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 am not sure what colour to use on ceiling. Walls are Quarter Akaroa in low sheen and trims are same colour in semi-gloss. Will Alabaster be too stark? But then Double Alabaster may not give enough contrast? A. Resene Double Alabaster has enough contrast with Resene Quarter Akaroa and can pair well, however, if the trims are the same warm colour as the walls – consider trying a warmer white such as Resene Half Bianca or Resene Quarter Bianca. September 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 light blue feature doors/beach vibes. What colours would you recommend? A. Try Resene Oxygen, Resene Half Halcyon, Resene Breathless, Resene Dream Big or Resene Ship Cove. September 2025 |
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Q. I am re-painting the exterior walls of my house, the colour Oasis. The decking is stained in Walnut. The trim and balustrades are in Eighth Spanish White. We have a bright red door. I would like to know what colour options would match the roof paint. The roof is a corrugated iron style roof. A. A dark grey roof will look stylish with these classic colours – I suggest Resene Steel Grey or Resene Windswept. September 2025 |
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Q. I have a wooden vanity top. I want to paint bathroom walls Quarter Lemon Grass. Would like light grey doors. What is the best match? A. Resene Eighth Ash, Resene Double Black White or Resene Athens Grey. September 2025 |
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Q. I am painting my whole house with Sea Fog, with Alabaster trims. In the kitchen I would love to have a yellow feature wall. What colour would you suggest? A. Yellow is a great colour for a feature in a kitchen as it creates a welcoming atmosphere and stimulates the appetite! Pairing a yellow with a grey white like Resene Sea Fog balances the intensity of yellow. Do you have any favourite shades of yellow in the home – you could then repeat that yellow into the kitchen to create a connection, otherwise try a golden yellow like Resene Sunbeam or Resene Cream Can, a rich buttery yellow such as Resene Golden Sand, or for a softer yellow try Resene Moonbeam. I do find with Resene Sea Fog the muted yellows pair a bit better, and yellow will intensify with brighter light. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, I just bought a 1970's brick unit that needs renovating. I am after advice on the external colours, please. I think I will lime wash the bricks to lighten the discolouration. My daughter would like a pink front door, something like shade Ballerina, and I thought paint what's currently dark red a shade of brown. I like warmer naturals – browns and beiges, not grey. A. For the existing painted substrates Resene Truffle or Resene Half Truffle is a warm, light oyster which will work with the limewashed bricks and a pink front door – a pink front door will look fabulous for your house, and I suggest a muted pink, that complements the muted character of the limewashed brick, and earthy tones of Resene Truffle. Consider Resene Cupid, Resene Coconut Ice or Resene Paper Doll. September 2025 |
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Q. We are looking to repaint the exterior of our house (1950's weatherboard ex-state house) and are thinking of Resene Nebula. We already have a bright yellow back door, and the front door will be painted yellow to match. 1) Will be wanting white for windows and trim, but unsure of which whites would be best with Nebula? 2) Also needing a colour for concrete foundation and carport, probably darker than Nebula. Had considered Blue Smoke, Yucca, or Dark Slate, but not sure which would be better? Is there a colour like Dark Slate but slightly lighter? 3) Will also be looking for a colour for concrete steps at front and back door. Are the steps generally be painted the same as the foundation, or different? Had been thinking of a beigey-grey. A. Resene Nebula with Resene Rolling Stone for the base, Resene Double Truffle for the steps and Resene Quarter Merino for the windows/trims (with a yellow front door), should work well creating a sophisticated, layered scheme, with a bit of fun! September 2025 |
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Q. We are struggling a bit to decide on the paint colour for our house and would really appreciate your advice. The roof and front door are Ironsand; joinery and garage door: Titania. We still need to choose the cladding colour and a colour for the new Belaire panel front fence colour. We are considering Sea Fog with Double Sea Fog on the fence, or Merino with Double Merino on the fence. Our aim is to go with a white tone that gives a clean look, but without being harsh or stark. A. I recommend you choose Resene Merino for the cladding, it is a soft warm contrast against the neutral Resene Titania and deep Resene Ironsand. For the fence I recommend repeating Resene Titania, rather than bringing in another variant of the cladding colour – Resene Titania looks great on fences, where Resene Double Merino might look a bit cream, and the Resene Sea Fog family a bit grey. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi, we are painting the exterior of our cottage next week. We are thinking either Sea Fog, Black White or Wan White with Alabaster for the trims and Blue Bark for the door. However, I don't really know and would appreciate your feedback. A. Resene Sea Fog is a versatile white which looks great on villa exteriors. Resene Alabaster is a good contrast to Resene Sea Fog for your windows and accent detailing. Resene Blue Bark is stunning and will make a great front door colour in a gloss finish, alternatively, Karen Walker Shadowy Blue is lovely. September 2025 |
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Q. We are trying to design an old English pub style room, we want it green I want it sage green and quite like Xanadu, we are having a dado rail in White and want another colour on the top half of the wall what would you suggest in a complimentary green tone? A. To keep that English pub theme – I suggest not going too pale, try Resene Spanish Green. Consider paint product and sheen levels – Resene Space Cote Low Sheen is a durable, waterborne enamel, which means being a durable paint the finish remains looking better for longer, and can be easily spot cleaned with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner – which leaves no sticky residue or changes the colour. Resene Space Cote Low Sheen will give you that lovely subtle sheen associated with these types of themes. September 2025 |
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Q. The outside of my beach house is Ziggurat, the deck Milk White and white wallpaper in kitchen and lounge. I have a separate toilet, a square sized hallway and a small laundry. I would like to paint this area – what colours would suit a beach house and small spaces? The skirting boards and doors are Milk White too. A. Use beachy shades that complement Resene Ziggurat, so there is a connection, and are not too dark for smaller spaces – colours like Resene Moby (perhaps a bit of depth for the laundry) and pair with lighter beachy colours such as Resene Conch and Resene Breeze. You might choose Resene Moby for the laundry, Resene Conch for the square hall and Resene Breeze for the toilet – or wallpaper the toilet in a fun paper! Alternatively, you can look towards sandy and soft terracotta tones, but warmer colours do close a space in, and these might be better to accessorise with. Resene Wallpaper Collections are online to browse – if you see any you like – take note and pop into a Resene ColorShop and ask to see the physical samples – from there you may choose to see what colours are in the paper and repeat into the other two areas. September 2025 |
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Q. Could you please recommend a soft pastel (on the sandy side) yellow to go with Sakura? My daughter wants a sunset beach inspired room with 2 walls Sakura and 2 yellow. A. It is going to be tricky to get the yellow to remain looking sandy next to Resene Sakura, I would encourage your daughter to also look at pastel terracotta's such as Resene Sandy Beach for a sunset theme. For pale warm yellows try Resene Astra or Resene Half Melting Moment. September 2025 |
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Q. We have just painted our bathroom using Resene Blue Lagoon and I want to carry a similar tone into the kitchen but on the greener side or softer tone, do you have any companion colour suggestions for this? A. Resene Blue Lagoon has been repeated onto the Resene current collection of colours for many years as it is a fabulous colour and looks gorgeous with your timber! For softer green tones try Resene Sea Green, Resene Blue Chill, Resene Deep Sea or Resene Keppel – the latter being a colour that is coming in for 2026. September 2025 |
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Q. Can I get a white paint that is super white, no yellow or black tint. A. Yes, Resene White N97 006 096 – it has no tint and is a lovely white – it is available in testpots. September 2025 |
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Q. I wondered if you could please give me some suggestions for painting my current varnished front door and wood surrounding the two side windows. I have an 80s brick house with rust coloured guttering, and I would like to update the look of the entrance way. A. I recommend painting the side windows and door the same colour – as you don't have any light trims on your house – so one colour will modernise the overall appearance of the entry. A darker richer colour will tie in with the moody palette of the house – try a rich green like Resene Welcome, a blue such as Resene Midnight Express or a red which complements but does not have to match the rust-coloured guttering – Resene Aroha. Alternatively, a deep earthy near black like Resene Element might appeal. September 2025 |
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Q. I just painted two coats of "Ghost" throughout my kitchen dining area and have noticed it's giving off a VERY purple haze – instead of grey (I thought it was just grey like my old house), so now I'm stuck with five litres of Ghost. Can I paint the ghost as a first coat thru the house and paint over it with Quarter Grey Chateau to get a greyer colour? As it looks like the grey I should have used instead. It looks so bad (everyone comments purple!) in the kitchen dining that I would like to paint over that finished job, which has two coats – do I have to now undercoat the finished rooms and repaint two more with Quarter Grey Chateau? A. Yes, Resene Ghost can have a purple undertone that is enhanced in some aspects of light and depending on adjacent colours. This is why we always recommend testing two coats of a testpot onto an A2 card (not an existing colour – as the surrounding colour will also change the look of the new colour, being adjacent to it), and move around the room, viewing day and night. You shouldn't need an undercoat – however you will need to do two topcoats of any new colour, otherwise you are not getting the correct colour and there is a risk the purple undertone of Resene Ghost will affect one topcoat. I recommend you do a test colour onto A2 card to see if you like Resene Quarter Grey Chateau as it can have a blue undertone – unless this is what you are after – and then test onto the Resene Ghost to see how coverage goes, without an undercoat. If you do find Resene Quarter Grey Chateau too blue you could try Resene Iron or Resene Quarter Silver Chalice – same steps ahead – these crucial steps are how you will achieve the correct colour. September 2025 |
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Q. If our trims and ceilings are Eighth Black White would you recommend Half Black White on the walls or Black White? Our floors are a cool natural wood colour. A. It really depends on how much grey you would like to come through – and this will be more noticeable in low light areas, and how much contrast you would like – Resene Half Black White is the right amount of contrast with Resene Eighth Black White ceilings – but if you want your ceilings to really stand out against the walls then I would choose Resene Black White for the main colour. Resene Half Black White is where I am leaning – Resene Black White is more grey/white. Consider product and sheen levels when choosing whites – Resene Space Cote Low Sheen is a durable low sheen waterborne enamel, which means being a durable paint the finish remains looking better for longer and you can easily spot clean with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner. The sheen gives a subtle, smooth finish to the white. September 2025 |
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Q. My house interior is painted in Drought & Half Drought on the walls & Half Pearl Lusta on doors & trims. I would like to change the Drought to something else but am unable to change the Pearl Lusta as I have three sliding doors that can’t be removed. What is a good colour to pair with Half Pearl Lusta? A. Try Karen Walker Albescent White which can be tinted to Resene products such as Resene Space Cote Low Sheen a durable, low sheen waterborne enamel, which means that when you are choosing a paler wall colour, a durable finish will ensure the colour remains looking great for longer. Resene Albescent White is a lot softer than Resene Drought and Resene Half Drought and more current – it is a warm linen weave tone – it pairs well with a lot of colours – and is neutral without being stark. September 2025 |
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Q. I am very much in love with the colour red that is all over Scandinavian barns and outbuildings. I tried Avant Garde, but it is too brown/scoria looking and Jalapeno is "too' red – I am just finding it difficult to get a match. We have just purchased a lifestyle property, and all the outbuildings need a face lift! A. If you are referring to Falun Red which is a colour commonly used on wooden cottages and barns – this is an earthy red – a red oxide pigment. Reds can intensify outside so the red pigment becomes more evident on mass. Resene Red Oxide is probably the equivalent and is from the Resene Roof Colour Systems chart. You might also like to try Resene Aroha from the Range 2024 which is like Resene Red Oxide but a bit brighter. September 2025 |
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Q. We have recently bought a house built in the 90s that we want to update the interior to look more modern. The living area and kitchen is a very bright sunny space, and the rest of the house doesn’t receive as much sunlight. We are wanting to create a timeless modern warm look and were thinking Half Rice Cake or Half Sea Fog for the walls and Quarter Alabaster for the ceilings, doors and trims. Would this work for our space? A. Yes, Resene Half Rice Cake will suit, with either Resene Quarter Alabaster or you might want to also test Resene Half Alabaster – there is quite a bit of contrast between Resene Half Rice Cake and Resene Quarter Alabaster, so it depends on how white you want the ceilings, doors and trims to be. September 2025 |
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Q. I have just installed new flooring which is pergo laminate colour "dusk oak". Like to paint my walls now to a colour that would work with this. The walls are a pinkish cream colour currently which I don't like. The house gets a lot of light. A. I recommend Resene Half Sea Fog for the walls – it is a soft white that is not too grey or yellow, creating a fresh and balanced aesthetic against a grounding, characterful floor. September 2025 |
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Q. Should I paint my ceilings with Half Parchment or Quarter Parchment to go with walls in Parchment? This is through the whole house with 2.7m ceilings in lounge. A. With 2.7 ceilings you have flexibility – it depends on whether you want a cocooning feeling – in which case – Resene Half Parchment – as colours do appear stronger on the ceiling, or if you want to emphasise the ceiling height with a subtle contrast – Resene Quarter Parchment. Most people prefer Resene Quarter Parchment so that they are emphasising the height that they have created. September 2025 |
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Q. I am building a house and trying to decide on exterior colours. I am thinking Ironsand roof, garage door. Double Black White plaster and linea vertical James Hardie board and Half Black White for soffits. Does that work? A. Yes, the colours are harmonious together, but generally most people have the Linea boards at a contrast (deeper) to the plaster – for a subtle variation and definition consider Resene Quill Grey for the Linea. You could also bring Resene Ironsand onto the front door if appropriate for balance. September 2025 |
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Q. My kitchen walls are painted in parchment, the cabinets are a medium wood grain look and I'm wanting to paint the walls a shade of green. Nothing dark though. Any suggestions? A. Soft sage greens work well with medium wood grain – try Resene Bud, Resene Secrets or Resene Green Spring. For a retro feel you could try Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue. September 2025 |
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Q. Should I paint my master bedroom ceiling the same colour as the walls which is Resene Siam? We have a one-sided walk behind robe behind the bedhead end and a big sliding door at the other end of the bedroom to outside and a mono pitch ceiling. Or should we use Resene Half Barely There as the trim & ceiling colour as we’ve used that throughout our new house. The adjacent bathroom & hallway are painted in Resene Ecru White. A. As it is your MB, you can create a cosy atmosphere and seamless look, by painting it the same colour – Resene Siam is a fabulous green and you do have good light it would seem with the big sliding door leading to the outside. If you want to tone it down slightly – you could paint it slightly softer such as Resene Flax, as colours can appear a bit deeper on ceilings – then if this doesn't work for you paint a third coat in Resene Siam. September 2025 |
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Q. I want to stain the rough sawn wood around the new deck. My roof is Ironsand, the main building is primarily Tea and White. What stain and colour would you recommend for the stain? A. Resene Tiri will blend seamlessly with your colours but still provide a bit of contrast – my recommendation is Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain which is a solventborne finish – this means it penetrates the timber well, giving better durability and a lovely natural appearance. Resene recommends you re-stain every two summers. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi. I am redecorating a recently purchased house. New interior paint is essential. It is a 3-level house. The lounge, dining, kitchen (mid-level) and master room (top level) have tongue and groove ceilings that I want to paint, the bathrooms are freshly renovated with dark grey floor tiles and white wall tiles. Kitchen is getting replaced. Floor in kitchen and dining will be changed to new hard covering and new carpet throughout (all colours yet to be confirmed) The aluminium joinery is Karaka green. It has a lovely outlook over the river and a forest feel. I’m having a real hard time selecting colours for this project. I want to keep it warm and bright but also add something to give it a point of difference. I have been considering something a bit standout for the tongue and groove ceilings in the kitchen, dining, lounge area. Any suggestions to get me started would be greatly appreciated. A. Deciding what style and mood you want to convey is the starting point – and you might be led by the kitchen design and hard materials – whether you are wanting an organic natural feel to connect to the outdoors or a modern simplistic aesthetic, whether your carpet will match the colour of your wet area tiles or are you open to a paler colour. Consider window treatments – you can check out the Resene Curtain Collection online and coordinated colours. Consider a wallpaper feature wall for your Master Bedroom – Resene staff can show you the latest collection of papers or check out 'Tahiti' online. Pattern and texture can be a way to work back with colour. For the ceilings – consider how an impact colour might impose – and if you tire of it – is this an easily accessible area to repaint – whitewashing or crisp white beams can look fabulous against moody walls and timber accents, or modern furniture. Colours which evoke nature will work for your spaces, and with the window joinery – such as earthy neutrals, grey greens and green blues throughout the rooms, try Resene Quarter Lemon Grass, Resene Half Mondo and Resene Duck Egg Blue for bedrooms – you might like to use all three in different rooms wrapped on all walls with Resene Alabaster trims, and a base colour throughout the house like Resene Quarter Linen. You might also like to add a plain textured wallpaper in the main living area – perhaps one or two walls, if applicable. I recommend you order samples and see how you feel about the colours within the home and visit suppliers of kitchens and flooring with the colours to see what they advise – take photos. September 2025 |
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Q. I am wanting to paint house and deck and need advice. Will paint roof Ironsand and the pergolas are Ironsand. The deck is painted a very patchy Mission Brown and wanting to lighten it up. The aluminium is New Denim Blue. I quite like a griege colour. A. To balance the brown of the roof and blue of the windows I suggest Resene Double Truffle with Resene Half Foggy Grey for the deck, or Resene Ash with Resene Half Friar Grey for the deck. September 2025 |
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Q. We are wondering if we could paint the drawers in the kitchen a dark contrasting colour. The walls are Half Tea, and the joinery is a mixed colour to suit what was there previously. Any ideas would be welcomed. A. It is a current look to change the lower cabinetry and drawers to a colour, keeping the adjacent pantry and separate units the existing colour – I suggest a subtle contrast that will work long term, and balances the greige walls, warmth of the timber flooring and blue benchtop – then you can bring in bolder coloured accessories. Try Resene Duck Egg Blue. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, I am wanting to purchase large quantities of the Karen walker paints. Is it possible to have 4 litres mixed? A. Yes, Karen Walker colours are mixed into Resene products – pop into a Resene ColorShop and they will be able to mix 4 Litres for you. September 2025 |
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Q. Please could I have some suggestions for a colour update. I was wanting to repaint my kitchen walls (and dining room) separated from the kitchen. The kitchen bench is red and pantry doors, kitchen cupboards and drawers are Rimu (and the skirting boards are tinted Rimu). One wall of the dining room is taken up by the ranch slider and windows. Otherwise only other major colour influence is large (120 x 90cm) grayscale farm map on wall of kitchen. A. It really depends on whether you want the map to pop. You could opt to paint the kitchen wall which features the map a darker neutral, this could work well, as feature walls look best when they encompass art, or a deeper neutral on the dining walls. Neutrals which are warmish will balance all elements. Options are: Resene Stonehenge on the kitchen map wall with Resene Quarter Tea or Resene Blanc for the remaining kitchen and dining walls – if you have warm artificial lighting Resene Quarter Tea can sometimes throw a very subtle rosy glow so test both neutrals. Resene Stonehenge for the dining room feature wall with Resene Quarter Tea for the kitchen and remaining walls. You might opt to paint all areas Resene Half Rice Cake or Resene Quarter Tea with ceilings Resene Alabaster. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi, we purchased a house in cream/beige summer hill stone, but the back is concrete block, which is grey, and looks so cold. What is a good colour match for the brick please?! A. Try a warm griege like Resene Truffle, Resene Half Nomad or Resene Tea. A muted grey green like Resene Ash might also appeal – it is warmer than a cold grey. September 2025 |
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Q. I am looking to paint the interior of my brick and concrete 1920s home. The exterior is painted Pot Pourri. I am evoking a warm climate, Mexican type vibe. Without trying to be overly feminine. I would love to have an interior colour that is warming, not washing my pale skin out, tidy, not too dark as it’s a small place so the rooms are small. Help! I don't know where to start. A. Love the idea! A Mexican inspired palette for a small house can feel warm and full of character. Resene Inspire is a soft blended orange which has just enough colour to stop that washed out look, and when paired with Terracotta and earthy tones for accessories or accent rooms, it keeps the Mexican vibe. I would paint this on all substrates to enhance the look and make it cosy – Resene Space Cote Low Sheen is a hard-wearing water borne enamel with a lovely subtle sheen suitable for this purpose. Alternatively, you might like the deeper Resene Just Right for walls as a base colour and have a warm white for ceilings and trims such as Resene Pearl Lusta. Colours to pair with these are Resene Cameo (BS2660 chart) this colour could also be your base colour without other paint colours as accents and bring in accessories/fabrics in bolder colours); Resene Dawn Glow, Resene Kalgoorie Sands or Resene Apple Blossom (or all three) – an ochre might be also nice in furnishings or a combination. September 2025 |
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Q. With a terracotta tile roof & Karaka aluminium joinery what a good colour for stucco walls, avoiding custard tones. Single story house in country. A. Try Resene Tana – a near green stony grey; Resene Terrain – an earthy green; or Resene Quarter Bison Hide – a warm earthy grey brown. September 2025 |
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Q. We have recently purchased a home with timber ceilings and cork tiles in the dining/kitchen. We are repainting the walls and would like a warm feeling but also keep it bright/fresh, and don’t know which white to choose to link in with the ceiling and floor. A. Resene Bianca is a light warm white – it reflects light well and the subtle warmth enhances the natural tones of timber and cork – in some lights it can appear a little clean yellow – but only in some aspects – so test in the space to see how it appears with natural light. Resene Rice Cake is the alternative – it is not quite as bright but balances the strength of the timber and cork. There are lighter variants of each, but I would start with these as I feel the room needs a bit of depth to the white. September 2025 |
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Q. We want to paint 2 metal garage doors and the front door concrete steps. Attached are photos of garage doors, concrete stairs, window joinery is aluminium windows in Ghost Gray and the outlook from the house. Some advice would be appreciated. A. I suggest you do tie the garage doors into the house colour as they are not a feature, and this creates a modern effect. For the concrete steps – tie these into the Ghost Grey – Resene have a formula for Ghost Grey – see if they can make a sample of the colour into a 250ml testpot. The colour to ask for is Ghost Grey 6083. September 2025 |
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Q. I am looking for an icy cool-toned pale pink for a front door – similar to the colour in these photos. I don't want an orange pink or anything too lilac in colour. A. Try Resene Pale Rose or Resene Pink Lace. Resene Ballerina is a cool toned pink and could look great for a front door, but it is a bit deeper – however, colours can appear lighter outside. September 2025 |
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Q. I like the colour Half Scotch Mist but I want it slightly lighter, and was wondering if you have a Quarter Scotch Mist or can do a Quarter Scotch Mist? or have a similar colour that I am after. I want to pair it with Pale Leaf or Soft Apple. My inspiration is attached in the photo. I want warmer walls in my home – we have the standard Double Black White (grey) and the house just doesn’t feel like a home to me. A. Have you tested Resene Half Scotch Mist in the space – it is quite a bit more yellow than the colour you have referenced as inspiration – and Resene Quarter Scotch Mist will be also, depending on the aspect of light. To test Resene Quarter Scotch Mist, you can enquire at a Resene ColorShop to how you can obtain a sample – they may be able to mix the colour into a 250ml testpot or order a special A4 pre painted drawdown for you. You could also try Resene Quarter Villa White – but if you want a white the same colour as the pic – try Karen Walker Milk White – it will look cooler on a chart or online, but it does appear warmer, in brighter spaces especially. September 2025 |
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Q. Inside of my house is quite dark, I painted it Sea Fog on the walls and Black White on ceilings and doors. It is quite cold looking. What colour would you recommend to brighten and warm up the inside. I am not a lover of yellow whites. A. It really depends on any other fixed features such as flooring/kitchen/window joinery colours that you must work with. To shift slightly into a warmer palette, you could try Resene Merino which is warmer with Resene Alabaster for the ceilings/doors etc – to keep the scheme fresh, or try the popular Resene Half Rice Cake, or Resene Half Albescent White both with Resene Alabaster. September 2025 |
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Q. Please are you able to help me with a colour way for the front block (currently motley white). I purchased this home 18 months ago and not loving it! A. My suggestions are to either blend to the brick with a complementary colour or match to the garage and guttering etc. Try Resene Truffle, Resene Silver Sand or Resene Silver Chalice – the latter might not work but hopefully similar to the garage door/window joinery colours. September 2025 |
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Q. We have bought a house where the kitchen cabinets are painted Resene Spring Rain. The walls are a strong yellow which we don’t like. What would be a complimentary colour? A. I am thinking not to go too dirty with the white – like Resene Merino because of the light – however it might be worth trying, keeping it clean but softer and less yellow might be the way to go such as Resene Chalk Dust or Resene Double Bianca. September 2025 |
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Q. I would like to paint two south facing rooms that only get a little afternoon sun. I was thinking lighter blues or greens. A. For south facing rooms which receive low light or cooler (sour) light, green and blues that are too clean will feel icy and uninviting, if they are too muted, they might feel grey and dull. I recommend blues that are a mid-depth or have a warmer undertone and incorporating warmer colours or deeper variants, this might be for bed linen, for example, to add warmth to the space. It might be quite nice to have a blue for one room and a green based blue for the other – that flow nice from one another – consider Resene Ziggurat – as this is a warmer blue you could opt to pair it with deeper blues in tones of Resene Cello or similar. For the second bedroom Resene Moby – a bit cooler – pair with chocolate browns, buttercup yellows or wheaten neutrals. Softer blues and greens to try – which are cooler, but not harsh, and would look great with natural-coloured linens and pops of colour are Resene Jet Stream, Resene Halcyon, Resene Awash, Resene Botticelli or Resene Green Spring. Choose a couple of colours you like in each palette of green and blue and see how they appear in the rooms. September 2025 |
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Q. I attached a photo of my home. It is currently painted in Resene Tea with windows in Resene Alabaster. I like these colours, and would like something similar, but feel I would like to just choose a slightly more modern look. Perhaps something more stone/grey-based and less creamy/yellow-based. The roof is in Resene Grey Friars, as is the fence, and this will remain the same. Currently the front door is also Grey Friars which I like. Could you please suggest two or three colour combinations that you think would work? A. Options for weatherboards/windows & trim:
Colours appear lighter in bright natural light – the above suggestions are similar to the depth of Resene Tea. September 2025 |
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Q. I am painting my house and struggling to pick a colour. I like pinks, blues, greys, purples and black. Can you please suggest something. A. Considering your environment, these suggestions might work: Roof: Resene Grey Friars Weatherboards: Resene Rakaia Windows and trims: Resene Alabaster Roof: Resene All Black Weatherboards: Resene Half Delta Windows and trims: Resene Black White Roof: Resene Porter Weatherboards: Resene Ted (Range 2024) Windows and trims: Resene Aoraki (Range 2024) September 2025 |
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Q. Looking for indoor Resene colour scheme for a new build tiny home/cabin. Will be in rural/native bush area. We would like natural/relaxing colours and like moss/sage greens. Attached is a mock-up of the kitchen from the builder – thinking warm natural wood type floor and a light benchtop. Also need to choose a colour steel window joinery colour. We were looking at colours on your site and we like these, what do you think? Resene Merino: Living room walls. Resene Quarter Merino: Ceilings, interior doors, bathroom walls. Resene Galliano: Kitchen cabinets and bathroom shelf backboards. Colorsteel Flaxpod : Roof and joinery. A. I think the scheme is gorgeous and will work well. Resene Galliano is a fabulous colour (it has been a staple for many years) and if you can pull the colour (or yellow tones) out in a few other items art etc that will stop it being overwhelming. Resene Merino is a lovely warm natural colour and will complement the environment and windows As you have the higher ceilings Resene Quarter Merino is perfect – and with smaller area space, having a tonal scheme rather than a white ceiling will allow the eye to flow and not stop at harsh white lines. Yes, a light bench top and warm light flooring so that the space remains feeling open. September 2025 |
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Q. I'd like to repaint the house exterior, (aiming for white) what colour would you recommend? Would you recommend Black White and Quarter Black White for windows on our house? One of our family members suggested this, they saw a very pretty house and asked the painters onsite what the colours were. A. As your house is quite traditional and has a lot of warm strong character, then Resene Black White and Resene Quarter Black White might be too cool next to the terracotta roof and brick. Unless the house that they saw the colours has the same features, it may not be harmonious or suit the architecture. I recommend trying Resene Merino or Resene Rice Cake with Resene Alabaster for windows. This will create a stylish and timeless look, and with Resene Alabaster they work very well for a subtle contrast. If you do want to try a cooler toned white, then try Karen Walker Wan White – it is a little warmer than Resene Black White, and you could pair this with Resene Quarter Wan White. September 2025 |
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Q. I've moved into a house renovated in the 1950s, which had extensions in the 90s. Lots of natural light and the walls were repainted before I bought it. However, I don't really like the colour – Resene Half Dutch White as I find it too yellow. Could you suggest any white trim colours that would work well with the current wall colour, but also work with a less yellow white when we repaint the walls in a couple of years? We're going for a Hamptons style interior. Thanks. A. Yes, Resene Half Dutch White is quite yellow. I suggest Resene Alabaster for your trims – it is one of our most popular trim colours, as it works well with most colours, flooring and cabinetry. With Resene Dutch White it will contrast but not harshly – and it will create a lighter, airy interior. The combination will not necessarily lessen the impact of the yellow, but it will give many options to start moving forward with a new colour scheme in mind – Resene Alabaster is a great white to be introduced into a Hamptons theme. September 2025 |
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Q. I am building with Rockcote plaster and feature of oblique James Hardie vertical board. I am using Resene Double Black White for walls, Half Black White for soffit, appliance white joinery, Coloursteel Slate roof, garage, entrance door and Cloud fascia. Will this go well together? A. Yes, it is a great colour combination and should work well. My only query is, having a feature of Oblique Vertical Board – did you not want to have this a different colour (feature) Generally Oblique is chosen as it can be painted darker colours – but this is not necessary. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi, we need to repaint exterior of our house. It is currently Delta, but I wanted a change, so was looking at Double Rakaia (which I saw in a picture on your website) or a slightly blue/green colour – Duck Egg Blue seems to get a mention. We also need to paint the plastered base of the house. The aluminium windows on half the house are Titania; the other half of the house has nice old fashioned wooden windows painted white. The roof is Ironsand. A. For your home I suggest a fresher, lighter more defined look – consider Resene Rakaia for the boards with the base Resene Atmosphere. Keeping the trims such as wooden windows and bargeboards/eaves white will lift the scheme creating contrast; or for a more blended look you could paint trims, bargeboards, eaves, and wooden windows Resene Titania. If you want to retain the timber windows and trims white – and need to repaint, then I suggest Resene Alabaster. With the same colour theory above for the whites – you might like this alternative combination for boards and base: Resene Truffle boards with Resene Half Taupe Grey or Resene Gauntlet for the base. September 2025 |
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Q. I have recently flooded the house! This means flooring needs to be replaced and walls repainted. This gives me the opportunity to refresh things a bit in the affected rooms (lounge and open plan family/dining rooms) Currently the lounge is in Sisal with the ceiling and doors in Quarter Aths Special. I don’t want to change the drapes, or the ceiling/doors, so am interested in a fresher more modern colour that would work on the walls. I was thinking either a half or quarter strength of Sisal. Similarly, the adjoining family/living space is in Parchment. Ceilings, doors and Kitchen cabinetry are also in Aths special. I have attached a few pics of both spaces. Hopefully this helps you. Thank you. A. As you have the Resene Quarter Aths Special on the ceilings – you need to be a bit careful of going paler on the walls, as it might make the ceilings appear darker than the walls. With all the beautiful warm light in the open plan spaces and that wonderful view I recommend keeping to the Resene Aths Special palette here, as it is a bit cooler than Resene Parchment which can take on a yellow hue in paler variants – I recommend Resene Half Fossil (Equivalent to Half Aths Special), it is a little paler than Resene Parchment as well. For the separate lounge – to make it cosy and if it is used mainly at night then lightening it won't necessarily modernise it – I feel like this room needs to have a bit of depth but with a change of tone – try Resene Double Fossil or Resene Parchment for this space. September 2025 |
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Q. We are wishing to repaint the stairwell and hallways in our house – currently painted Tasman – and are wanting some colour advice. We have not been so happy with the Tasman colour, experiencing it as too 'clean' a colour in relation to other muted shades in the house. We would not wish to have a shade any darker than the current Tasman. Our living room is Aalto Dead Salmon, dining room Aalto Lamp Room Grey (or the Resene matched equivalent). Kitchen is Quarter Tea, as is the downstairs bedroom. Upstairs bedrooms are Half Tea. The woodwork throughout is Sea Fog. A. Try Resene Eau de Nil or Resene Double Duck Egg Blue – they are from the Resene Range 2024 but will suit a heritage or contemporary home. The colours are deeper than Resene Tasman but not too deep as the areas you are repainting are lower light areas. I also believe the product you use makes a difference to this type of palette – Resene Space Cote Low Sheen is a lovely subtle, hardwearing wall paint which means the colour remains looking better for longer – ask Resene staff to show you examples. As for the trims – if the rest of the house is Resene Sea Fog, then when using different colours for various rooms, I suggest keep the entrance, hallways and stairwell the same for consistency. September 2025 |
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Q. My weatherboards will be Delta and frames Sea Fog. Main Front door will be Resene Black My steps and veranda floor I was looking at either Half Grey Friars or Half Fuscous Grey. Would these work or is there another colour that might go better? A. Resene Half Grey Friars is an excellent choice – it is complementary to the other colours. Dark colours can cause heat underfoot if the sun enters this area – consider a Resene Cool Colour paint in Half Grey Friars if applicable. September 2025 |
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Q. I am looking for interior colours – warm autumn colours is what I like and natural elements, coastal feel is what we are trying to achieve. I have included photos. I'm not very brave with colours so am thinking one colour throughout and would prefer to be bolder in the styling choices rather than the walls, but I will take your recommendations. I also read it's the style now to use the same paint on trim, walls and ceilings. Once we pick colours, how do we find out how much the paint will cost – do we contact a painter? A. If you are working towards a cosy autumn palette then the yellow whites or soft warm off whites might be too clean – I suggest an aged linen white like Resene Half Albescent White – which is a designers dream as it works with most of the colours you are proposing! Yes, colour drenching is a current trend – this works if you are happy to enclose a space with colour – and it really depends on whether you want your ceilings to appear higher, as the same colour or similar can lower the visual height. Think about whether your trims are worth highlighting or would they be better painted the same. I feel for your space – the trims could be the same but the doors and ceilings a contrast – something like Resene Alabaster which is not too stark and is warm. I recommend you paint one colour throughout – perhaps personalise the Master Bedroom with a wallpaper feature behind the bed – Resene have fabulous new collections instore – these can be browsed online before visiting a ColorShop and seeing the physical samples. This allows plenty of movement to accessorise with warm rich colours. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi. I am having my late Dads red brick and tile updated cosmetically internally and would like 2 or 3 colour combos for the walls and ceiling. I have no idea what I am doing but all I know is I want to update it but keep it neutral for our new tenants. Are you able to help with a couple of options? The carpet is a green/grey, the kitchen colours are a duck egg blue. Window joinery is cream. I was thinking Resene Black White on the walls but wonder more about the ceiling and window frames? A. With cream joinery – grey whites like Resene Black White are not recommended as they don't always harmonise. Try Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream – it is neutral and warmer without being too cream. For the ceilings, window surrounds and trims I suggest Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream for a slightly brighter white, which creates a blended seamless scheme, without too many variants of white. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi! We are painting our exterior. We have purchased a white 1.8 M high fence for the front of the property. For house colours we were thinking a cool white + dark grey for roof, gutters and garage doors. The house is boring (no texture on walls) with white windows. I am afraid it will look washed out. Though I plan to put some decorative lights up and greenery. What would you do? A. Your scheme will work well with a white fence and the architecture of your home – it is always good balance to link the house to the fence, however, to avoid unwanted clashes I recommend the windows and trim to be close to the fence colour or main wall colour, so for example if the walls are Resene Wan White, match the windows as close as possible (doesn't have to be exact) to the fence or use a lighter variation of the wall colour – which would be Resene Quarter Wan White. Check the main colours against the fence for harmony – no whites need to match exactly but your eye should tell you what looks off. Because of the heaviness of the structure of your roof and the white fence, a dark grey will work, but going very dark will create high contrast – a colour similar depth to Resene Windswept might work well – greenery will soften the hard lines and add warmth. September 2025 |
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Q. Which paint colour/s would be best matched with Half Truffle, I have this on my bedroom/bathroom/toilet walls. I have had the doors, which were the fake wood look, and door frames painted in Alabaster, and window surrounds in Eighth Alabaster – I feel it is too white. A. Resene Alabaster pairs well with Resene Half Truffle – if you want something warmer and less of a contrast try Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Quarter White Pointer pairs as well but is a slightly cooler look. Perhaps change the window surrounds to the same new white you choose for the doors. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi there, I would love a colour expert's suggestions please on exterior paint choices for my house. The roof is Ironsand. A. Resene Taupe Grey or Resene Half Taupe Grey will blend well with the joinery and roof. For the gable ends, garage door, painted timber doors and windows – Resene Half Ironsand – I recommend a CoolColour paint, as dark colours do absorb heat. Bargeboards, fascia’s and posts I suggest Resene Wan White. September 2025 |
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Q. Which colours would you recommend for windows and trim to go with walls painted Flax (an earthy green)? Smallish living room with a wooden floor. Sunny room. Which colour for the ceiling? A. I suggest Resene Half Merino for the ceiling and Resene Merino for the windows and trims. This creates a warm inviting mood as they have an earthy connection to Resene Flax – the slightly deeper trim to the ceiling means the ceiling will appear higher without being a bright white. This combination is homely and suits heritage and cosy homes. If these whites appear too warm in the light, then try a sharper, cleaner white such as Resene Black White – the subtle grey undertone will counteract the warmth – this is a modern/crisp look. September 2025 |
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Q. We are going to paint our 1980s Lockwood exterior. We have chosen to paint the roof and barge boards Grey Friars and are having guttering fitted in Grey Friars also. This ties in with our garage which has Grey Friars doors. The joinery is brown aluminium. We also intend to remove the fibre cement base boards and replace with timber boards and replace the deck also. Could you please suggest a colour scheme for the walls, eaves and deck/timber. A. I suggest Resene Silver Chalice for the timber walls and base as it bridges the gap between the grey blue roof and brown aluminium. For the eaves Resene Half Black White will lift the overall scheme. For the deck a colour which ties in with the aluminium – Resene Masala – I recommend a Resene CoolColour version of paint, to keep the deck from absorbing too much heat. September 2025 |
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Q. I'm wondering about how you work out colour schemes for bedrooms. Should it relate to the colour schemes in the main living area usually? Is there a trick to make it all cohesive? A. Colours used in other areas can be brought in via furnishings or choose a new colour in the same genre of colour – so if your scheme feels like it is mostly saturated colours – bring in soft furnishings/linen/curtains in a saturated colour but perhaps using a neutral for the walls. I recommend choosing the bed linen or working with existing, curtains and furniture colours first and then work the walls back from there. Consider who uses the bedrooms and are they dual purpose rooms i.e. study/bedroom and then decide what mood you want to convey. September 2025 |
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Q. My living area and kitchen are painted Eighth Pavlova to go with the curtains as pictured. We now have a new kitchen which is closest to Double Sea Fog. As we don't intend to change the curtains and the rooms are open plan, is there a neutral colour we could paint the walls to blend the areas? A. It really depends on how much light the space receives and from what aspect, and what finish is on the cabinetry – higher sheens reveal undertones more in certain lights. You have two different tones going on – the grey bone of the Resene Double Sea Fog – although it does look lovely on your cabinetry – then the natural warm colours of the curtains. The warmth of the hardware is a great offset and helps to balance the differences. Resene Half Sea Fog will be harmonious with the cabinetry, and can create a calm, layered mood – I suggest pairing it with Resene Alabaster for trims and ceilings, but it may look greyer in certain lights next to the curtains. For a warmer vibe try Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream – should pair with the curtains well but may appear too warm next to the cabinetry. I recommend you test colours in the space – not onto the existing colour as the yellow undertone will change the appearance of the neutral colours. September 2025 |
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Q. We’re painting our new house and planning to use Half Sea Fog (or perhaps Wan White) on most of the walls. We have wooden floors, and we live by the coast, and our rooms don’t get much sunlight. We’d like some warm, soft colours for two girls’ rooms. They will both be carpet (white or light greyish). For one room: a feature wall in a gentle pink / mauve / lilac. nothing too bright/dark, nothing too grey... that will pair well with Half Sea Fog or Wan White on the other three walls. For the other room: a feature wall in a light green or blue green, also warm and understated, that also complements Sea Fog or Wan White. We want the overall feel to be cozy, warm, soft, and not overwhelming. A. Try Resene Paris White and Resene Ebb for the rooms or try Resene Blue Chalk and Resene Kandinsky. The pairs of colours are chosen to work for adjacent rooms as the eye flows nicely from one to the other. I am leaning towards Resene Half Sea Fog for the remaining walls in both rooms as it is a bit warmer than Resene Wan White and Resene Wan White might appear a bit muddy next to these colours, but this will be evident when you test all colours. September 2025 |
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Q. We want to repaint our whole house (except kitchen and bathroom) as its about 20 years since it was last done. All the walls are Half Spanish White and trims in Vista White. We're happy with the intensity and light of Half Spanish White but would like something less yellow, more neutral. Our lounge is north facing and bright and sometimes looks too yellow. Also, Vista White on doors looks rather dirty. We've looked at a few colours like Quarter and Eighth Tea and Quarter and Eighth Truffle and trims doors etc in Alabaster. I do worry that the Alabaster on the doors and windowsill might be too blinding in the sun compared to the Vista White. We are replacing carpet soon in similar neutral tone and will also get a new lounge suite. A. I suggest you try Resene Half Parchment with Resene Eighth Parchment for trims. Resene Half Parchment is likely to feel warmer, cleaner and less moody than Resene Truffle or Resene Tea based schemes – in rooms with shadow and north facing light – colours can be a bit washed out and drab if they are too earthy. September 2025 |
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Q. We would like to paint the interior of our entrance door, the outside colour is Resene Cleopatra, and the entrance walls are Merino. A. It might be worth painting two coats of a testpot onto A2 card (available @ Resene) of Resene Cleopatra and seeing how it appears inside, Alternatively, a teal blue might work – such as Resene Epic (Range 2024). September 2025 |
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Q. Painting the exterior of our house, wanting some colour advice for walls, windows and trim. We have a new iron roof which is Grey Friars, not really wanting to go white for the main house colour. A. Consider Resene Silver Chalice for the walls, soffit and base, accenting features like the vertical detailing, bottom windowsills and fascia with Resene Grey Friars to match the roof. I recommend the windows including the curved frame to b painted white to visually lift the scheme, try Resene Black White which is a soft chalky white. If the front door lends itself to being painted – a deeper variant of Resene Grey Friars – Resene Invincible in a gloss finish will pair well. September 2025 |
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Q. If I choose Half Milk White for walls and skirtings but want to deepen color for doors and around windows, would it be best to go Milk White or Titania Matt to match joinery. Also should I just go with alabaster for all ceilings and outside Scotia? A. I recommend Resene Alabaster for the ceilings and scotia, with Resene Half Titania for the doors, trims and window surrounds. This is only a subtle shift, but it shifts tone and creates a nice palette. Doors and trims are usually a semi-gloss and walls low sheen finish – so this does create further impact. September 2025 |
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Q. Looking for colours on the rear house on site – commercial use. Sign on front now liquorice. Front building orange/terracotta concrete roof tiles, Grey Friars’ fascia, silver chalice blockwork, black/white window trim. Rear building Ironsand roof / fascia, old silver aluminium joinery. Seek suggestion of colour of back building soffit, walls and base boards. Thanks. A. Try Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Half Tapa – they should pair well with the Resene Ironsand roof, windows and front building. I suggest keeping the railings and porch Resene Ironsand to balance the scheme and add depth to the house. September 2025 |
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Q. I am painting a kitchen and some doors. What is the difference between SpaceCote Kitchen and Bathroom and Lustacryl Kitchen and Bathroom? A. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen K&B, is a durable low sheen finish, recommended for walls, it can be used on other surfaces, but it is not quite as hardwearing as its semi-gloss version, Resene Lustacryl K&B, which is popular for trims, doors, windows etc. It is a current look to have a slight contrast between the walls and trims, using a combination of a low sheen for walls and a semi-gloss for trims etc. September 2025 |
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Q. Our whole house is painted White Pointer with Alabaster ceilings and skirtings etc. We need to re-do now and I have been finding the White Pointer a bit muddy looking especially in certain lights and with our warmer floors. I was thinking about Black White as an alternative. Keen to keep the ceilings etc the same colours. What do you think? I have attached some images to show you. A. For your interior, with the lovely wide trims, I suggest a white-on-white scheme to create a subtle variation and to create a little bit of warmth. Try Resene Alabaster for the walls and ceilings, with Resene Black White for the trims/doors. The variants in sheen levels will also create variation – generally low sheen like Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen is for walls, and a semi-gloss for trims such as Resene Lustacryl, ceilings being a critical light area are usually a flat ceiling finish. September 2025 |
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Q. I want to repaint the weatherboards on my house. I want a tone like my neighbour’s house you can see it to the right of the picture – light. I want the colour to harmonise with my roof colour. A. For your house I recommend trying Resene Ted, Resene Quarter Powder Blue, or Resene Half Gull Grey. They are greys with blue undertones – all look similar but in natural light will vary. September 2025 |
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Q. Do you have a suggestion for x1 shade darker or more saturated version of Tasman for exterior. I love the grey/blue green but feel the contrast isn't strong enough against white trim. I'm tossing up between Lemon Grass or Tasman and like the tone of Lemon Grass in terms of contrast. Trying not to end up with a blue house! A. Resene Half Lemon Grass is close to a deeper version of Resene Tasman – and is like a vintage green and will not be blue. Resene Eau de Nil from the Range 2024 is a lovely green but deeper again. September 2025 |
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Q. My wee house is 55sq metres. I have renovated the interior. The shutters you see are White. The aluminium joinery is that 1980s bronze/brown. The roof has been painted Resene Bone White. Soffits and fascia are White. What colour options can you suggest for the weatherboards? I'd like a colour that blends out the window joinery. I'm in Havelock North and would love a dark colour but have been advised against it because of our hot sun. My interior and back garden are tending to Moroccan / desert oasis themed. A. Dark colours absorb heat and can cause heat related issues for weatherboard homes. If you do want to use a dark colour – I recommend using a Resene CoolColour paint which helps to reduce these issues. Colours to try which light or dark may help to blend the brown joinery, complement the roof and garden theme are: Resene Half Ironsand, Resene Half Masala, Resene Truffle, Resene Quarter Taupe Grey or Resene Quarter Napa. September 2025 |
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Q. We are painting an outdoor section around a pool. We have replaced the pool surroundings with what used to be kind of orange/brown style to a grey concrete (5% black oxide). The house is a white villa with Karaka roof. The walls we are needing to paint are currently a yellow colour. It is a cinderblock wall with concrete. We want to make this more modern and tie in with everything else. I am loosely thinking Quarter Fuscous Grey but was also considering a white (to match the house) and am open to other recommendations. Do you have any feedback or thoughts? Would love any feedback or suggestions. A. I feel the boundary walls should complement the orange/brown brick base – so it is a continuation of the house. If the mortar in the brick leans towards grey then Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey is an option as it ties into the grey pavers, but if the mortar is warm or brown then it isn't relating at all to the house. This strength of colour is quite good for a long wall; a deep colour might be dominating. There is a lot of greenery around, so the grey tones might feel a bit flat against the background – but if you are happy for the wall to recede into the pavers and planting then this might be a good option. If the mortar is brown or warm, then I suggest a colour like Resene Half Masala which tones with the brick and roof and will still pair with the pavers, or the softer Resene Quarter Masala. These colours do have a slight green edge so they will complement the brick and garden. I suggest testing the three options – three colours is a great way to determine what different tones and depths of colour works. September 2025 |
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Q. I have an old 1830 house, inside quite dark requires lights on during daytime (large verandas over windows etc, high ceiling, floor and ceiling all wood very yellow brown Rimu and matai). Walls need repainting and I was considering Half Alabaster or Half Merino, have you any ideas? A. Yes, the Resene Alabaster and Resene Merino family should work well – I recommend trying the full-strength colours to create the warmth and balance the strength of the timber – they are still pale enough. (Resene Alabaster and Resene Merino). September 2025 |
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Q. I have a soft yellowy brick home, built 1970s, single story, rectangular shape that needs new joinery and roof. full upgrade. I am concerned that if I choose a dark colour it will fade. What colour would you suggest? A. Dark colours for coloursteel and joinery don't fade as fast as dark paint colours. Check out warranties (if applicable) with suppliers. I suggest Resene Ironsand for the roof and joinery to make the house cohesive, and for the current white cladding, I suggest painting that darker as well, but softer than Resene Ironsand such as Resene Half Masala – investigate using a CoolColour paint of this colour, as this will help reduce any heat related issues. Resene Half Masala (cool colour) can also be painted for the fascia boards and remaining painted substrates, for the soffit I suggest a soft white like Resene Merino. If you prefer a pale colour for the substrates you could replace the current stark white with Resene Merino. September 2025 |
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Q. Can you please let me know colours that are complementary to Colorsteel Karaka and Colorsteel Thunder Grey (the cladding and framing on our house). We are in the mountains above a river and are looking for a white (like clouds or snow) and a blue (like the river). Hope that makes sense. Thank you. A. For the white – try Resene Sea Fog – keeping in mind that it will appear a little brighter outside depending on application. River colours I am leaning towards a green/blue grey, because they will work with your cladding colours well. Resene Rolling Stone is fabulous, or you might like the muted blue of Resene Lynch, the depth of Resene Watermark (Range 2024), or Resene Artemis (Range 2020). September 2025 |
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Q. We have two upstairs bedrooms that have been painted over wallpaper by previous owners. Not sure what colour they used. Would like to leave the ceiling as is. I am stripping the wallpaper and gib stopping and repainting. I have started with this room it is approximately 3.5 x 7m. Facing northwest so gets midday to afternoon sun. It is a guest room, overlooks the sea. Would like help with paint colours please? Wanting a coastal Hamptons feel, probably a white or neutral colour. Also need to repaint windowsills, etc. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated A. Resene Sea Fog, Resene Merino or Resene Half Blanc should work well in a NW bedroom, which have enough depth, to balance coastal freshness but not appear too warm in the afternoons. I suggest pairing any of these colours with Resene Double Alabaster for ceilings and trims, to create that Hamptons contrast without being too stark or cold. Testpots are recommended – it is best if you paint onto A2 card or purchase pre painted A4 samples from Resene – this way you can move the card around the room. Test in different lighting – artificial, afternoon, and morning – NW rooms change a lot. September 2025 |
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Q. We are doing the roof and fascia and garage door Lichen. What colour should we paint the house? A. It depends on whether you want the house to be brighter and fresher or continue with a moody palette. If you want brighter and fresher, consider Resene Double Thorndon Cream, Resene Ash or Resene Truffle. For a moodier palette consider Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Half Foggy Grey or Resene Tapa. The exterior colour will need to pair with the window joinery as well. September 2025 |
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Q. I've tried testpots of both Bokara Grey and Element for my exterior including the roof. I have black joinery and red brick features – Bokara Grey is just a bit too close to brown, and Element looks too bluey. Is there a colour closer to black but still with the warmer undertones of Bokara Grey? A. Try Resene Nocturnal – I would use this on the roof as well. You might also like Resene Foundry with Resene Double Foundry for the roof. September 2025 |
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Q. Inside our house is White Pointer with Half Black White ceilings and trim and we love this colour for the main interior colour. With the new Flaxpod aluminium we will also be doing some new interior feature walls – dado walls and would love your recommendation for a muted green and maybe soft blue for these. I’m also wanting a country kitchen – and was considering a dusty type of green for this as well. Any suggestions for this? A. Karen Walker Half Washed Green or Resene Robin Egg Blue could be great for the kitchen. If you want a softer look, try Resene Quarter Lemon Grass or Resene Eighth Lemon Grass. For blues look to Resene Half Halcyon, Resene Half Dusted Blue or Resene Casper. September 2025 |
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Q. We are painting a room, and we want it to be light, bright, warm, fun, and coastal. As my guide I'm using a wallpaper I like – Acquario Sea Foam by Fornasetti. When you look the colours up online, it looks different from the actual wallpaper. The exterior of the house will be light blue (Ashanti) with white trim and a yellow front door (Bright Spark) and a couple of yellow deck chairs. For the lounge, we have brown sofas, and I am looking at a colour scheme of off-white walls with brown, orange, and yellow accents. I feel like I need another more neutral colour to soften it. Right now, we are pretty keen on Double Rice Cake for most of the walls, with a bold window frame possibly in Vesuvius, table legs in Vesuvius as well, a few accents in yellow maybe Bright Spark and I'm wondering about painting the lower cabinets a brown to soften it, maybe Double Canterbury Clay. Would you recommend Double Rice Cake, Vesuvius and Bright Spark together? And how does Double Canterbury Clay work with these? ChatGPT thinks working in the bright yellow can be done but might be a bit tough. Any other colour recommendations are welcome. Thanks. A. Colours online are not accurate – they are printed so you do need to see painted samples. GPT chat takes advice given all over the net to create their schemes, so it doesn't necessarily match or is right for each individual home and certainly isn't using a trained eye before it gives the info. Yes, the three colours work together – both Resene Bright Spark and Resene Vesuvius are strong next to Resene Double Rice Cake, so it depends on what you prefer – probably Resene Vesuvius as it is more grounded being a burnt orange, for the frame. Just ensure you only use a small amount of yellow 10% throughout the space – otherwise the room will look chaotic. Resene Double Canterbury Clay does not work – it will just look dirty – you don't need to bring in a brown as you already have the sofa – if you feel the room still needs a lift use a paler variant of Resene Double Rice Cake, or a deeper neutral – even black might be an option. September 2025 |
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Q. I'm looking to repaint my entire house – everything from the roof and gutters to the exterior and interior feels outdated – could you please recommend a modern, cohesive colour palette for all of it? It is in a country setting and has brown aluminium windows, and I want it to feel light and bright inside. A. For the exterior I suggest Resene Ironsand for the roof as it will blend with the joinery, and Resene Quarter Bianca for the fascia, trim, balustrade and soffit. For the main cladding, an earthy colour that will work with the environment such as Resene Half Taupe Grey, and for the deck a complimentary modern grey – Karen Walker Half Foggy Grey. If the front door can be painted, I suggest a warm black like Resene Element in a gloss finish. Garage doors (if applicable) could also be Resene Ironsand or Resene Element depending on their proximity to the front door – if they are seen with the door then paint them Resene Element – if not paint them Resene Ironsand. The fascia and gutter being red may require an undercoat such as Resene Quick Dry to block the colour and allow a white to easily be overcoated – but I feel it is important to lighten this area so that if connects to the railings and detailing better. For the interior – I recommend a warm white that flows from the exterior – try Resene Bianca for the walls with Resene Alabaster for ceilings and trims to create a bright backdrop that is clean and modern. For the bedrooms I suggest you inject a warm soft beige to create a subtle contrast and a modern approach – consider Resene Half Truffle. September 2025 |
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Q. We are painting the exterior of our home and would like some advice on what colours would suit the style of the house, and the area. We are currently considering Envy G71-028-149, Bay Leaf G73-050-155, Chinook G82-049-151. We are open to other suggestions, but we were thinking green hue for the weatherboards and white window trims. Green is a preference because the deck is stained dark brown, although we are concerned that green hues would clash with the colour of the roof. We are also aware the colours look lighter in the daylight, so maybe we need to select a darker hue of green – but we want to avoid green-yellow. Any advice you can provide would be much appreciated. A. They are not quite right with the roof. Try Resene Ottoman, Resene Cooled Green or Resene Transcend (Range 2024). Three different strengths of colour. I quite like ambiguous colours like Resene Ottoman which are very light but change at varying times of the day. September 2025 |
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Q. Hello; I want to paint outdated wooden balustrading in two spaces where there are already a few different browns I need to work with. To de-emphasise the balustrading, I am thinking of using a soft mid-toned brown in a low-sheen or satin finish. Resene Saddle seems to be the most neutral mid-toned brown I have found so far, as it doesn’t seem to actively clash with other browns that have different undertones. However, I wonder if Saddle might be a bit too pale to suit wooden balustrading. Can you suggest any other Resene browns that are like Saddle but 1 or 2 shades darker? (Felix is slightly darker but too purple.) Thanks in advance for your help. A. I don't feel Resene Saddle will be too dark at all – it is a great mid toned brown; Resene Kabul might also work but it is not deeper. Resene Half Woodbark is deeper and might work, alternatively, ask @ Resene if they can make Resene Double Saddle for you – they can get it formulated via a phone call to H/O, and then it may be able to be mixed in a 250ml testpot. September 2025 |
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Q. I am interested in a Karen Walker colour scheme for my 1930s cottage. Smoky Green – for the front porch and deck timbers (and potentially accents around the house). Beryl Green for the weather boards. Clementine Orange for the front door. Ecru White for the window and door frames. Alternatively, would you double the Beryl Green and the Smoky Green to make them a bit darker? A. Your scheme is fabulous and the only change I recommend is the windows to Resene Half Ecru White. I wouldn't deepen the greens – the orange door will balance the scheme. I do recommend for the timber (smoky green) using a CoolColour paint, as dark colours do attract more heat. September 2025 |
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Q. I'm looking at the attached scheme of blues for a Northeast facing small bedroom. Is it possible to have a slightly mellower version of "Jordy Blue" reduce the strength a bit. This is a combination of: Fun Blue + Jordy Blue + Triple Spanish White (May even check Double) and Paddock in varying finishes. A. Check out Resene Dream Big (Range 2024) it is a softer/muted version of Resene Jordy Blue and fits well with the scheme. Consider Resene Double Spanish White – it might work better. September 2025 |
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Q. We have a house – attached to another that is a light tan painted colour. We are doing a renovation with charcoal (flaxpod) aluminium. We are renewing the colour but want to keep it in the mid neutral range. Do you have some favourite combinations for something like this? A. If you want the house to feel bigger and fresher, then go for lighter walls – Resene Truffle, with an Resene Ironsand roof, if you want the house to feel more solid and earthy then Resene Napa with a mid-toned roof like Resene Grey Friars. For product advice visit our Paint Experts Q&A. September 2025 |
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Q. Our house is a mix of red brick and cedar on an extension. The cedar is very dry, so the painter’s recommendation is to paint rather than stain. Thinking of a dark grey or black to contrast the brick. Any suggestions on this and roof colour? Trims are currently green but not sure if it’s better to go all one colour. White aluminium windows. A. Your painter may advise against a dark colour for cedar, as it is a vulnerable timber and subject to heat absorption issues, however, I think a dark colour will look stunning and recommend if you are going to go this way to use Resene CoolColour paint which will help reduce heat related issues. Resene Bokara Grey is a dark warm near black that might work well, or Resene Double Gravel is a dark green/grey. Yes, paint everything the same including the bargeboards and pergola – consider leaving the soffit white – a softer white like Resene Sea Fog – rather than matching to the stark white of the windows. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi, I have painted my hallway wall Quarter Tea but am wondering what colours would look best painting the wooden panels, architraves and doors? I have painted Littleton, but I don’t like it as it is more baby blue to me. A. If you want these details to be highlighted, then a soft grey white might work like Resene Sea Fog, for a deeper colour try warmer greys and beiges like Resene Napa, Resene Truffle or Resene Bison Hide. You could try greys such as Resene Raven and Resene Quarter Baltic Sea, but these may appear a bit heavy next to the soft warm walls. September 2025 |
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Q. Can you please recommend some colours that the LRV is greater than 45 and less than 55 for timber weatherboard cladding? A. There are plenty of colours that fall between that LRV rating – it really depends on what you are looking for and what colours you must work with. On the back of each colour palette/chart there are the LRV ratings listed, and you will also find these on the Resene website. To give you an example of the depth of colour – Resene Half Napa is a great colour on weatherboards it is a grey/beige, the LRV is 51%, it pairs with grey roofs, black roofs, and terracotta roofs. Or you might like a soft grey like Resene Silver Chalice which has an LRV of 49%, or Resene Triple Concrete LRV 55%, these looks good with white windows, silver windows, grey roofs, and dark brown roofs. Resene Ash is a popular green/grey, LRV 55%, it works with grey roofs and dark brown roofs. If you have a light roof, then you might want to consider a colour like Resene Eighth Tapa LRV 54%. It really depends on the colour of your roof and window joinery. September 2025 |
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Q. Hi. We have a piece of art that looks stunning on a deep charcoal grey wall. We chose Armadillo in our previous home. That was great except for a tendency to be green in some lights. We used it again in our current house where the light direction is different. We are now building and trying to find an alternative as we know the light will be more like our previous home. Can you suggest a genuine dark grey, please? An 'honest' grey. We are wondering about Ship Grey, Baltic Sea and possibly Grey Friars but feel like we are just casting about (and going through lots of drawdowns). A. Try Resene Half Shark, Resene Shark, Resene Westminster (Range 2024) or Resene Baltic Sea – I recommend ordering A4 pre coloured drawdowns online or via a ColorShop. To honour your art piece, if these are not right, I recommend you take home a range of dark greys and charcoal palettes from Resene – staff will assist with this – there will only be about 4 palettes, these are paint chips, so you can match quite well to the background of the art in the correct light. I suggest not making the final decision until the framing (preferably gib) is on the wall that you are going to hang the art, and viewing the swatches and art together – you might have two or three greys as a back-up – but lighting I find in most homes appears different because of other influencing factors, like window colour, size, adjacent trees/colours, flooring differences – some colours absorb more light even if the aspect is the same. September 2025 |
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Q. Outside I have used Resene Rice Cake, I would like to follow on through inside was just not sure what sheens and depths to use on ceiling, architraves and doors? A. The preferred finish for these surfaces as is follows: Ceilings – flat – as it hides imperfections, typically highlighted on ceilings with higher sheen levels. Walls: Low Sheen. Doors and Trims: Semi-gloss – not too shiny but creates enough contrast against the low sheen walls and harder wearing for these substrates. September 2025 |
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Q. I am unsure as to which white to pick in a kitchen located in the south of the room. Floor tiles will be a mid to dark grey stone look and walls are Dulux Natural White. A. Do you want your kitchen to feel brighter/crisper with contrast, or more blended and seamless overall. If you want a contrast try Resene Alabaster, if you want a blended, but still a bit brighter look try Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. September 2025 |
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Q. I have painted a dining table, and chairs in Annie Sloan Old Ochre chalk paint with poly overcoated. The chairs I reupholstered in a grey, brown and cream stripe. I am needing to repaint and am thinking Lustracryl may be the way to go after a light sand. We have Double Bison Hide on the walls and if it works, would like to go a bit darker on the dining table and chairs as always wiping dirty fingers off the chairs and table. A. Painting the chairs and dining room like the wall colour, creates a cohesive look and may make the room feel larger, plus it is a growing design trend, plus you have the textured seating to stop it feeling overwhelming. At present I do feel the ochre is a little yellow next to the walls, although the set is lovely. I suggest you try Resene Triple Bison Hide or shift slightly in tone with Resene Craigieburn – the depth of colour needs to work with the floor – so there is a bit of contrast to stop the scheme feeling flat. Lightly scuff the existing polyurethane, just enough to de gloss the surface. Nothing too strenuous as sanding around the backs of the chairs will be labour-intensive. Apply 1 x thin coat of Resene Waterborne Sureseal ( this is an etching primer). Followed by 1 x coat of Resene Quick Dry water-based primer undercoat. Followed by 2 x topcoat of Resene Lustacryl in your desired colour. Please be gentle with the fresh paint system for a further 7 days after painting. During this time the coating will be susceptible to damage and chemicals. No additional polyurethanes needed. Lustacryl is robust enough as is, but I recommend protecting the surface with coasters when serving hot food and drinks. September 2025 |
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Q. We are looking to repaint our lounge. It is a semi open space and there is a beam bisecting one wall where the colour changes. It is quite subtle which I like but I would like to do something a little more saturated and pinker toned. The built in, trim, ceiling, and dining room are Resene Half Spanish White (and the lounge is currently Double Spanish White). The sofa and chairs are likely to change so I am more concerned with pairing something that works with the wood, rug, and curtains, and can handle the somewhat extreme changes in lighting across the room. I have not had any success finding a muted, subtle, dusky pink. I have included some inspiration photos. I would appreciate any recommendations you may have. A. Try Resene Bone or Resene Cameo – the latter is from the BS2660 range so may only be available to test in a 250ml testpot or you may be able to order A4 pre painted swatches online or @ a Resene ColorShop. September 2025 |
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Q. We are painting our interior Resene Merino, what type of paint would you suggest? We prefer a low sheen, but there are so many different types. A. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom for walls, is the recommended product for wet areas and kitchens – you can continue this paint into any open plan area for consistency. For the remaining areas I suggest – Resene Zylone Sheen a standard waterborne low sheen finish – it is not as hard wearing as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, but it is available to buy in larger pails since you are painting the entire home. I recommend you purchase a cost-effective little bottle of Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner as it is a great spot cleaner when those grubby marks appear and won’t leave residue marks like some wall cleaners. Resene ColorShops have examples of these finishes instore and if you are purchasing the paint yourselves you can sign up whilst there for a Resene DIY card and take advantage of standard discounts and promotional materials. September 2025 |
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Q. Why is Resene Alabaster referred to as Cotton and Eighth Sea Fog? A. Resene Cotton / Resene Eighth Sea Fog are the same colour but feature on different charts – the most common name for this colour is Resene Alabaster. September 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 stand out and so want the walls to be a little 'softer' – without looking dull. What would you suggest? 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. September 2025 |
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Q. We’ve gone ahead and bought Resene Element for the roof and barge boards, and Helium for soffit from the Wairau Resene shop. Over the weekend we tried Baring Head on the blockwork and tongue-and-groove panels, but in some lights (like today) it just looks grey. We’re painting the house for a friend who’s in Australia for 2 months, and she’s asked for a blue tone not green or grey but not too dark a blue. I went back to Resene Shop this morning and grabbed testpots of Wanaka and Wedgewood – and now I’m completely confused! Could you please give us your thoughts? A. Consider Resene San Juan or Resene Explorer – the latter being a bit deeper – they will not look green as such, when not sitting next to definite blues, so test in a separate area. For bluer options try Resene Hammerhead – it is a grey blue but bluer than Resene Baring Head, or Resene Avalanche – bluer again. Try to view the colours in bright light as well if you haven’t already, to ensure you like the blue which may be brighter in strong daylight – it is a compromise as most colours, unless bright and clean will grey off in dull light, so hopefully the above suggestions will balance in both lights. September 2025 |
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Q. I want to paint a dining nook a soft green. The walls around it are half tea so I would like a bit of colour, but I will be keeping the Half Tea walls. A. Consider Resene Lemon Grass, Resene Coriander, Resene Bud, Resene Field Day or Resene Flax. Testpots onto A2 card (two coats) and compared in the natural light of the intended space are recommended. September 2025 |
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Q. The main house will be Beryl Green and lexicon quarter balustrade with Colourbond night sky black gutter. We would like to paint the garage a different colour to break up the scale of the house / set it apart. Considering Periglacial Blue but triple or quadruple – not sure this is right. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank you! A. You are on the right track with tones – it is getting the right depth – try Resene Triple Duck Egg Blue – this may only be available in 250ml testpots for sampling – Resene Inside Back or Resene Half Innocence. September 2025 |
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Q. We are renovating a 1970s brick bungalow and would like to freshen up and modernise the look of the exterior. 1. If we were to keep the brickwork as is, what colours would you recommend for the roof and the white concrete block? 2. We are also open to painting the brickwork, in which case what colours would be recommended for the roof, brickwork and concrete block? A. I recommend a dark roof such as Resene Ironsand with a warm grey like Resene Triple Truffle, for the concrete base, soffit and fascia’s. The balcony railings and posts could be modernised by painting Ironsand. Alternatively, try Resene Gauntlet for the roof and fascia’s, with Resene Bokara Grey on the brick, base and railings – I recommend keeping the soffit a white to go with the light windows – such as Resene Wan White. September 2025 |
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Q. What colour will go well with Silver Chalice; I am painting Silver Chalice on my weatherboards and would like to find a colour for my two vertical cladding walls. A. Consider Resene Baltic Sea, Resene Ship Grey, or Resene Foundry. It really depends on whether you can have a dark colour for the type of cladding – are there any LRV (light restriction values), but a darker contrast will obviously set the scheme. September 2025 |
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Q. In our corridor of our single fronted 1880s villa, we have painted the walls Pearl Lusta, and the doors, trims and ceiling in quarter strength Pearl Lusta. We will be affixing pressed metal dado panels (900h x 600w). Is Resene Jasper (blue) a good choice or what are our other options. We have polished floorboards. A. Yes, that's a lovely combination, rich blues and greens are complementary to Resene Pearl Lusta for feature areas. Try Resene Rulebreaker for a current blue similar to Resene Jasper, or Resene Green Meets Blue can create an inviting atmosphere, grounding the space. September 2025 |
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Q. I'm looking at painting the exterior of our weatherboard 1930s bungalow in Lemon Grass. It has colonial windows on two bay windows and is a large double storied house. I am thinking of Flaxpod or Ironsand for the roof, and a crisp white to contrast on the windows and sills. Would you recommend Flaxpod or Ironsand and what white would work best? A. Resene Ironsand will work well, and I suggest teaming it with Resene Black White for a sharp contrast or Resene Half Merino for more of a colonial feel. The balcony railings and handrail will also suit being entirely white. September 2025 |
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Q. I want to paint my front door white. I have white on the house that I think is Resene House White... would Resene Black White or Resene Half Black White work well with it for the front door to give it more of a 'pop' in colour... or would you recommend something else? A. Yes, Resene Half Black White should pop against Resene House White or similar. A gloss finish will help to enhance the colour. September 2025 |
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Q. I'd like to repaint the house exterior, (aiming for white) what colour would you recommend? Thank you! A. I recommend trying Resene Merino or Resene Rice Cake with Resene Alabaster for windows. This will create a stylish and timeless look, and with Resene Alabaster they work very well for a subtle contrast. Consider repainting the windows – as the combination is what will make the scheme successful. September 2025 |
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