Decorating tricks and tips that won’t trip you up

From the Resene decorating blog

Planning and executing a home renovation or decorating project can be time-consuming and expensive.

Shortcuts or hacks that might save you time or money are always tempting but can sometimes go wrong, throwing your project off-course and over-budget as you deal with the consequences. It doesn’t need to be that way.

While patience and planning are two of your biggest assets when it comes to successfully completing a renovation project, there are some tips and tricks that actually help make the process faster and simpler, without sacrificing the quality of your finish.

Choosing colour

Resene Colour Expert Jackie Nicholls says the key to an efficient decorating process all starts by getting some of your foundations in place before you start – including having a clear idea of what your colour palette will be.

“Before diving headfirst into a renovation, a tiny bit of thought and consideration to the style and colours you want can save you a lot of time in the long run, and help you avoid costly mistakes.

“Start by bringing together some furnishing items you love and use those to help you pull a palette together,” Jackie says, adding that Resene Colour Experts can help you create a unique and interesting colour scheme from samples of fabric, magazine clips and swatches, and give you confidence that everything will pull together and feel cohesive in the finished project.

“When choosing your colours, never decide from a tiny swatch,” Jackie says. “The swatches on paint charts and cards are a good starting point, but when you’ve narrowed down your choices, Resene has A4 colour samples you can view instore and Resene testpots to take home and try out so you can view larger samples of the colours in the context of your home. “Colours will look different in larger areas and in different environments and light conditions. So taking the time to thoroughly try different colours will help ensure you choose colours you love and work well together.”

While it’s often tempting to choose an all-white colour scheme on the grounds that it’s ‘safe’, inoffensive and easy to work with, Jackie advises that it can also leave your home feeling chilly and impersonal. Instead, if bold colour is not for you, she suggests branching out into other neutrals like warm beiges such as Resene Fossil or rich creams like Resene Double Dutch White. You could also try subtle pastels like Resene Contented or Resene Springtime, which still leave you that blank canvas to add your decor too, but with added flair and sophistication.

“Listen to your instincts and seek advice from the experts to curate a personalised scheme,” she says.

When it comes to choosing colours for your exteriors Jackie suggests seeing how your preferred colours look with your favourite plants in front of them, so the finished garden space works together well.

“Fences and garden walls can really enhance your garden when painted or stained in darker colours such as Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Waterborne Woodsman natural wood stain tinted to Resene Crowshead. These darker shades will recede, showing off your plants.

“Look for specially formulated Resene CoolColours, which, when used with the correct primers, will extend the life of darker colours and help prevent heat damage.”

More design tips and tricks

Be yourself: “Don’t feel you need to get rid of everything to be up-to-date.” Jackie says. “If there are things you love, style them in groups or create storage areas or bespoke cabinets to house them in. Even if items are stored away, they can be in a beautiful space. I had a vintage blue/green colour I loved that was too much for the walls of our bedroom, so I painted the inside of the drawers with it, and it makes me smile every time I open them.

Embrace cosiness: “If you have rooms in your home that don’t get much natural light and feel cold, embrace the ambience and paint with richer and darker colours, with appropriate lighting where needed. You’ll be surprised how inviting and cosy these rooms become.

Create focal points: “Creating an area of focus can elevate the style of your home. Try adding a feature colour to a fireplace wall, for example, or group a selection of artworks to hang or lean against a bold block of colour.”

Make small rooms count: “Don’t forget areas like hallways, laundries and offices which can be a pleasure to be in when used to display interesting and eclectic things.”

Mix old and new: “In an old house, refreshing some areas with paint can make it more modern and versatile. Equally, in a new home, a time-worn piece of furniture or something old and rustic will add character and history. You can even age the appearance of surfaces yourself using products like Resene FX Faux Rust Effect or Resene FX Paint Effects Medium.”

Technical tips

Jackie recommends getting good technical advice at the preparation stage or your projects to ensure you use the right cleaning, and priming products, particularly on exterior surfaces exposed to the weather, and interior surfaces exposed to water and high traffic.

“Paint systems often fail because shortcuts were taken in cleaning and preparing surfaces which can mean they will need re-doing all over again. Nobody wants that!”

She adds that keeping with the same brand of paint for each stage of your projects will help ensure compatibility between primers and topcoats, ensuring a sound paint system with a long life.

More practical shortcuts:

Consider the weather: When painting in cool weather Resene Wintergrade Additive for waterborne coatings allows you to efficiently apply paint in temperatures down to 3 degrees Celsius without the risk of cracking or powdering. If painting in warm temperatures Resene Hot Weather Additive slows the drying time to allow for even application.

Quick clean-up: Warm water will rinse waterborne paint from your brushes and rollers more quickly than cold.

Avoid waste: When you’re taking a short break, put your paint tray and roller or brush inside a reusable plastic bag and loosely knot the opening, to help avoid things drying out. This will save you washing up time and effort.

Brush prep: Before painting, wrap masking tape around the hairs of your paintbrush at the handle end. Paint will sit on the tape rather than being absorbed into the brush, where it is wasted and makes the brush go hard.

Protect your paint: Decant your paint into a small paint pot, rather than painting out of the large can. This helps minimise the amount of paint you get on the rim and means if you have a spillage you’re not losing a lot of paint. Keep painting out of this small container until it’s used up. Don’t pour leftovers back into the main paint tin as any contaminants from the surface will be carried to the bigger can.

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February 19, 2024

For more quick tricks and handy ideas to make your DIY easier, visit the MasterStroke by Resene website. Visit your local Resene ColorShop or use the free Resene Ask a Paint Expert service online to get advice on getting your project done.

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