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. Hello, we have a property in Martinborough that we are wanting to repaint. It was built 2016 and is James Hardie Cement Weatherboard, currently Quarter Oilskin colour. It is still in good condition, but we want to give it a new colour and refresh. Can we just clean and repaint existing, or do we have to sand and prime first? We quite like Grey Friars for the main colour of the house but have an inset deck area that we would like to paint another lighter colour. What would you recommend going with Grey Friars as the lighter colour. A. You only need to spot sand and prime where there is flaky paint – otherwise a house clean with Resene Paint Prep and House Wash is suffice for a sound paint condition. If mould is present, then Resene Moss and Mould Killer is recommended before cleaning with Resene Paint Prep and House wash. I suggest you try Resene Half Stack – it creates a balanced look when paired with Resene Grey Friars, especially if you have crisp white trims. Alternatively, you might like to try a warmer hue like Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Quarter Taupe Grey. August 2025 |
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Q. We have a lot of Rimu panelling on our home in West Auckland. We have beautiful views of bush from our windows. We have some light but not a lot of natural sunlight in most of the rooms. Except for the main bedroom we have a skylight. I would like to modernise through furniture and white/whiteish or linen bedding/curtains etc I am looking for a white or neutral paint for the walls which would help the house look bright and slightly more modern. I don’t want anything too creamy and was thinking of Merino but not sure if that would be too heavy. Thank you. A. Try Resene Half Bianca – it is a bit warmer than the Resene Merino family, but with low light, it might just appear the right white to complement Rimu, bush views and whitewash furniture with linen fabrics. Ensure to check the whitewash undertone – Resene Colorwood Whitewash is the perfect complementary white. Resene Half Bianca is a warm white without being too cream, and it borrows and reflects light – which will help to create a bright and welcoming space – you could consider using Resene Half Merino for the Master bedroom with the skylight, to create an interesting palette and make this room special – plus adding the skylight changes the dimension of the room. August 2025 |
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Q. I am trying to choose exterior colours for my home and am also needing to choose a roof colour for my replacement roof. I am keen to retain the red brick. I like the green and red brick combo, however also like the versatility of Grey Friars roofing – but can't visualise a combo of the three: red brick, Grey Friars and some sorts of greens (I think wall colours should be different to foundation and or highlight colour). My replacement inserts double glazed aluminium windows will be a white colour. A. A Resene Grey Friars roof can work very well with a red brick mid-century home, as it creates a sophisticated blend of traditional and modern aesthetics, enhancing the historic character of the brick whilst offering a fresh contemporary look to the overall design. Muted green/greys work well with this type of red brick – my suggestions are Resene Terrain, Resene Half Lemon Grass, Resene Half Tapa, Resene Ash, or Resene Karen Walker Foggy Grey. August 2025 |
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Q. We have a mid-grey floorboard with walls painted in Quarter Merino. I'm going to paint out the joinery/skirting boards and internal walls to white and have a blue feature door. Which blue would work? A. If you are happy to have a deeper blue – Resene Indian Ink or Resene Midnight Express could look fabulous for the door – in a semi-gloss or gloss finish such as Resene Lustacryl or Resene Enamacryl. For a softer blue you might like a classic navy like Resene Bunting. August 2025 |
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Q. We have painted our house with Resene Dune. Can you recommend a roof colour from Resene roofing paint that will look good with the house colour. We are in Fiji and will buy the paint from Lami, Fiji. I am attaching 2 photos. The dark colour is Mission Brown and the other colour on the weatherboards is Resene Dune. We are repainting some used tin roofing A. Try Resene Ironsand or If you want a bit more contrast you could consider Resene Element, which is darker but pairs well with Resene Dune. August 2025 |
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Q. We have a multi-story home, basement is concrete block, and weatherboard on the second floor. The joinery is white. We were wanting to use Gull Grey COLORSTEEL® roofing and wonder what colour would match with Gull Grey. We have tried the colours Quarter Silver Chalice and Concrete but think it may look too grey. The property is next to the beach so would like something to blend in with the surroundings. A. For a beachy feel try Resene Titania or for more contrast and an earthy feel try Resene Taupe Grey. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi, I have just purchased a weatherboard home, which is painted Duck Egg Blue (a shade that leans a little too green for me), and it comes with a rather hideous galvanised garage. I have attached a photo from the back yard. When you come up the driveway you see my house on the left, the grey garage straight ahead and another home next to it on the right – which is grey brick. It looks like my garage belongs to them! I would like to tie in the garage with my house but that does not mean it has to be painted DEB with white trim! But I'm not opposed to the idea if that's most suitable. If you think it won't look too tragically match, matchy in DEB, then I would like to select a base colour than leans more to the blue, as I will paint the house that colour in a few years. I would prefer the garage door and tilt door are a darker shade of blue rather than white, but happy with white trim. I'm sure you get a few people asking for DEB and expecting a blue rather than a green. A. In my experience there has always been those that lean towards a green duck egg and those in the blue corner! For your house I agree a softer blue/grey will work better with your roof so a softer blue on the house and garage will probably be the best option. Try Resene Quarter Powder Blue with Resene New Denim Blue for the roof and doors on the garage. (Back up option for the walls are Resene Half Gull Grey or Resene Longitude, with Resene New Denim Blue). You could also have the roof of the garage only in Resene New Denim Blue and a softer grey blue for the doors – Resene Regent Grey with Resene Quarter Powder Blue for the walls. August 2025 |
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Q. Working through upgrading our lounge now and I've put together a bit of a mood board for the vibes I'm going for. Also attached a pic of the current space. Was hoping you could suggest a couple of colours for me:
A. For the dining area – to balance the bright natural light, and to create the cosy atmosphere you are envisaging, I suggest painting the wall a green such as Resene Gecko or Resene Thor, as mixing greens and including naturals is a lovely style, alternatively, a textured wallpaper which is plain could work – I feel pattern might be a little overpowering in this space – view the textured wallpapers in greens within the Stories of Life, Tahiti and Curiosity collections. With greens the Merino family might pair well or investigate Resene Quarter Linen, trims will look nice a lighter variant or Resene Merino. The neutral will be dictated by the wallpaper or feature wall colour you decide upon – so choose this first and work your colours back from there. August 2025 |
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Q. I want to paint a large dining and living space, separated by folding glass doors. I have open in summer and closed off more into two spaces in winter. I would also like to paint my bedroom. I have attached some photos of the space I want to paint, and a photo of my favourite duvet. (Purple/Pinks). A. For the living and dining areas to pair with the beautiful timber and enhance the view – try a smoky soft green blue such as Resene Half Robin Egg Blue – this pairs nicely with whites such as Resene Alabaster. For the bedroom to bring out the colours in the duvet without matching exactly and to create a warm inviting atmosphere consider a soft warm taupe like Resene Martini, a green edged neutral such as Resene Epitome or a pale foam pink as in Resene Ebb. August 2025 |
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Q. I have a boutique hotel. Wanting to "boutique" 4 rooms. I have painted headboards rustoleum chalk paint "sensible sage". Want to paint walls in a colour – blue or maybe a pink/coral. Can you please help. A. Investigate blues like Resene Half Spindle or Resene Half Halcyon – which will appear greyer at night and bluer during the day – Resene Half Spindle or Resene Spindle the full-strength version will be bluer. You might also like to bring in a pale foam pink like Resene Ebb or a brown, pink oxide such as Resene Pearl Bush which is more neutral, with subtle pink/mushroom undertones, or a coral pink as in Resene Dust Storm. I recommend painting two rooms blue and two rooms the pinks – you can use 4 different colours or two rooms the same. The colours I have suggested are ambiguous, so that hopefully they will appeal to many. I recommend you consider the paint finish to really enhance the mood of each colour/room. Resene Space Cote Flat is like a chalk finish but a bit more durable – if you would like a harder wearing finish and a subtle contrast then I suggest Resene Space Cote Low Sheen. August 2025 |
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Q. I'm after some advice on colours for our house, that we have recently moved in to. It is a farmhouse style with wooden benchtops and larch floors with views out over the paddocks to the mountains. Spare bedroom – currently a lime green. Have just replaced the curtains and they are linen look from Briscoes. I would love the room to be restful, as my daughter stays in there when she visits from Auckland. I would like to use the hummingbird wallpaper below at some stage, so if we could potentially do something that works with that as well, that would be amazing. Lounge – we find it very cream/yellow looking. Could we do the likes of linen or a white that would be inviting? With all the wood, it probably feels warm but kind of dirty if that makes sense. Hallway – is dark and long and again a bit yellowy...any ideas? A. Consider a plain textured wallpaper for your hallway – it is so long that I feel it needs a bit more than colour – the Resene Wall Textures V is a great book – check out the online collection and visit your local Resene to view. A linen type of colour will work well or perhaps a soft sage green. For the lounge I suggest Resene Half Merino – and take the colour over the ceiling – as there are a lot of windows which break up the wall space. You might like the dirtier full-strength Resene Merino, but it may appear warmer on the ceiling – if the ceiling is not being painted and is white you could then try Resene Merino. For the bedroom – consider a pink beige like Resene Contented or a silvery grey with a hint of blue green such as Resene Tasman, or a duck egg like Resene Double Duck Egg Blue. August 2025 |
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Q. I have curtains that have green and pink flowers on a creamy yellow background. In some lights the background looks neutral (linen/white/cream colour), in others it looks very yellowy. I would like to paint the walls of the room a colour that makes the background colour of the curtains look LESS yellow. What do you recommend? The rest of the house has walls in greens and blues and a dusky/neutral pink if any of these would work. But the main objective is to make the curtains look less yellow/whiter. A. A neutral grey or a cool grey with a hint of blue, a light slate blue or a sage green can reduce yellows visual impact. Changing the backing colour of the curtain can also help greatly or introducing sheers in a light silvery grey behind the curtains are also ideas to help change the look of the curtain background. August 2025 |
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Q. I have outdoor furniture painted with Resene Timber and Furniture Gel. Now after a few years it needs repainting, but Resene doesn’t have the gel in a Jarrah colour. Can I paint over with Jarrah stain, or have you got any suggestions. A. Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain (oil-based) is a great alternative to Resene Timber and Furniture Gel. Woodsman is a fully penetrating stain that sits in the grain of the timber. The Timber Gel needs to be weathered enough for this application to be successful. We recommend washing the existing timber gel with Resene Timber and Deck Wash, to help remove any coating build-up up. If there any areas left where the existing coating is still surface forming, we recommend sanding until water droplets can sink into the timber rather than bead off. Resene Japanese Maple or Resene Cherrywood will be the closest to Jarrah stain – however, if you visit a Resene ColorShop you will be able to view the colours on timber in store. August 2025 |
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Q. The wall colour is Half Truffle. The furniture is Pearl Lusta. The furniture needs a repaint as it is too cream/yellow in my opinion. Also scratched!! What colour would be best to match the Half Truffle but be whiter than Pearl Lusta? A. Try Resene Half Rice Cake or Resene Chalk Dust. August 2025 |
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Q. Should exterior base boards and windowsill colours match the colour of the roof which is a dark green colour. A. No not necessarily – it depends on the style of architecture and what look you are trying to achieve, and whether you like the colour of the roof. It is a current trend to keep the windowsills the same colour as the windows, often a variant of white, and the base a complementary colour to the roof or sometimes a bit deeper in shade than the main cladding. Colours are selected which enhance or disguise aspects of the design – for example, painting the base a dark colour can ground a house – lessening the visual impact of height – and is this something that you want to achieve and will it enhance or modernise the overall appearance. August 2025 |
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Q. We are getting a new Sandstone Grey roof and some new double glazing in Titania, struggling to find a colour scheme that works. House is a 1920s roughcast/stucco with fibre cement cladding on the gable ends. We live rurally and surrounded by big hedges. We have used an app that has suggested colours, but not sure if they will work. A. When getting recommendations with apps just keep in mind that this is a broad idea and doesn’t consider adjacent homes/colours, the environment, the aspect the house is facing and the undertones of colours. For the exterior cladding consider Resene Double Rice Cake – it has an earthy edge on your type of substrate – or consider a colour which tones with the grey/green undertone of Resene Titania such as Resene Half Ash or Resene Ash. Testpots onto an undercoated substrate are recommended. August 2025 |
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Q. I am building a new home and will use appliance white as my joinery and Flax Pod roof/garage/door. What exterior colours work best for plaster and James Hardie vertical linea board feature? I want more of a tone between colours rather than contrast. A. Resene Ironsand for the Linea with Resene Double Truffle for the plaster work well together with Appliance White and Flaxpod. There is generally an LRV rating of 40% plus for colours with new plaster so the contrast will be within the building code, but these colours together are earthy that share undertones. August 2025 |
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Q. We are building a new house. We are looking to paint the outside in Triple Black White along with black bricks. The inside we are thinking of painting all the walls the same colour, with a separate colour for the skirtings. The inside is monochrome – black kitchen doors with white tops and splashback. The floors will be in a warm oak colour. The bedrooms and hallway will have a dark charcoal carpet. The bathroom tiles will also be dark grey. We have not picked curtains/blinds at this stage. We are thinking we may go with Half Sea Fog for the walls and Half Alabaster for the skirtings, but as there are so many neutral colours, we are struggling to pick the best one. We will have a lot of natural light in the kitchen/lounge area but will be less light in the bedrooms. Any other colours we should consider? A. If there is a lot of natural light – Resene Half Sea Fog might be a little warm – you could also consider Resene Black White for the brighter areas, Resene Half Sea Fog for bedrooms, with Resene Half Alabaster trims. White on white schemes create visual interest. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, we have an old 70's bach that is currently faded green roof and ochre, orange exterior walls, horrific. We are looking to paint the roof in Flaxpod and looking for a warm dark paint to do the walls, tonal, maybe slightly lighter in walls? They are fibre light material. Maybe something like Wood Bark? Ironsand? Any ideas would be appreciated, thank you. We have done a dark house before and failed miserably. A. I like Resene Ironsand with Flaxpod. It does depend on your window joinery colour. August 2025 |
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Q. We're building a new house in Auckland; the house is using Flax Pod COLORSTEEL® for roof and windows framing. The house uses a mix of horizontal bevel-back weather board and vertical axon board for cladding. I am thinking to paint the vertical part using a dark colour like Flax Pod or Ironsand, and paint horizontal part using a light colour like Merino or Rice Cake. Which combo works better? One of the houses has a large retaining block wall at the bottom. I am going to plaster and paint it. What colour should I use? Should it match the light cladding or dark cladding or have its own colour? A. I suggest Resene Ironsand for the Axon as it is a bit softer, with Resene Merino for the weatherboards, this combination with a Flaxpod roof, retaining wall and joinery is complementary. August 2025 |
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Q. I am planning to paint a ceiling and possibly some trim in Thunderbird. The surface is unpainted gib. What colour grey should I use for the undercoat? Can you suggest a programme/app where I can test colours in my room? A. Resene Varishade is a light grey that is tinted into Resene Quick Dry primer/undercoat it is suitable for overcoating with Resene Thunderbird, Varishade is not suitable for a wet area – just pop into a Resene ColorShop and enquire. EzyPaint is a virtual painting tool that allows you to see the finish before painting. Use EzyPaint to create a quick colour scheme/change using the galley of interior images or you can virtually paint your own home. August 2025 |
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Q. I am very confused that this photo, showing a blue-grey wall, is supposedly Resene Tapa, which is described as a smoky grey but looks brown to me in the testpot/swatch online. A. This is how photography and printed colour is not an accurate way to view colour, but it does give you a feel for an overall look you might desire. Resene Tapa is a stony grey – it can appear brown or slightly blue green depending on the amount of natural and artificial light in the intended space, adjacent colours, and the aspect of the room – lighting has a big effect on how a colour appears. Testpots are the most accurate way to view colour when applied correctly – two coats onto a neutral background so an undercoated substrate or A2 card is available @ Resene to purchase. August 2025 |
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Q. I have blue joinery, and this will stay. I want to modernise the colour on the base. It is tricky because of the concrete driveway coming down. A. Try a darker grey then it won't clash with the driveway – a grey with a complex undertone will create a nice modern base. Resene Shuttle Grey, Resene Gauntlet, Resene Solstice, or Resene Half Tuna. With darker colours we recommend using a CoolColour version of the paint to help minimise heat related issues. If the base is solid concrete, then this is not necessary as there is already a saturated colour existing. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi team, we've just had our cedar weatherboard house stained with Woodsman English Walnut. I’d love to be recommended some new colours to replace the green trim and for the red brown that some other areas of the house (metal garage, hardy plank sunroom) were painted to match the old stain and were not included as part of our refresh. (I'm assuming we can't use the same stain on the metal or hardy?) We want to paint the beige brick white, and the window and roof trim will all be white too. Sunroom. Could you suggest a colour match to the English Walnut in a paint please? We have a sunroom that is hardy plank that will not be English Walnut stained and want to colour match as closely as possible to the cedar English Walnut. It already looks slightly different red/brown than house cladding. We are open to a completely different colour too. Garage. Could you suggest what colour to paint the garage structure? Perhaps we should go consistent and do the English Walnut paint version too? It's metal. Trim. Could you suggest perhaps a totally different colour, to use where there is currently green? Green front door, green garage door, green carport door, green trellis etc. Maybe we would do the small deck on side too? A. To unify the property, I suggest replacing all the green with the suggested match to Resene English Walnut which is Resene Blackout – but also try Resene Bokara Grey which is a bit warmer. The white will give relief, so I wouldn’t introduce another colour – the sunroom will look disjointed if you paint it another colour. If you are looking for a new soft white – try Resene Sea Fog. I suggest you use a CoolColour version of the new colour – as dark colours do retain heat. For painting and prep pop into your local Resene and have a chat to the staff – there are also good tips on the Resene website – or email advice@resene.co.nz. August 2025 |
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Q. I would like to paint a zincalume shed in 'canopy' to match my pine fence that is stained canopy. Could you please tell me how to match this colour in a paint. Attached photo shows that Charcoal, Eternity, Marshland and Karaka are poor matches. Thanks so much. A. Matching a stain to a paint is never exact as one is a solid finish and the other semi-transparent, then to try and coat the match onto a different substrate so a match on wood to zincalume is going to create further issues to get right. The closest Resene match to Canopy is Resene Karaka – I have checked with the colour lab and put the timber sample and colour swatch together. If this doesn’t work for you then I suggest that you look at other options such as what colour is your roof or garage doors – and match the shed to the roof (which is very common), or if the roof/garage doors is an undesirable colour to you, then perhaps instead of trying to match the green – choose a deeper complementary colour which blends – you could try Resene Thunderstorm and Resene Element. August 2025 |
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Q. Would you have any suggestions for a dark colour like a dark green to paint a small bedroom. Ceiling and wall. I’m aware this can make a room feel small but it's a tiny room. I still want it to be warm. A. I feel a mid to deep green will work well with the blues and be perfect for colour drenching and grounding this bedroom. Try Resene Rivergum, Resene Cabbage Pont, Resene Paddock, Resene Palm Leaf or Resene Vantage Point. A blue green like Resene Green Meets Blue could be fabulous but is cooler. Consider sheen level and the type of paint when colour drenching – to add softness and a lovely velvety finish to the walls I suggest Resene Space Cote Low Sheen which is a durable waterborne enamel, which means the finish remains looking better for longer and can be easily spot cleaned with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner. August 2025 |
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Q. I'm choosing internal colours, and we'd like to go with the pretty tame "Merino" for the interior walls. What would be your recommendation for ceiling and window / doors trims and skirtings please? A. It really depends on whether you want the trims etc to have contrast – if the doors and trims are nice then you may want to highlight them with a popular trim white against Resene Merino, such as Resene Alabaster, or if you want them to blend a bit more, consider Resene Quarter Merino. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, looking for a colour match to "COLORSTEEL® Slate" window joinery for exterior Hardies Axon grooved 400mm sheet cladding (assume Lumbersider low sheen cool colour or similar), so that we can provide this code to our painter. A. The equivalent Resene colour to COLORSTEEL® Slate is Resene Porter N32 001 088. August 2025 |
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Q. We have a 1960's two storied house – Grey Friars stucco base and currently looking at combinations to modernise it for the top storey – it has timber with vertical battens – wooden joinery which we want to keep white as well as barge boards that will be white. A. Try Resene Triple Black White, Resene Neutral Bay, Resene Ted, Resene Gull Grey, or Resene Silver Chalice. I recommend you keep the bargeboards, soffit, and windowsills white. August 2025 |
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Q. I would love some advice on the right colour for the fence and bricks around our pool. I have tried Ironsand but it looks too heavy and strange against the orange bricks. A. Try Resene Half Fuscous Grey, Resene Half Baltic Sea or Resene Masala. August 2025 |
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Q. I am looking to repaint my house. Attached is the current colour scheme – white ceiling, light beige wall, slightly darker skirts, doors and window frames. I would possibly like to change to white ceiling, white skirts, doors and window frames with a light grey wall – the pic I attached is Agreeable Grey – I have tried Resene Half Truffle, but it appears darker than Agreeable Grey, and more beige – Our kitchen a warm white (attached picture). Please make a recommendation. A. Agreeable Grey is more beige than grey as it appears in the pic – in fact Resene Half Truffle is paler than Agreeable Grey in reality. Printed colour is not accurate – so it is best to try a couple of colours and view in the space so you can get a feel for what works. You might also like to try Resene White Pointer for a slightly cooler greige – the trick is to find a light grey that will pair with the existing warm white – most greys look better with cooler whites or brighter. Changing your trims to a brighter white will help to lighten the overall look. Resene Alabaster is warm without being too yellow. The colours mentioned are greyer than beige, depending on the light this could become warmer or cooler, but they are not quite as warm as a traditional beige – which often has a yellow undertone. August 2025 |
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Q. I love the colour Resene Wafer, and it would look good in my daughter’s bedroom. Her blinds are velvet like the colour Resene Urbane. What would a slightly paler shade of Resene Wafer be to make the room less pink. A. Try Resene Dawn Pink from the 5252-colour range. Sometimes lightening a colour can make it further pink – but softer, if this is the case and it will depend on the light in the room, then you might want to try Resene Ebb, Resene Spring Wood, Resene Contented or Resene Inspire for different tones. I recommend Resene Space Cote Low Sheen paint for the walls – it is a waterborne enamel, which has low odour and is environmentally friendly, without compromising its durability – you can easily spot clean the walls with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there! I have booked someone to resurface this cork floor, and he can add a Resene colour to the poly, now we need to choose. We are thinking greyish but open to ideas. The walls and ceiling will be white; can’t change the blue cabinets or the amount of Rimu. What colour do you think the floor should be to match? A. I suggest keeping the look quite natural – try a colour like Resene Half Cloud a pale stony beige that works with blues and can offer a bit of warmth or a light grey like Resene Athens Grey or Resene Quarter Silver Chalice. I recommend you ask for samples to be done first – the applicator might have samples of cork that they can use and then send to you to look at on-site – ensure to look at the sample on the floor. August 2025 |
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Q. Is it ok to paint a kitchen ceiling Resene White. It is a darkish kitchen due to outdoor foliage despite windows and French doors. The walls will be Resene Paris White. The cabinetry is a Smokey blue / green, grey. The floor is light scandic wood. The splashback is white tile. A. Yes, it is common to paint kitchen ceilings white when you have a pale colour for the walls. If you are happy with a bright white – Resene White is a nice white – it is not as cold as some blue base whites. August 2025 |
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Q. We are replacing the exterior door and due to harsh weather conditions need to paint it (not stain). Roof and window joinery is Karaka green, and weatherboards are Quarter Tea. Interior colour is Half Merino (must paint inside and outside of door). What is a good colour to use? LRV must be more than 10%. Thanks. A. For a neutral I suggest Resene Double Stonehenge or Resene Outlaw (Range 2024). If you want a pop of colour – it will depend on what accent colours you have inside, but you could try Resene Raging Bull, Resene Navigate, Resene Deep Teal or Resene Tuscany. A gloss finish will enhance these colours and make them pop – and give extra dimension to the neutrals. August 2025 |
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Q. I am building a new build house – thinking I’d prefer white aluminium joinery, a dark colour steel tray roof and dark garage door. What colours are best on Rock Cote plaster with some feature James Hardie vertical linea boards that would go with white aluminium joinery? A. Consider Windsor Grey as your roof colour with Resene Half Black White for your joinery. See powder coating for more info. Some powder coated whites throw unusual tints such as yellow and blue – this you want to avoid as it makes changing cladding colours and interior design more challenging. Options for plaster which will create a modern and sophisticated aesthetic with a good balance of light and dark tones are:
August 2025 |
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Q. I’ve chosen Baltic Sea to do exterior roof and trim, do you recommend full Baltic Sea or Half Baltic Sea? Can you also recommend a shade of blue or a colour that would complement the exterior walls please, and a colour for my fence. A. Colours do appear lighter outside, so Resene Baltic Sea might be better. The fence might look good tied into the roof – Resene Baltic Sea or even Resene Half Baltic Sea for just the fence, especially if it is full height and close to the house. If you prefer to stain the fence (if it has not been painted previously and any existing stain has weathered) you might like to try Resene Tiri a medium grey or Resene Shadow Match a soft charcoal – or Resene Crowshead a creosote black. Colours to try which will work well with white windows such as Resene Black White, are Resene Dusted Blue, Resene Ted, Resene Breathless, Resene Nebula, Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Stepping Stone and Resene Half Friar Greystone. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, just sent online form about what colour to paint our fascia and boards above windows. Hope you can help, I've been thinking about it for years and just don't know what colour would work. We're not afraid of a bold look but also happy with something that just looks smart. A. Your house has a cool vibe and even a hint of a mid-century modern look, with the grey blocks which I like, and the deep fascia’s/eaves, therefore complementing the new denim blue and strong lines of the house I feel a bold neutral will look best. Try Resene Cod Grey or Resene Ebony Clay – both are near blacks which have interesting undertones, so they don’t appear flat. Alternatively, you might like to investigate using a brighter grey white like Resene Black White so that it contrasts with the block and joinery. I recommend Resene Black White for the soffit with any of the above suggestions. Talk to Resene staff about prep for your woodwork – it you do choose a dark colour I suggest using a CoolColour paint to help reduce heat related issues associated with vulnerable substrates and dark colours. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi, I have a 1928 Bungalow with low light in the hallway and kitchen. I have used rice cake in part of the lounge. My kitchen has different shades of white on the whiteware and I want to know please whether to use Rice Cake or Double/Triple Rice Cake. Or the slightly warmer Double Villa White on the upper walls, the lower walls are matai or Rimu, and the floors are Matai, with a dark green benchtop. I was hoping for a beachy look and may at some stage paint the Rimu/matai wall boards Quarter Rice cake. The open plan lounge will likely be Half Rice Cake. Can you advise on the best colour for the kitchen upper walls, I want it warm and bright but not too yellow, to go with the mismatched whiteware. Thorndon Cream seems to look too grey. Double Villa White looks brighter than triple rice cake, but whatever I use it needs to go well with the Rice Cake family. Can you also suggest a neutral colour for the kitchen cupboards, also next to the mismatched whiteware. The other colour I'll be using for the kitchen wall tiles is possibly a pale-mid aqua type blue. A. Depending on the layout of the kitchen, it may be that the upper and lower walls become the same colour within time. If the lounge is open plan, then is it viable to change the kitchen walls to another colour – is the kitchen separate or is there a clean break to the start of the lounge – something to consider. Without knowing the tone of the different whites existing – I would be looking at Resene Alabaster, Resene Quarter Rice Cake, Resene Half Rice Cake and Resene Bianca as a palette. For sheen levels and product types please visit the Paint Experts Q&A section. August 2025 |
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Q. We are in the process of getting our house repainted. The painter has recommended a cool colour paint. We want the walls in a very dark grey and the roof to be re-coated in black. A. I suggest Resene CoolColour Element or Resene Double Foundry – as they will tone with the windows and still contrast with a black roof. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi. We are going to repaint our house and would like some ideas on a new colour scheme. Currently the walls (shiplap) are Half Ash, windows are Quarter Ash, trim under window and brick foundation, garage door – Steel Grey. We have just had a new roof and spouting put on which is Grey Friars. We live in Levin, in town but have a mix of older and new houses around us. We have a lot of trees around us, Tui, Kereru etc. The front of the house faces south, the back north. Our balustrade alongside the front steps is aluminium and a steel grey colour (looks dark blue) and cannot be changed. We like greys, neutrals. Inside we have wall colours of Half Sea Fog and Snow Drift. Maybe the balcony balustrade could be a feature colour? A. A darkish grey will provide a solid grounded feel to the home, creating a balanced modern look. I suggest you try Resene Half Tuna or the softer Resene Half Stack, for both stories, with Resene Double Alabaster for the trims/windows etc to lift the scheme and modernise. The garage door/concrete steps can be Resene Grey Friars to match the roof. You might like to choose a more vibrant blue for the front door – layering blues is a good look – a colour like Resene Cobalt – The blues link with the blue Aluminium. August 2025 |
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Q. Couple of questions: Is Dulux Blue Charcoal the same as Resene Blue Charcoal? What are options for a dark grey paint with a blue tinge? A. As they are two different companies that use different tinting methods and bases – then I would say there will be a difference – I am not familiar with Dulux Blue Charcoal, however, from what I can see it is quite different. For Resene dark blue greys check out Resene Tuna, Resene Gunmetal, Resene Cinder or Resene Carpe Noctem (Range 2024). There are blacks like Resene All Black and Resene Invincible where the blue is enhanced outside, so it does depend on application and aspect, for example, interior rooms with ample light, the blue undertone can be pronounced, where rooms with limited or cool light, the blue may appear muted or even disappear. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, we are painting the main bedroom and were looking at a light blue tint. We are keeping the existing curtains, and the carpet will be a light grey. I looked at Quarter Frozen and Spindle/Half Spindle, but they are a bit stronger than what I am looking for. I have used Half Sauvignon in my daughter’s room which is lovely so was looking for something with a similar tone. The room is south facing and quite cold but does get a lot of natural light. If blue is not quite right, are there other colours you would suggest? I have used Bianca in the hallway and could possibly use that, but I did like the idea of having some colour in the room as long as it isn’t overbearing. I have attached some photos – excuse the mess! A. Blues with a slight purple or warm undertone help to warm the natural cool light of a south facing bedroom – layering blues looks great so I do think a blue might work – you can warm the scheme with warmer accent colours for accessories like bed linen and art. Try Resene Breathless, Resene Link Water, Resene Solitude or Resene Half Duck Egg Blue. If this doesn’t work for you – consider a smoky grey blue like Resene Smokescreen to wrap the colour around, and blues with less white appear warmer – or consider a neutral like Resene Cashmere – verging on coral. August 2025 |
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Q. We are upgrading and need help with colours attached is house as is and then plans, we were looking at a Flaxpod roof, appliance windows, and stack linea weatherboards. Garage doors flaxpod. A. Flaxpod is a popular choice in NZ environments, particularly when paired with lighter colours. Appliance White complements the dark roof and offers a crisp contrast. Resene Stack a warm, neutral grey can act as a bridge between the two creating a cohesive and balanced colour scheme. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi team. We are looking to replace our aluminium joinery and repaint the exterior. The roof and spouting (certain) are gull grey and won't be changed. Fascia is white. Any advice as to what colour would work well for the joinery colour, cladding colour, and probably want to paint the handrail also. Top storey is timber weatherboard. Bottom storey in is block. We are close to the beach. A. Two Coastal options for you: Resene Merino walls with Resene Titania loinery & handrail, and Resene Gull Grey N75 008 229 for the base. Resene Double Sea Fog walls with Resene Half Black White joinery & handrail and Resene Atmosphere for base (Atmosphere is the equivalent to c/steel Gull Grey. Resene have powder coat colours available. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi. Bought a house 2 weeks ago. Tried tester of Merino (too yellow for me), Sea Fog (didn't like), Double Sea Fog (also seems a bit yellow?). I don't want yellow. Gets a lot of sun in the afternoon. Would white pointer be less yellow? Or what do you suggest? Beige carpet. Live near the coast, have small view of water and mountain. A. Ensure you are testing the colours onto a neutral background, not an existing colour – so either an undercoated wall or A2 card (two coats). Try Resene White Pointer – might be a bit muddy; Resene Half Milk White or Resene Half Cararra. August 2025 |
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Q. Hello, is there a modern-day equivalent to the old Banana Split colour, specifically the half shade? A. Investigate Resene Happy from the Resene Range Fashion Colours 2024 For a softer yellow – Resene Wild Thing. If these are not to your liking – you can order a special drawdown request of Resene Banana Split and Resene Half Banana Split – via a Resene ColorShop – these colours can still be mixed in-store. August 2025 |
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Q. We are due to repaint our plaster over brick home – current colour scheme is roof – Grey Friar, windows are a Spanish White/cream, and the walls are Sidecar. We really like the roof, but the Sidecar is quite yellow, looking for something to complement without the yellow base. What would you suggest? A. For the house walls consider a warm grey like Resene Half Tapa or the slightly cooler Resene Half Stack, or a warm white which is a lot less yellow than Sidecar such as Resene Double Villa White or the slightly cleaner Resene Half Scotch Mist. I recommend you keep the soffit white. August 2025 |
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Q. I currently have Quarter (I think) Tuna (CoolColour) for my exterior of my house (1930's weatherboard). I have silver pearl aluminium joinery and a Grey Friar’s tin roof, as well as a Grey Friar’s garage door and black StabiWood fencing. I'm erring towards a grey/blue colour. I like the deep/dark colours but want to stay away from the cool colour paint. What would you recommend? Thanks. A. If you want to stay away from the cool colour paint then it is not recommended to choose a deep dark colour for a weatherboard house – as heat related issues may occur with any colour darker than your present colour – the recommended LRV is approx. 40% and higher. If you want to try a new colour which has an LRV of 49%, so doesn't require cool colour paint – and is popular and looks fabulous on weatherboard with a Resene Grey Friars roof and Silver Pearl joinery, consider Resene Silver Chalice – it is also warmer than Resene Quarter Tuna, or you could try Resene Double Silver Chalice LRV 38% – for more contrast with the joinery. If you do want to choose a darker colour, try Resene Tuna.  Resene Double Silver Chalice August 2025 |
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Q. Hi, we 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 Thorndon Cream with an 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? Thank you. A. Try Resene Ecru White with Resene Quarter or 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 gib ceiling – I suggest Resene Space Cote Low Sheen for the walls as it is a durable low sheen and will give a lovely velvety, subtle effect. If you want to really highlight the ceiling, consider Resene Lustacryl – a semi-gloss waterborne enamel – but this will highlight any imperfections. If your polished floors are gloss then a flat finish on the ceiling might still be quite dramatic – in that case I recommend Resene Space Cote Flat. 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. August 2025 |
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Q. We had decided to go with your Ecru suggestion for the walls of our villa but have since put new skylights in one half of the house and feel like the extra light demands a fresher cleaner look. We have tried many testpots and found Half Merino has a good balance of clean but a little less stark white than Alabaster. My slight dilemma is that the other side of house plus bedroom is not quite so light filled, so wondering if half merino might be a little cool once we move down hallway? Appreciate your advice on whether Half Merino will in fact look cold in less light and if there's a happy medium? One further question is an appropriate trim; I assume either Quarter Merino or Alabaster would be ok? A. Resene Half Merino is good for a hallway with low light as it feels warmer than starker cleaner whites. It really does depend on lighting – changing bulbs from cool white to warm white can help. Try a testpot – onto A2 card and view. For the trims I suggest Resene Alabaster – it is a bit warmer than Resene Quarter Merino. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi, I have decided to paint (for better or worse) the beams in our holiday house to make it look fresh and bigger as quite a small space. I will attach a photo of the previous beams and what they are now. My question is we have Quarter Malta on the wall up to the beading strip and then Spanish Cream around the windows and on that strip. At the moment the ceiling is white and the beams will be white (only one coat so far) at the moment above the wooden rail is an in-determinant colour possibly a Pinky beige – should I paint it all white including the ceiling or should I paint the ceiling beams and that top area some sort of off-white? Grateful for your comments. A. To be honest with that fabulous view – the best outcome would be to have the beams and ceiling the same white and a crisp white looks great on this type of ceiling and beam – and paint the bead and the wall above the same colour as the wall below – this would elongate the wall and the focus would then be the view. Otherwise, I suggest painting the bead and wall above to ceiling height – a softer colour but not an off white as this may appear dirtier if that makes sense, next to the white of the ceiling. The best approach, if possible, at some stage, is to paint the entire room a softer colour – and keep the ceiling and beams white only – this would look fabulous. August 2025 |
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Q. We are painting our master bedroom and a newly built walk-in wardrobe addition, both which will have a neutral light beige carpet. We are wanting a warm white for the walls and new wardrobe units, and have testpotted Double Rice Cake which looks good. The room is on the south boundary of the house on the upper level and is a bit darker and cooler than our other bedrooms on the lower level which are painted Sea Fog. The hall and surrounding rooms of the master bedroom are painted Half Akaroa. Can you please advise if you think Double Rice Cake is ok, and, if we should paint the bedroom doors and trims and ceiling and skirting boards, as well as the new wardrobe units the same Double Rice Cake colour? A. Yes, it will work – Resene Double Rice Cake will pair well with the other colours/elements and is not too warm that it doesn't work in with the overall theme of the home. Yes, without seeing the space – I do recommend painting all substrates the same colour and the walk-in wardrobe is a functional space – where you can allow a few pops of colour via accessories to shine, plus there will be varying sheen levels which creates further interest. I recommend Resene Space Cote Low Sheen for the walls – which is a durable waterborne enamel, which means the finish remains looking better for longer, and for cabinetry, bedroom doors and trims Resene Lustacryl which is the semi-gloss version. Resene Space Cote Flat is recommended for ceilings as being a flat paint it hides imperfections, which are easily highlighted on a ceiling with higher sheen levels. August 2025 |
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Q. Do you have an app that I can put in a picture of my room and try out different colours? A. Yes, it is called Resene EzyPaint. You can also use the software to explore complementary colours and create palettes, and also change colours on existing images, if you aren’t able to upload your own photo. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi, I would like advice on a colour (or stain) for two sides of the kitchen bench as shown in blue on one of the attached photos. This excludes all other areas of the cabinets in the kitchen and excluding the bench top. Wall colour is Merino. Prefer something not too orange. Thank you! A. As you are applying colour to only two sides of the cabinetry and you already have different finishes/timbers within the kitchen – to modernise it is to keep it simple – I recommend you paint those two sides Resene Merino – match it to an existing wall colour and it streamlines the kitchen, it will brighten the overall look of the kitchen and team with the floor and benchtop, it will also be the easiest solution to getting the colour/finish correct. It is quite a popular look to blend the cabinetry into the walls or similar when the wall space is minimal, but you could opt to do them in Resene Half Merino or Resene Quarter Merino, or a soft grey like Resene Gull Grey, a muted green such as Resene Quarter Lemon Grass or if you do want a darker option Resene Dark Knight is a fabulous moody slate blue. August 2025 |
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Q. Kia ora Resene team, I'm looking for a blue-green paint colour for my kitchen cupboards, like the shade in the attached image. I came across Resene Sherpa Blue, which looks like a great match, but I understand it may no longer be in production or available in testpot form. Could you please let me know:
A. Resene Sherpa Blue is from the BS2660 chart which is no longer printed which means it is no longer made into 60ml test pot sizes. However, you can order an A4 Drawdown or a 250ml size test pot as all Resene colours can be made and never deleted as such. Resene Retro from the multi finish range is very similar to Resene Sherpa Blue – it may be just a tad lighter – which is good, if referencing the picture. August 2025 |
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Q. We are painting the inside of our daughters 1990s house. The aluminium joinery is cream. The interior joinery is Rimu. The carpet is green and is being replaced (unsure of colour yet but will be neutral). The curtains are neutral. The kitchen bench is a neutral melteca called Quartz Stone and we have painted the cabinetry, Pearl Lusta. The vinyl flooring is dark oak brown. We have started painting the interior but it’s not coming together as we have hoped. We are painting the Rimu wooden trims Eighth Spanish White, but the doors are still Rimu. The walls are in various strengths of Spanish White, but the full Spanish White seems too cream in the living area (which is a big space and is west facing). We have used Grey Olive as a feature in living room, a wall in the kitchen and in the bedrooms (bedrooms are east facing). The overall colouring doesn’t seem right. We are happy to repaint walls but would prefer not to repaint the wooden joinery. We are stuck and don’t know what to do. Can you help? A. In theory Resene Pearl Lusta and the Spanish White family do pair together – what I think is happening here is the strength of colour and aspect of rooms. I suggest you paint the bedrooms Resene Half Spanish White – this is a complex neutral which works well in East facing rooms. The living room I suggest Resene Quarter Spanish White – Half and full are probably too warm when the west facing light enters the room. A neutral carpet will be a good option as well – consider an oatmeal colour, which will complement the warm tones but always place a swatch on the floor next to the paint colours before committing – the bigger the sample the better. Keep in mind that the green carpet is not going to look as good with the colours at present, unless it is a muted or earthy green. August 2025 |
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Q. I have a cork floor through my entryway, kitchen (white cabinets), dining and lounge. I’m looking for a colour that would complement this flooring. I would like to paint the ceiling the same colour. The space is open and has lots of light. The ceilings are 2.4. I don't want a plain white. I would love a Pilbara colour scheme, like Resene Peanut. Do you think this would close the area in too much? Could you suggest a wallpaper that I could use on the top half of my fireplace that would match the Resene Peanut colour? Thank you so much for your help. A. As the room has good light and is large – you can use Resene Peanut – which also pairs with the cork – ensure you have lighter furniture/timber and accents, to balance the kitchen, and plants help to lift a darker space. Consider using Resene Space Cote Flat for the walls to enhance the natural, earthy theme – it is a durable flat waterborne enamel, where a lot of flat finishes are not as durable. A fireplace will always be a focal point in a room – so my suggestion is to choose a paper with a mid-century vibe and pattern such as ILA303 from the Resene Aquila collection (or something similar) and draw the eye to the focal point completely, and then bringing in the reclaimed furniture and plants for balance – or if you prefer a more natural textured vibe you could investigate the Resene Grass Cloth papers, which still gives a touch of mid-century – check out patterns 21424 and 22126. As an alternative a textured plain paper from the Resene Textures V collection in a light brown or terracotta might work like pattern 417043 or tones like Resene Coral Tree and Resene Toast which will complement Resene Peanut. Always test a sample of the wallpaper against your Peanut paint to ensure it achieves the desired effect. August 2025 |
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Q. Can you please advise as to a similar colour to repaint the blue room which is Midnight Express in a flat sheen which doesn’t look as good in the daytime. A. You might like Karen Walker Shadowy Blue which appears warmer and softer during the day and moody at night, and I recommend lifting the sheen level if a flat finish is not working for you. Resene Space Cote Low Sheen is a durable, waterborne enamel with a lovely subtle sheen. August 2025 |
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Q. Is it feasible to have a gloss ceiling or low sheen finish? A. Most ceilings are a flat finish – like Resene Space Cote Flat – mainly because ceilings are critical light areas – and therefore imperfections can be highlighted. But for aesthetics and if your ceiling is in good condition or you are not too fussy about the look – then a gloss is feasible, and low sheen is a good compromise. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, we have an older rough cast rural home that we think is currently painted either Silver Chalice or Half Silver Chalice. We are getting new doors and windows that are Silver Pearl and doing an add on to the house. The add on will be a weatherboard look. In time we would like to paint the entire house but wondered if the add on should be a different colour or not. We would quite like the house to be darker than what it is but just not sure how dark to go. We would love some advice on colours and whether you think the add on should be a totally different colour. The roof will be painted Windsor Grey. A. As the add on weatherboard is distinctly separated (so the house is not featuring the weatherboard anywhere else) it feels it should be the same colour so it doesn’t look like a separate dwelling, unless that is what you want to achieve. For a darker grey try Resene Half Tuna, Resene Half Fuscous Grey, Resene Half Stack, Resene Half Shark or Resene Double Silver Chalice. You might want to check the LRV rating for the weatherboard – as some substrates have restrictions with using dark colours – and if you don’t choose a colour within that LRV rating then you may forfeit any replacement for damage, due to darker colours and heat related issues. Specific undercoats are generally specified as well. Testpots two coats are recommended; it is best to paint onto an undercoated substrate or A2 card. Try at least three colours that appeal – so the eye can then differentiate which undertone works best. Resene Double Silver Chalice August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, we have a rural cottage. The weatherboards are Half Regent Grey, and the roof/bargeboards New Denim Blue. Can you recommend a colour for a solid wooden external door. Currently just has a primer on. A. I suggest colours like Resene Atomic, Resene New Denim Blue, Resene Grey Friars, or Resene Indian Ink to complement and balance the blue roof. I would keep the door surround white to complement the joinery. A semi-gloss finish will further enhance the door colour. August 2025 |
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Q. We have recently purchased a home, and I really dislike the orange colour in the laminate flooring. I’m hoping you could suggest some paint colours that would help to tone down the orange colour. Currently, the walls are painted quite a stark white which is very inharmonious. I don’t know what the colour’s name is. I would prefer a wall colour that is in the middle of the light/dark spectrum, around about 40% LRV. We have black window joinery, and we would like to keep the look quite modern. A. Try Resene Double Truffle, Resene Half Friar Greystone or Resene Silver Chalice – the latter being cooler – but the warmer neutrals are complementary to the orange floor, being dark enough that they don’t allow the floor to dominate, but also with a hint of grey – they can help to neutralise the orange. The amount the orange in the floor is neutralised depends on the amount of the colour – always lay a sample of the colour on the floor to see how it interacts with the orange tone and then on the wall adjacent to the floor. Colours do appear darker inside, especially if the room does not receive a lot of natural warm light. For lighter options try Resene Cloud or Resene Quarter Silver Chalice. August 2025 |
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Q. We have a 1960's two storied house – Grey Friars stucco base and currently looking at combinations to modernise it for the top storey – it has timber with vertical battens – wooden joinery which we want to keep white as well as barge boards that will be white. A. Try Resene Triple Black White, Resene Neutral Bay, Resene Ted, Resene Gull Grey, or Resene Silver Chalice. I recommend you keep the bargeboards, soffit, and windowsills white. The gable end can be the same as the boards. August 2025 |
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Q. Wanting a blue colour that will suit a weatherboard house. Quite like Wayfarer but unsure if this will be too bright. Have attached a picture of a weatherboard house that is blue that we like. This is a SPEC house so can't be too out there. Will have COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars for roof, front door and garage door and a white colour for the windows. Thank you! A. Yes, Resene Wayfarer is too bright in natural light – your inspiration pics seem to be bluer grey. Try Resene Clouded Blue (37%) or Resene Neutral Bay (35%) – the blue tones will be enhanced outside depending on aspect. A Resene CoolColour version of the colour might help for a spec home if you do want a darker colour – but it doesn't alter the LRV – it is recognised by council as an approved system however, if the buyer gets approval first. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, we have a 1910 weatherboard house/character home in Somerfield, Christchurch, which was renovated by previous owners in 2007, but now we are having to completely repaint the interior (and wanting to anyway!) as part of our earthquake repairs (yes – from 2010/11 EQ in CHCH). We will keep the kitchen/living/dining room colours as is (as we did redecorate that end in 2017) but will still have to re-paint most likely. The main part of the walls there are quarter concrete and feature wall of a denim blue I think it was. This part of the house is SE facing the hills. The hallway has dark green walls and native timber floor (possibly Matai?) We would like to move away from green, and certainly to lighten up the hallway. I've had a little advice, and Half Tapa was suggested for the hallway, but I'm not sure what to do about the bedrooms, which are all off the hallway. The main bedroom is at the front (NW facing) and the other front room is a lounge (although this could also be a bedroom). There are 3 bedrooms currently. I prefer greyish colours to brownish, but don't want to end up with a gloomy house! Also, what colours should we change the doors to please? We're preferring a neutral palette, but I don't want gloomy or completely boring. A. Resene Quarter Baltic Sea will be lovely for your bedrooms. It will complement the other colours – if you would like to try a lighter colour Resene Half Silver Chalice might pair well. For the doors try Resene Black White or you might like to try a warmer white such as Resene Quarter Rice Cake. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, we are building a weatherboard house and going for a Grey Friar’s roof with warm white pearl aluminium joinery. We are looking for a main weatherboard colour (a light grey look) to go with this and probably using Titania for fascia/barge boards and window surrounds and sills (although we could alter Titania if there was another colour suggestion that suited). Would something like Gull Grey be a good exterior colour option for the weatherboard? A. I suggest Resene Double Concrete with Resene Half Merino replacing Resene Titania, alternatively, Resene Quarter Delta with Resene Titania trims will work. Resene Ash with Resene Titania trims is also an option but leaning towards the green side. Resene Gull Grey can work with Resene Grey Friars and Warm White Pearl, but for trims I suggest matching the warm white Pearl – which Resene have a match in-store for – or perhaps half strength to whiten it further so the trims are not too cream next to the cooler Resene Gull Grey. August 2025 |
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Q. I am following up on our last communications. In the end I left the feature wall as it was with Baltic Sea as I ran out of time to change it. The people who have moved in love it and the whole house. It came out great. I am now on to my next project which is updating the house my husband and I live in – empty nesters. It is a 1940s bungalow that has been extended and renovated several times over the years. The current walls are some shades of Spanish White. These are the other rooms/colours I need some suggestions for; * Lounge, dining, kitchen (open plan) and hallway – neutral warm white – maybe White Pointer? Not a brown base. Some of this is Matai floorboards. New carpet will be down the track. Kitchen cabinets are Meringue, it looks white but might have a green tinge to it, it’s not a stark white. Benchtop is white. Black handles. * Accent black – for pops of charcoal on kitchen island and some internal doors. Maybe leaning to a green/black? * Office – Thinking about a green on all walls – kind of a speak-easy look, but not too dark. Has dark Rimu bookcase, brown leather recliner and white desk. * Bathroom – white on lower v-groove panelling, would like a soft colour on the top (is currently 90s orange) – maybe a soft grey/green. Toilet – going to go wild with a wallpaper tbd. A. To pair with the matai and architecture I would consider a character beige like Resene Fossil, or the slightly cooler Resene Eighth Bison Hide – anything too grey may not pair well with the floor and cabinetry. Colours to try for the remaining rooms are: Resene Cod Grey for the doors, Resene Green Meets Blue for the office and a soft silvery grey, Resene Tasman for the bathroom. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi, 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 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 Quarter Ash which we love. We've looked at using Eighth Ash on the cabinets (feels a bit too dark), Half Barely There (feels like the right amount of colour but maybe too grey?), and 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 – Ceiling and trims throughout the house are all Alabaster. Thank you! A. Resene Quarter Bianca is a lovely bright white with a hint of warmth – so for your kitchen it should work well. As your cabinetry is mostly at lower level and with Resene Foundry as a feature for your Island, painting the cabinetry and walls the same colour in a smaller kitchen will open the space for a seamless design. The walls are generally a low sheen – for this area we recommend Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen and Bathroom Low Sheen. I prefer the finish of Resene AquaLAQ which is a satin sheen for the cabinetry – and is a lacquer system designed for this application. August 2025 |
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Q. We have Resene Black White on our window frames and trims – we want to paint our walls a "white' and want to know what would look best alongside the Black White – we're looking for the Black White to standout and so want the walls to be a little 'softer' – without looking dull. What would you suggest? Our lounge has lots of windows but some of the other rooms, although they have windows, get less light. Currently our walls are painted in Resene Unison (specially requested colour I think) and we wanted something that looked a little crisper, without being too crisp. A. Resene Alabaster looks fabulous with Resene Black White doors and trims in a home. It is warmer and brighter than Resene Black White but pairs well. For a softer look consider Resene Merino for the walls – it is not as crisp, however. August 2025 |
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Q. I am looking for 7 pastels to paint a rainbow in a child's bedroom, I can't seem to search for pastel colours or see a specific chart. A. We don't have a pastel colour chart as such, but there are pastels within our colour ranges. The Resene multi finish palettes are a great place to start. Palettes are graded into colour groups. You can view this range and all the collections on the website or pop into a Resene ColorShop. August 2025 |
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Q. Could you please tell me what Resene colours best match (Crown) Lynn River Pottery (from approx 1950s?). I believe Resene was the supplier at the time also so may have a better idea of what colours were used and what the palette was. A. Unfortunately, I can’t find any reference to Resene supplying colours for Crown Lynn glazing – although at the time Crown Lynn probably would have researched the market and possibly followed trends and may have themselves used a Resene colour or two. We may have supplied paint for their studio/factory. You might like to start with the BS2660 and BS5252 colour ranges – these are the earliest colour collections. BS5252 is available in test pots, BS2660 – some colours may be available in test pots or 250ml test pots might be able to be mixed, alternatively the BS5252 chart is on the Resene website to view and samples/swatches can be ordered online; staff will be able to show you a copy of the BS2660 colour chart in store – it is a fabulous little chart – 101 colours. August 2025 |
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Q. Doing upstairs lounge kitchen facing sea, arched ceiling, going right over with the same colour – thinking something not white but gets tons of natural light & mainly windows. A. In my opinion I don’t feel a colour will work here – it would be a pity to absorb the light – and it is such an expanse of area – I would try more neutral but not white, like Resene Quarter Linen, Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue or Resene Quarter Concrete. These colours are pale (there are deeper variants of each colour), but they will intensify when painting the ceiling the same colour or wash out a bit with more light – so start with the palest tints and see how they react. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi, we are getting a new roof and some new double glazing but struggling to find a colour scheme that works. We haven’t decided on any colours yet. House is a 1920s roughcast/stucco. Currently Scoria red roof, white walls and silver aluminium windows, fibre cement cladding on the gable ends. We are wanting to repaint everything. A. I quite like a dark colour on your style of home – try Resene Tuna for the walls and gable ends – I recommend you use a Resene CoolColour paint as this will help reduce heat to the cladding – especially the gable ends – but using the cool colour version on the entire house will keep the colour consistent. Resene Tuna goes well with silver, white or off-white joinery – check out Resene Powder coating colours. A lighter grey roof will ensure the roof doesn't dominate as it does now, but will create relief against the deeper walls – try Resene Half or Quarter Grey Friars. August 2025 |
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Q. Good evening – we are turning our garage space (40sm) into a home office to replace work office (which was Karen Walker Half Smalt Blue). We want a warm white neutral (not grey or cold or yellow). Thinking Half Merino or half rice cake. Trims will be appliance/Alabaster white so want a bit of contrast. Copper couch, sandy/tussock carpet, wood look vinyl, south side of house so colder darker. Any ideas?! A. Resene Half Merino should pair well – it has a cooler tone than Resene Half Rice Cake (which might be too yellow with the sofa and carpet), whilst retaining the overall warmth. August 2025 |
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Q. I'Il have painted all my walls Black White. I have also painted my fireplace what I thought was a charcoal with slight blue tone. It was a light grey previously. I’ve now realised that it’s been painted the tone is too blue. Carpet is dark grey with brown tones, and the blue tones won’t go with the carpet. Front door tiles are concrete grey. What would be a good dark charcoal/grey to repaint the fireplace that will make a small space larger and modern. I originally got a sample of Tuna, but it was too light. Another of Foundry but too dark. I painted in the end with a charcoal blue, but the blue seems to dominate. What would be your recommendation of options to help align the fireplace more with the tiling and carpet. Explore UltraPet Basenji Carpet | Flooring Xtra NZ. A. The colours you have referenced are all going to be too blue with the carpet and tile. You will need to go for a warmer charcoal to make it work. Try Resene Fuscous Grey or Resene Nocturnal, Resene Boris is lovely but browner. August 2025 |
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Q. I want to paint the outside of an entrance door (exposed to weather) in the brightest, most vivid, gloss Fire Engine Red available. What do you recommend? It is an old, solid timber door with glass inserts, one side only (i.e. internal will be stained). A. Try Resene Amped from The Range 2024. Depending on what product the door is painted with now, you have two options – the glossiest finish is Resene Super Gloss Enamel which looks fantastic in red, alternatively if the door is painted with a waterborne finish currently, then you can use Resene Enamacryl which is a waterborne enamel – not as glossy as Super Gloss Enamel. If you remove the current coating and then undercoat with Resene Quick Dry, you can use either. August 2025 |
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Q. My glass kitchen backsplash was done some years ago in Resene Metallic Lucifer and I still love it. I am now considering feature walls in my entry room which has open view to my kitchen backsplash. I am looking for a colour that will blend when looking through the kitchen entry. Is there a matching blue to the metallic Lucifer? The feature walls are only half walls on either side of the kitchen entry; the main room is a mid-cream which I intend to lighten. A. The base of Resene Lucifer is Resene Teal Blue – but this may be too deep for these walls. Try a similar tone but a bit lighter (try Teal Blue if you like the look of it), such as Resene Bismark, Resene Navigate, Resene Boost (Resene Half Teal Blue – but may be too bright), or Resene Time Traveller. August 2025 |
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Q. I am stuck on what warm colour a bit darker than the curtains I can paint this living room. A. Yes, a richer colour will ground the room – try Resene Open Sesame (Range 2024), it should pair with the elements in the room – it doesn't have to match the curtains exactly but in tone and a bit deeper is a good idea. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi, having reroofed from concrete tile to a COLORSTEEL® Gull Grey metal roof, could you please give any advice as to what colour white or similar would work for the eaves and fascia board that have denim blue gutters on a red brick suburban house. I was wondering about Resene Quarter Bianca? Thanks. A. Try Resene Quarter Rice Cake – it is not quite as bright as Resene Quarter Bianca, so might blend with the brick better. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there. We are painting the exterior of a small 1989 hardiplank home and garage in Papamoa. We are loving the fresh modern look of dark black/charcoal colours. Do we paint the exterior walls and roof the same colour? Can you give some advice on what Roof/Exterior/Wall combos would look good? The guttering will remain white. We quite like the idea of the white guttering creating an accent trim in white. The timber deck and pergola will be left natural and will be stained, as we love the idea of the warmth from natural timber materials contrasting with the painted house. The Garage will be painted in the same colours as the house. The fences will be painted black and there are already existing black and grey materials on the boundary fencing. Many thanks for your help. A. A black exterior might be too heavy as you have dark windows to consider, and if you leave the guttering white, then the eye will be drawn to the guttering first, which will then make this substrate the feature. White or Silver windows will balance the scheme and then you could entertain a black exterior. I suggest you try a dark grey or charcoal like Resene Tuna or Resene Foundry – You can then paint the roof and gutter black to tie in with the fences, Resene All Black is a good option. I recommend you use a CoolColour paint for the cladding and roof – this helps deter the heat away from the substrate, reducing heat related issues, associated with dark colours. The deck and pergola being natural – will provide a nice relief to the darker cladding – you might like to try a test pot of Resene Natural. August 2025 |
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Q. Our bedroom is east facing. I would like to paint it a colour, rather than neutral. Is there a colour you can suggest that will perhaps make the room feel warmer? We have polished concrete floors. We were hoping to make the wall on the left a feature colour. It will be clad in shiplap. Thank you in advance for your suggestions. A. Try a warm sage green such as Resene Field Day for the feature wall with a complex warm neutral for the remaining walls like Resene Half Fossil, which will prevent the green from being too intense, and creates a calming, natural feel. Alternatively, you could try a warm terracotta for the feature such as Resene Soiree with a soft warm sage for the remaining walls like Resene Secrets. August 2025 |
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Q. We have a series of 3 attached townhouses – mine has a wood exterior painted Bokara Grey. My neighbours are currently renovating and staining theirs Resene Woodsman Crowshead. What colour do you suggest for the roof? It is currently red – I am thinking either Resene Aroha or a very light colour as way of contrast. A. Reds do fade very quickly on roofs – it is best, if possible, to choose a colour from the Resene Roof Systems Chart as these colours have been formulated specifically for roofs. Generally, light neutral colours such as greys are safe to be chosen from the full Resene colour ranges. I suggest you look at a colour like Resene Atmosphere or Resene Gauntlet from the Resene Roof chart. August 2025 |
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Q. I have a single-story rectangle shape weatherboard home, with brown aluminium windows, and Karaka green guttering. We are getting the roof and weatherboards painted. Would Ironsand roof and Double Alabaster weatherboards complement the existing windows/gutters? The house is suburban with red brick neighbours. Interior is Lockwood so we want to retain the cottage/cabin feel but modernise the exterior. A. Resene Ironsand is a good match – I recommend going a little deeper for the weatherboards – try Resene Half Sea Fog. All whites brighten outside on smooth substrates like weatherboards. August 2025 |
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Q. We have a 1960 weatherboard house painted in Resene Ottoman, and the foundation bottom 2 x weatherboards are in Resene Karaka. We have a new COLORSTEEL® roof put on recently in a Slate colour same as the spouting. Our aluminium window frames are Artic White. Our 4-year 150cm high wooden fence is painted White. I am not happy with this colour as the fence is 16 metres long facing the street. It looks washed out?? Please can you suggest a nice colour to repaint my fence thanks!! To tie in with the Ottoman colour on the house weatherboards. I look forward for your help. A. You could consider Resene Triple Ottoman this may only be available to order as an A4 colour swatch – so enquire with your local Resene store. Alternatively, try a soft warm grey with a hint of green like Resene Quarter Gravel. August 2025 |
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Q. I am wanting to repaint the living room and study in a neutral colour that will go with furniture and carpet. Currently the rooms are painted in Quarter Surrender. A. Try Resene Half Albescent White, Resene Half Parchment or Resene Half White Pointer. Please paint two coats of a test pot onto A2 card, painting directly onto the existing colour may alter the perception of the new colours. Testing three colours helps the eye differentiate which tone will work best in the space and natural light. August 2025 |
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Q. Our coastal house is white with green roof and barge board. Thinking of repainting and Sea Fog has been suggested. Do we keep some features in white or even stay with white for the whole house. A. Resene Sea Fog is a versatile white and is a great white for an exterior – it isn’t too stark. For your home I feel that painting it all one colour will work, as the colour is broken with detailing in a varying sheen level. August 2025 |
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Q. I would like some advice on a metallic splashback that will go with the dark kitchenette. The cabinetry is black oak and the bench black supernova porcelain. Would like the splashback to balance timelessness and be subtle. The room is a multipurpose room (thus the tv where it is). Rest of the walls are painted black/white. A. Resene Black White as a metallic finish might work well – this keeps it simple and classic in a multi-use area, alternatively, a metallic silver matched to the hardware might be an option. Metallics behind glass work best when there is good light to enhance the metallic flake and different grades of glass can influence the result of the colour – so always ensure to ask your supplier for samples. August 2025 |
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Q. We have a new build and plan to put wallpaper for a feature on the wall behind the bed in the Master bedroom. The paint colours are Resene Merino on all the other walls and doors, skirting, and architraves are Resene Alabaster. The carpet is Belgotex avenue Gravel 45. We would like some suggestions for wallpapers that would match well with these colours and suit a bedroom. As yest we have not chosen window coverings. A. There are so many options that could work with your colours – think about what style you want your room to be and the mood you want to convey – consider your bed linen, artwork, furniture and the overall style and architectural design of your home, this will help you to narrow down whether a neutral textured paper or a bold coloured pattern will work. You might like to start with checking out the Resene latest wallpaper collection ‘Tahiti’ it is a blend of bold colours and striking textures, inspired by the beauty of nature and exotic charm, and is designed to create spaces that provide relaxation and inspiration in your daily life. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi. I am looking for a suitable colour for my hallway. It is a narrow hallway down the middle of my very small home (80m2) that has 7 doors – the access to all rooms in the house. I am thinking about painting the walls quite dark, given the white doors and the light wood-appearance laminate floors would keep it quite balanced. Most rooms are painted in Sea Fog. My toilet, accessible from the hallway, is painted in Ziggurat. Door frames and baseboards are White. I was thinking maybe Cello, or Coast? I am planning to hang light wood frames with photos from our travels on the walls and have just purchased a new rug. A. Consider painting the hallway a similar tone as the toilet but a bit deeper. If you go too dark – you will make a feature of the doors – try Resene Half Smalt Blue or Resene Wishlist – these may pair better with the rug, or if you prefer a deeper shade, Resene Wayfarer or Resene Watermark might appeal. August 2025 |
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Q. Life has had many downs for me, after 70 plus years went out on my own, downsizing into a smaller older home now that half of everything is gone. It was to be my happy, peaceful place, in need of some cosmetic work. The storm hit, unprecedented rain, flooding sewerage contamination, and leaking roof and gutter. Their endeth the budget for internal flooring, wallpaper etc. But am on the rise and looking at making my conservatory (a popular spot) homely, warm, and an inviting space that welcomes me home, a place to chill and yet inspire, invigorate me, share a cuppa or wine with visitors this being a lovely warm spot – probably too hot in summer? Op shop purchases have been, a duvet to cover the sofa, hoping it would go with flooring cos walls can change, then a $2 fabric to cover road kill chairs, but on cutting it out, maybe use good orange side on one chair, backside of fabric is reddy/orange which I like giving a contrast look, but what do I do at other end of room? Currently roof is a light sage? There is a faint green in floor tile. Walls cream, but would a feature wall behind bench seat add something to room, suggestions of colour. You have a free hand to inspire me to pick up a paintbrush once again having to only satisfy self now, quite a strange feeling but one I am looking forward to knowing how colour can inspire, accommodate, soothe, energise, or let me stay, another cuppa or wine please, the book isn't finished yet. These photos might help. Conservatory attached to end of lounge and creeps round the corner for a bit which might be a good spot for propagating plants or drying clothes! And last but not least what a joy to walk around the neighborhood and see many of the murals etc sponsored by Resene, big huzzah to you guys for valuing our communities. A. My recommendation for getting the best outcome on a budget, is to cover the squab with the orange fabric, paint the walls of the conservatory and the ceiling a sage green like Resene Secrets or Resene Green Spring which will help to keep the conservatory feeling cooler in summer – then add a jewel green like Resene Aquamarine to the end wall or even paint a few chairs – to make this space your own and to add a bit of fun and fabulous! August 2025 |
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Q. Hello, I have half the outside of my house painted in dry creek which the painter 15yrs ago colour matched. I now want to repaint whole house in Resene Dry Creek. I have gutters and downpipes in COLOURBOND® Woodland Grey.... for Fascia’s and Gables what colours can I use for a Modern Federation type look? Roof is terracotta. A. You might like a warm white like Resene Half Rice Cake – this will depend on the window joinery colour, or a pale greige to bridge the gap between the darker Woodland Grey and the soft warm brown walls, such as Resene Eighth Friar Greystone. August 2025 |
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Q. We are replacing the shower in our bathroom with a modern shower (white) and a new vanity (White). When this happens, we want to repaint the bathroom. But we have no idea what colour is going to work with the rest of the bathroom. The bathroom currently has these green fake tiles all the way around the bathroom. Our main thing is to not have the bathroom the same 'yellow' colour it currently is. We bought the house last year and the previous owner has painted the entire house that colour. Also, no millennial beige. Could you give us some ideas of colours. Thanks. A. As the green tiles are so dominating – it is best to work with them, so they become less of a feature. I suggest you try test pots of Resene Half Tana, Resene Secrets, Resene Tasman or Resene Ecru White. August 2025 |
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Q. Can you suggest some options for a bedroom with French doors (no other windows), currently Pearl Lusta (too yellow). Would like to paint it a light fresh grey (but not too cool). French or dove grey but radiant/fresh. A. Try Resene Eighth Foggy Grey, Resene Athens Grey, Resene Eighth Truffle or for a deeper colour – Resene Cloud. Resene Eighth Foggy Grey is not a standard colour – your local Resene ColorShop may be able to mix it for you in a 250ml testpot. August 2025 |
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Q. We are replacing the exterior door and due to harsh weather conditions need to paint it (not stain). Roof and window joinery is Karaka green, and weatherboards are Quarter Tea. Interior colour is Half Merino (must paint inside and outside of door). What is a good colour to use? Inside we have mustard yellow chairs – would a yellow work? A. If you keep the internal face of the door neutral – Resene Alabaster – then it won’t compete with the chairs, you could then repeat a yellow onto the external face of the door and the internal edge of the door. Brighter yellows do intensify outside so please keep this in mind. Try Resene Sunbeam, Resene Wild Thing, Resene Tulip Tree, or Resene Energy Yellow. August 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, for this house I am wanting to paint the kitchen cupboards to brighten up the space. I'm not sure what colour the walls currently are but they look like what i would call a 'Biscotti' colour, a light 'cafe' style colour (which is pretty similar to the cabinet colour.) Don't have budget to paint walls, so painting these cupboards (which have been painted before and need a touch up in any case) before a big reno. Do you think painting a version of white would help modernise the look? The benchtop appears to have previously been painted a light slate and is also starting to chip. Wondering what colour you would recommend for the cupboards – my initial thought was 'Half White Pointer', thinking a white but not super stark given the very warm walls? I've also included a swatch of the vinyl floor which is darker 'cafe' brown, quite ashy. Thank you. A. Yes, a warm white for your cabinetry will modernise and brighten the kitchen –- you could opt to play it safe with Resene Alabaster or try Resene Quarter Bianca or Resene Half Bianca. August 2025 |
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