is not visible to the house you could paint this a sunny yellow – but I feel it needs to be on the softer side – consider a buttery yellow like Resene Golden Sand. I recommend you use a CoolColour version of Resene Double Lemon Grass as darker colours absorb heat and the CoolColour paint will help reduce heat related issues, while the colour looks the same. May 2025 |
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Q. My husband and I live in the states (he's a Kiwi) and are having a transportable built in NZ. We are trying to choose colours for a home being built. We're looking for a nice colour to go with Resene Balderdash, as I seem drawn to that. I don't know if Resene Balderdash will be the main colour or accent colour in the middle setback of the house. Our house will be three bedroom and we will choose black window and door frames. A. Resene Balderdash is a great colour! To help with your decision making – perhaps consider the fact that if you paint the recessed part Resene Balderdash it will recede further – probably why the examples are mostly an off white, this also then balances the bargeboard which is white. I recommend a deeper grey /white for you with Resene Balderdash, to complement the black joinery, such as Resene Triple Sea Fog. Colours do appear brighter outside – but if you want a slightly cleaner brighter white consider Resene Half Wan White. May 2025 |
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Q. I would like outdoor gold paint that looks like real gloss gold for a bronze sculpture. A. Check out the Resene Metallics and Special Effects brochure online for our range of golds. Gold will require a basecoat first. Resene Gold and for exterior use – I recommend a clear glaze on top – Resene Clearcoat UVS for protection. May 2025 |
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Q. We have recently painted our wooden door frames Resene Alabaster. Our wall colour is Resene Wan White from the Karen Walker Paints collection. We are seeking some guidance on what colour to paint the doors. They are currently plain wooden varnished doors. We will also be painting the large window frame with the blinds in the photo. Would we be best to stick with the Resene Alabaster to match the frames or Resene Wan White to match the walls or is there another colour combination? A. I recommend you paint the window frame the same as the door frames, to balance that side of the room. For the doors I suggest trying Resene Half Wan White – it will soften the Resene Alabaster and is not as dark as Resene Wan White so the contrast won't be as much with the framing – also it is quite nice to have a palette of closely related whites – the subtle differences in undertones can enhance the visual appeal. May 2025 |
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Q. Could you please tell me if ordering Resene Half Alabaster vs Resene Quarter Alabaster, which would be whiter? A. Resene Quarter Alabaster is whiter/lighter. May 2025 |
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Q. We are going to be painting the walls for our whole house (except bathrooms) before we move in to the new house. We are thinking a light modern grey. The ultimate goal will be grey carpet, white kitchen (wooden floors) and new drapes. What shade of grey might you recommend or would a more neutral colour be better? A. It is best to have an idea of hard materials first – as there are many light greys but limited undertones with flooring/carpet, especially drapes we recommend choosing first. A grey that you might like to try is Resene Half Athens Grey. May 2025 |
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Q. I’m painting my house, the roof and base are going to be Resene Coast colour. I’m undecided on walls. I chose Resene Streetwise, but should I go lighter or darker, or stick with shades of the coast colour for the walls, also painting my fence Resene Ebony Clay. I want it all to tie in with the deck which is Kwila and my new doors which are cedar pine. A. It really is personal choice – but I like the subtle contrast of the slate blue (Resene Streetwise) with Resene Coast. I feel that it is a nice blend for an exterior, where if you go to a softer shade of Resene Coast such as Resene Watermark it might look a bit flat. All these blues work with Resene Ebony Clay, and the existing colours you have in place. May 2025 |
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Q. I need a light neutral for a bathroom with very variable lighting. The wall to the right of the window takes on a green tinge from the greenery outside the window. It looks much whiter on the left than the right. I need a neutral with a hint of pink to neutralise the greenery. The window faces southeast. The feature tiles, chosen 15 years ago, are a colour similar to Resene Eighth Oilskin, like a purply brown. The new cabinetry will be soft walnut with a white truffle stone top. I currently have Resene samples for Resene Eighth Truffle, Resene Eighth Tea, Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Eighth Akaroa and Resene Eighth Bison Hide. I am however considering Resene Half Blanc now too. I would love some advice on a good choice to suit the tiles and neutralise the green. A. As far as counteracting the green – you have to like the red undertones of a colour for this to work for you – some people don't like the pink undertones and compromise with a hint of grey or even green to embrace the outside colour – it is a compromise – using a red (pink) undertone might help to neutralise the green, but it doesn't counteract the pink undertone if that makes sense. Try Resene Half Albescent White as this works well in low light rooms with green. Try also Resene Rice Cake or Resene Half Rice Cake – it has the warmth and a bit of grey which also counteracts green. I feel with your samples the colours are all too light, so they are not going to counteract enough, and the lighter variants of these colours will throw pink. Try Resene Half Truffle and Resene Truffle – compared to the depth of colour you have now – it will feel lighter. May 2025 |
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Q. I am looking for a white suitable for exterior of house with an LRV of 75 or more. Roof and gutters are Sandstone Grey. Window frames are Ghost Grey, and possibly garage doors also. Would like to create enough contrast with window frames without it being too bright white. A. I suggest Resene Double Black White or Resene Sea Fog – they will appear brighter and whiter outside – if either are not white enough for you – you could try Resene Black White but this is quite bright and can create glare. May 2025 |
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Q. I have an old Devonport villa we are renovating and wondered if you can help with some colour options. It's a bit dark in some rooms so looking to lighten up, possibly a Resene Thorndon Cream with Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream on the trim? But interested in other options. We also have a lounge with a bay window where we were planning a British Colonial look, palms with polished kauri floors etc it also has a pressed tin ornate ceiling. We were wondering about a colonial light blue/green on the walls (warm not dark), then a white that would show off the feature ceiling, do you have any recommendations for those areas? Also what sheen would work on a feature ceiling? A. Try Resene Ecru White with Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream or Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream for the trims. For the pressed tin ceiling I recommend Resene Alabaster – I quite like a higher sheen level on pressed tin than say a plasterboard ceiling. For a modern take on a colonial style room and a soft, warm look try Resene Double Duck Egg Blue, Resene Half Washed Green or Resene Beryl Green, or you might opt for a neutral like Resene Triple Thorndon Cream. May 2025 |
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Q. I'm looking for a good colour for interior doors and skirtings. We currently have: walls in mostly Resene Half Villa White, with accent walls in Resene Nero and Resene Prussian Blue, kitchen cabinets are Resene Longitude. Currently doors are a brown/grey but I'm looking for a more neutral grey which will go better with the kitchen. But bathrooms have beige tiles so I can't go too far into blue tones either. I’m looking for a mid-level grey colour, not too dark but not pastel. A. Some blue greys work well with beige – depending on the beige undertone. I suggest you try Resene Half Gull Grey, Resene Half Silver Chalice, Resene Kensington Grey or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey. May 2025 |
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Q. I've just painted my lounge walls in Resene Thorndon Cream I'm not finding it as warm as I would like, I wouldn't mind a colour a little bit darker, I'm thinking about Resene Half Perfect Taupe. It does have pink undertones, have you got any recommendations? A. How rosy Resene Half Perfect Taupe appears depends on the aspect of light in the room. You might also like to try Resene Half Truffle, Resene Albescent White and Resene Parchment. May 2025 |
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Q. I’m struggling to know what colour to paint the walls in this room! The curtains will be copper/brown colour, which is also on the daybed and stool. I don’t want to paint over any of the Rimu. I’ve tried multiple different test colours, I don’t love any of them. A. Rather than trying to contrast with colour – as you already have the golden yellow, copper red and warmth of the Rimu, I suggest you work with the tones of the daybed – try Resene Copper Rust, Resene Coral Tree, Resene Double Tea, Resene Foundation, Resene Otter or Resene Almond Frost. May 2025 |
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Q. Our beach house needs painting. It’s very sunny upstairs living. No direct sun in the bedrooms and the downstairs has concrete block walls. Could I use Resene Half Rice Cake throughout with a standard ceiling white? I’m after an inviting fresh, soft but not stark white look. A. Yes, I believe the Resene Rice Cake family is a good option. Resene Half Rice Cake is warm enough for downstairs and the bedrooms, and hopefully in bright light it isn't too cream. To ensure you are choosing the best option – I suggest you also try Resene Quarter Rice Cake for the living areas – still not stark – and Resene Rice Cake for the block walls and bedrooms. When choosing whites, it is important to choose the right product and sheen level to maximise the effect, and to keep the finish looking better for longer. I recommend Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for all walls as it is a durable low sheen finish which means it is easy to clean and gives the white a softness – Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner is a great little product for spot cleaning finger marks for example, without leaving 'smudge marks' as some cleaners do. May 2025 |
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Q. I am working on my interior colour scheme. Resene Opal for the master bedroom with Resene Alabaster trim, ceiling and doors. Resene Sorrento for the second bedroom with Resene Alabaster for trim etc. Resene Double Alabaster for living area and Resene Alabaster for trim etc. I had Resene Bali Hai picked for the third bedroom which is quite dark but it looks a bit sludgy with the testpot. I am wondering about Resene Halcyon. Would this work with the other colours? A. Yes, Resene Halcyon should work well and a better balance than Resene Bali Hai which is just a tad too murky as you say, with the other colours. Resene Frozen is another blue I considered – but is a bit cooler. May 2025 |
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Q. I have a wooden handrail inside that is finished in a clear finish that I want to add some colour to, while still seeing the timber grain. Ideally I’d like it to look more reddy brown. A. You will need to de-gloss the existing varnish first (sand it and wipe off the sanding dust) and then apply three coats of Resene Aquaclear Satin with Resene Colour Enhance Red Brown added. A fine sand and wipe off the sanding dust in between coats can improve the overall finish. You will need to do a test area in an inconspicuous spot until you are happy with the colour/result – start with smaller amounts of Resene Colour Enhance – if you can get an offcut of similar timber this might be a great way to do tests of the colour. Or the other option is to sand it back and apply Resene Colorwood interior wood stain and then finish in Resene Aquaclear Satin clear polyurethane. May 2025 |
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Q. I am putting brushed copper tapware with a matte black towel rail, shower trim and other accessories. I was thinking of matching this with a beige wall paint. Would this work? A. That’s a lovely combination – it depends on what you want to convey with the colour – a beige will work but if it has too much depth it will blend into the finishings. If you want the black and copper finishes to be enhanced then a lighter beige with a bit of life to it will do this, such as Resene Fossil. May 2025 |
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Q. We've just bought a Summerhill stone place with a green tinge. We need to repaint the cladding and roof but are unsure which colours would liven up this old place! A. I suggest Resene Half Ash or Resene Ash for the fascia, gutters, (green) gable end and soffit. For the roof and garage door try Resene Grey Friars. May 2025 |
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Q. I am looking for a complementary colour for a kitchen dining area which gets strong afternoon and evening sun in the Wairarapa. Orange toned matai floors and Resene Sazerac painted ceilings, doors and cabinetry are the main colour. I’m looking for advice on a complementary blue. Resene Quarter Powder Blue feels too warm so I’m looking for a cooler colour. I tried Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue but it doesn’t work so well with Resene Sazerac. Any suggestions? A. I suggest you try a deeper blue – it might balance better with the strong floor and Resene Sazerac. Try Resene Blue Moon, Resene Comfort Zone, Resene Frozen and Resene Spindle. May 2025 |
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Q. We are building and our large deck will have exposed beams that are stained with Mission Brown. The outside of the house will also be stained in this colour (rustic) with some panels painted black. What colour would you suggest for the ceiling of the deck? I'm thinking something in light grey. We do not want white or cream. A. Try Resene Quill Grey – it has warmth to complement the warmth of Resene Mission Brown. May 2025 |
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Q. I was wondering about restaining/painting my fence in summer. I have previously repainted earlier this year using the oil based Resene Woodsman stain. I opted for Resene Crowshead, but it has turned out browner than I thought it would have. The pedestrian gate and driveway gate are FlaxPod. I was wondering about painting this in Resene Element. A. Resene Element is the paint equivalent to FlaxPod, so this will work. I recommend you try a testpot before making a final decision – use two coats to assess the colour. May 2025 |
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Q. My house is painted Resene Gauntlet with some trellis stained Resene Charred Black underneath. I have a new shed being built against the concrete block wall under the house and I was wondering what colours in the green or blue range would complement these colours. A. Is there a reason why you want the shed to be a feature – green or blue? Your scheme is quite earthy and depending on what the shed looks like – most sheds look best blending into the exterior scheme – but this isn’t necessary of course. My initial thought it to paint it a colour like Resene Element which complements both Resene Gauntlet and Resene Charred Black. If you are wanting more colour – then a green like Resene Rivergum might appeal, a blue like Resene Watermark or a grey blue like Resene Half Tuna. Resene Charred Black May 2025 |
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Q. We are doing a new build and I am a little stumped on colour for the main bathroom. We have chosen dark tiles for shower and floors, rustic vanity timber drawers and concrete top, gunmetal accessories. I was thinking a green tone but open to thoughts. A. This will be a very stylish bathroom with a strong industrial feel – therefore I suggest you embrace the style and use a darkish green or blue which has a coloured undertone, but muted so that it complements the moody vibe – plus I am assuming the bathroom is not well lit – so a hint of colour will stop it feeling flat. I will recommend two options in each family – one with a bit more colour – as lighting will affect how grey the colour appears, and a paler option. Try Resene Rhino or Resene Avalanche for grey blues; Resene Raven for a pale blue grey. Or Resene Dark Slate for an earthy green based grey or Resene Green Meets Blue or Resene Rolling Stone for softer green grey or Resene Inside Back. May 2025 |
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Q. I am having Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta doors and skirting. Does Resene Quarter Tea go with this as a light neutral? One large room doesn't get much light so I even wondered about making walls and trims both Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta but thought that might not look very stylish. A. Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta is a bit yellow next to Resene Quarter Tea, which in turn can bring out the magenta in Resene Quarter Tea and make it appear pinkish. Resene Half Tea will be better as having more depth the pink is not so evident next to the light cream. Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta can look stylish on the walls and trims. Consider Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for the walls, a durable, low sheen waterborne enamel, which means being a durable paint, the light walls will remain looking better for longer. Trims and doors are typically Resene Lustacryl a semi-gloss waterborne enamel because it creates contrast when using one colour and it is harder wearing. May 2025 |
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Q. We are currently having our kitchen and bathroom renovated. I need a white for the walls in the kitchen. Our cabinetry is a light wood and we do have some shelving that is pistachio. I do not want a bright shiny white. What would you suggest? A. Try Resene Merino or Resene Half Merino – depending on the natural light – for example, full strength might appear warmer, if the light is bright or there is plenty of windows – so therefore half strength might work better. Shine is more from the product you use – consider Resene SpaceCote Kitchen & Bathroom, which is a durable, low sheen, waterborne enamel. It will give a subtle sheen to the walls and being a durable paint the white will remain looking better for longer. May 2025 |
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Q. We have painted our external entry in Resene Element and have almond windows but are not sure what other colours would go with it for the rest of the house? A. Try Resene Triple Truffle for the cladding – or a lighter variant such as Resene Truffle. The darker variant should balance the depth of Resene Element and pair with the almond windows. May 2025 |
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Q. I am a 13 year old teen girl I don't know what colour I should paint my new bedroom walls I like pinks and blues. A. It’s exciting being able to choose a new wall colour! Things to consider helping with your decisions – what mood do you wish to create/convey? Are there lots of windows with good light or does it feel quite cool and has low light? Is there a particular look you have seen you like? Blues and pinks come in many different tones – muted blues (those that are not clean and bright) are easier to live with and are more neutral, so they can work with various styles. Airy, pale blues are cool toned, so suit light filled rooms. Blues look good layered, so you might have soft blue walls with navy, teal, and white bedding, and perhaps an accent colour of yellow or terracotta for small objects in the room or this accent might be included in a patterned duvet. Blue is widely recognised for its ability to soothe and calm the senses, making it a popular choice for bedrooms – research also shows that blue can enhance focus and productivity, so it is good for a bedroom that doubles for study or general reading/media, or hobbies. Popular blues you might like to investigate are on the Resene Multi-finish Palette R48. Pink promotes a sense of relaxation, emotional wellbeing, and the lighter shades of pink, like blush or pastel pink are known to facilitate restful sleep. The deeper or richer shades of pink evoke a romantic and charming atmosphere. Popular pinks you might like to investigate are on the Multi-finish Palettes R5, R6 and R7 – (R7) for blush pink into corals. The Multi-finish palettes are available to view online and at a Resene ColorShop. Try Resene testpots of your favourites and see how they look in your new room. May 2025 |
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Q. We are painting the exterior of a 1970s fibreboard house. We have painted the roof Resene Grey Friars and the barge boards/soffits Resene Black White. The windows are grey aluminium. Are you please able to give us a few suggestions to consider for a colour for the fibre boards? We are thinking a blue/grey colour like Resene Dusted Blue but would like to understand what other colours would work with our scheme. A. Try Resene Dusted Blue – it can look great on fibre cement if a low sheen finish like Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen is used, as higher sheen levels can create a 'plastic look' on fibre boards. Low sheen finishes and flat finishes which give a weathered look such as Resene AquaShield hide imperfections which can be highlighted with fibre cement houses. Also consider Resene Triple Duck Egg Blue, Resene Gull Grey, Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Double Silver Chalice.  Resene Double Silver Chalice May 2025 |
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Q. What trim, architraves and windows white goes well with Resene Wan White walls? A. Resene Alabaster or Resene Quarter Wan White pair with Resene Wan White. Resene Alabaster is slightly warmer than Resene Quarter Wan White and a nice contrast against the Resene Wan White walls, adding visual interest and highlighting trim details. Resene Quarter Wan White is less contrast but still enough to see a difference – it is more in tone with Resene Wan White. It really depends on how much you want to detail these areas. May 2025 |
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Q. I am currently having my bathroom and ensuite tiled, in a dark grey (bathroom 1) and a light grey (bathroom 2) with mosaics but it was really unfortunate we were not able to tile up to the ceiling, so I have a bit of space between the wall and the ceiling, and I wasn’t too sure if I should paint the plaster on the wall similar to the tiles, or a completely different colour. I like the darker Resene paint to match the tile, but I don’t know if it would work. A. As you only have part wall and ceiling to paint – a dark colour, although cocooning, can feel very dark once on the ceiling – you would need adequate artificial and lots of natural light for this to work well. I suggest you choose a warm white with a bit of depth such as Resene Double Rice Cake or Resene Thorndon Cream. May 2025 |
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Q. We're building a home and are need some advice on the exterior colours. The roofing is COLORSTEEL, primary cladding is Resene Rockcote and secondary cladding is a vertical LMA timber. We were thinking something like FlaxPod for the roof, garage door and front door and maybe Ironsand for the Rockcote. Are there other recommendations you would suggest? We’ve checked the LRV requirements and been advised: The LRV 40% requirement applies specifically to fibre cement sheet substrates when used with Rockcote finishes. As the specified substrate in this case is Integra, there’s no specific LRV restriction. However, if the selected Resene colour has an LRV below 25%, it should be used in conjunction with RCS CoolPlast and Resene CoolColour systems to ensure warranty coverage. So it seems like we're okay to use a darker colour if we also use CoolColour and CoolPlast systems. A. Resene Ironsand is a great option – you might also like to try Resene Half Bokara Grey which is a little warmer or Resene Boris which is a less brown. May 2025 |
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Q. I want to repaint my house (along with the fence to match) as part of an external renovation and addition of a pool. We are trying to invoke a resort/holiday at home vibe. However, I don't want to replace the roof and guttering. We'd like to also paint the fence the same colour as the dark portion of the house, and then a contrast colour on the plaster. What colour should we paint the different sections of the house and the fence? The joinery is a beige/grey colour. The roof is blue/grey. For the resort/holiday at home feel I was thinking of more greens/browns like in Bali and Fiji etc. A. Try Resene Ironsand, Resene Half Bokara Grey, Resene Double Friar Greystone or Resene Half Masala. For the plaster consider Resene Merino or Resene Half Merino. May 2025 |
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