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Simple DIY projects with paint

From the Resene decorating blog

Colour brings soul to a home. It’s a way in which we can bring a little of ourselves into our interiors, showing off our individuality and character. Consider what colours really make you shine because they’ll have the same effect on your home.

A neutral dining room with pops of colour

Lively, fruity, pops of colour are for a busy area like the kitchen as they bring an element of fun to the everyday. Wall in Resene Double Alabaster, table in Resene Frozen, chairs in Resene Bubble White with details in Resene Maestro and Resene Rapture, green chair in Resene Anise, pendant lamps in Resene Nero, jug vase in Resene Blue Chalk and small plant pot in Resene Rapture. Plants from Give Plants, cushions from Castle and Things, artwork by Jessie Breakwell. Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.

Colour will add a layer of elegance or cosiness to your interior or exterior, bringing your home to life. This is a chance to think about what hues have a positive emotional effect on you. So, forget about what trends are taking centre stage, and keep in mind what colours move you – be they bold, refined, pretty or edgy.

With simple DIY jobs that can be done in a day or a weekend, you bring colour to all sorts of places in your home. Small-scale projects done in imaginative ways can bring creativity to your dwelling with decorative and practical effects. It’s the ideal way to apply your unique style.

You may have a long list of projects you’ve been meaning to tackle. Small things that you can gradually tick off over a weekend.

Are your bookshelves becoming dumping grounds of unused books and odd pieces of paper? It’s time to clear away the clutter and wipe your shelves down. Then, while its empty, apply a bold Resene colour or soft hue, one that works well in your interior. Choose a gorgeous palette for your backdrop, try a different colour for the backdrop or each shelf level. One option is a palette of blush hues in varying depths.

The bathroom can feel like a tricky space to add colour to. If you have a free-standing bath, make it a centrepiece of your bathroom by painting it in a dramatic shade. Rich colours on the walls around it will complement it, while neutral walls will enable the colour to pop.

Hallways and stairwells are ideal places for adding personality yet are often overlooked. Wooden staircases are the perfect place to apply a bit of personality. Choose a colour for the entire staircase or even a range of different hues for a bit of fun.

In your kitchen, affordable updates, such as painting your cabinets using Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer and Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel help maintain your interior long-term. Keep it straight-forward – go monochrome by keeping the colour scheme the same as the walls and woodwork. Or try going tonal by choosing three Resene paint colours that work together.

A deep green lounge

Freshen up your bedroom with paint

Lounge: With a quick paint job, a simple cabinet can be transformed into a statement piece of furniture with paint, taking the room it is in to another level. Vertical stripes in dusty rose and a soothing neutral are a bold feature in this lounge, grounded by the surrounding deep green. Walls in Resene Palm Green, floor in Resene Greige, cabinet in Resene Double Spanish White with stripes in Resene Vintage, large plant pot in Resene Palm Green, small plant pot in Resene Cutty Sark, low bowl in Resene Bubble White and books in Resene Deep Teal and Resene Rivergum. Velvet chair, cushion and ottoman from Contempa, lamp from Freedom Furniture, throw, rug, artwork and brass tealight holder from Kmart. Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.  Bedroom: A little paint goes a long way, as seen in this bedroom, which has been freshened up with easy DIY paint tasks. A painted headboard, pendant and feature wall are affordable ways to make a difference, bringing a new dimension with a contemporary colour tones. Main wall in Resene Eighth Stonehenge, return wall (at right) in Resene Stinger, floor in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, slatted headboard in Resene Double Stonehenge, lampshade in Resene Nero and hook rack in Resene Half Barely There. Hooks from Kmart, duvet and pillowcases from Citta, quilt and cushions from Collect Living, rug from Kmart, artwork by Oslo from endemicworld. Project by Kate Alexander and image by Bryce Carleton.

Paint the inside of cabinetry for pops of colour in small measures. Try a turquoise, blush pink or seafoam green. Ensure it brings plenty of contrast with your outdoor cupboard colour for the best impact.

If you have a workspace or study nook, paint it in an invigorating hue that will aid stimulation and work. Change things around for a freshen up and add a colourful, painted peg board as a place to house reminders and inspirational pictures.

Perhaps you want to bring in colour to your bedroom but aren’t committed to painting the whole room or even a whole wall? Any easy, quick solution is adding rectangular blocks of colour across a corner of a room. Use masking tape to zone where you want to paint, and apply your colour, keeping the rest of your walls neutral. If you’d prefer to keep things symmetrical, block a headboard area instead.

A nautical themed kids bedroom

Paint bedside tables in soft soothing hues

Kids bedroom: Bring an element of play to your child’s bedroom by painting a simple geometric pattern onto their drawer fronts. Let them choose their favourite colours to tie in with the room’s overall scheme and theme, like this nautical one. Wall in Resene Half Sea Fog with waves in Resene Explorer, floor in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, drawers in Resene Half Black White, Resene Tangaroa, Resene Raging Bull and Resene Pirate Gold, pendant lamp in Resene Raging Bull, container in Resene Raging Bull, grid plant pot in Resene Tangaroa, vase in Resene Fahrenheit and life preserver wreath in Resene Raging Bull. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston and image by Bryce Carleton.  Bedside tables: Transform bedside tables and vases into something special with relaxing, complementary tones. In this bedroom, soothing balancing hues of grey blue and blush invite and comfort, despite being simple, small areas of colour. Wall in Resene Triple Merino, floor in Resene Merino, headboard in Resene Tide (left) and Resene Tussock, vases in Resene Blank Canvas (small round flat), Resene Tussock and Resene Nepal (large arch), bedside tables in Resene Nepal (large) and Resene Tide (small) and ball ornament in Resene Americano. Duvet cover and pillowcases from Citta. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Melanie Jenkins.

You may always have had a desire for a stand-out skirting board or for coating your fireplace in a favourite hue. These are easy tasks to undertake within a day or a weekend, with maximum results.

If a nautical theme in your home really makes your heart sing, then find an unused, second-hand wooden oar and transform it into a decorative object. Simply sand it back and coat it in a colour that blends with your surrounding palette. For an authentic weathered look, apply a coat of Resene White and sand it back, letting the timber peek through. You can continue this beach theme by repurposing a piece of driftwood and coating in in paint for use as a gate handle – perfect for the bach.

Glam up your front porch, after all, this is usually the entrance spot where guests like to stay and chat in, so why not make it beautiful? Paint your veranda balustrade in a fresh coat – maybe it’s time to try something new like a gentle turquoise of Resene Juniper or the Mediterranean spearmint of Resene Riptide? Fresh coats of Resene Walk-on paint on the veranda floor will work wonders too, covering up those areas or blistered or chipped paint that have worn away. Ensure you have plenty of seating, plants and comfortable cushions out here too, making the most of the covered space. If the sunset can be seen from here, it’s a perfect spot to make it an extension of your indoor living area! Add a large, strung-up hammock if you can, as a place in which to lie back and enjoy the sun.

Many of us have a tool or garden shed on our property which often gets overlooked and is lucky if it gets a tidy once a year. Once you have given it a clean, why not buy a new pegboard, paint it in an eye-catching hue and rearrange your tools or gardening kit? It’ll make the shed feel like it’s a more pleasant place to be, not somewhere you avoid due to the mess. And with everything in its place, chores will feel a lot easy to accomplish when you can find the right tools to do the job.

Make a decorative feature out of your door frames throughout your home by coating them in a new shade of paint. You can even add a surrounding border in a complementary hue to make more of a statement. With walls in Resene Regent Grey, try an extended architrave in Resene Sea Nymph, around door frames in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.

Modernise vintage candlesticks with a coat of paint. Bring them up to date with fresh hues in varying tones from the same colour family. For an easy way to choose a tonal palette choose from the Resene Multi-finish palettes which are arranged tonally.

If you have a freestanding wooden coat rack that needs a little love, freshen it up with a new hue. Choose one that blends in beautifully with your front door and entranceway or opt for a bright hue for an optimistic pop of colour. These are all ways of using paint to help create a welcoming and inviting setting for you and your loved ones to return home to each day.


Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash

February 26, 2021

For advice on all your decorating projects and all the paints, colours and wallpapers you need, visit your Resene ColorShop. Or for more project ideas check out hundreds of free project ideas online.

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Colours shown on this website are a representation only. Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.   See measurements/conversions for more details on how electronic colour values are achieved.

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