Into the light

Do you feel the need for a colour palette cleanse?

A light and elegant Resene wallpaper

A lighter Resene wallpaper with a subtle design not only adds light, but elegance and can make a room feel larger when used over an uninterrupted stretch of wall.

These walls are wallpapered in Resene Wallpaper Collection M533-00. Try it with walls in Resene Eighth Wheatfield, natural wood flooring finished in Resene Qristal ClearFloor and accents in Resene Half Grey Friars and Resene FX Metallic Gold.

Maybe your tastes have simply changed and that bold, dark colour you once loved is no longer filling you with joy. Maybe it’s time to sell and you want to create a light, bright blank canvas that appeals to potential buyers. Maybe you have a room that just feels a bit gloomy and in need of some love and light.

Let’s look at some ways with Resene to shed some light on matters and transform your spaces in lighter, brighter ways.

The practicalities

If you have rooms with dark rooms, with walls, floors or ceilings painted in deep, moody colours, it’s actually not difficult to revert to lighter shades, or even whites.

Resene Paint Expert Jay Sharples says your best friend in these circumstances is Resene Quick Dry primer.

As with any walls, check for dents and cracks that need filling or any signs of mould and mildew to be treated with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. If the paintwork is a waterborne low sheen and already in good condition, then usually all you need is a good clean with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner and then you can paint. If the existing finish is a semi-gloss, gloss or solventborne finish, sand the surface (even if you’ve made no repairs) and wipe down, then apply your primer with a roller in slow steady strokes to ensure good coverage.

Getting this first coat right, reduces the chance of needing a second primer coat to prevent the darker tone showing through. Though that may still be necessary if you’re going from very dark, to very light, Jay says. “If the wall is currently black and you’re looking to go white, it could be better to apply two coats of the primer.”

Things are slightly less simple if you’re working with dark wood stains. “You can’t go from a darker stain to a lighter stain,” Jays says.

“Stains are semi-transparent so even the colour of the timber will affect the appearance of the finished stain colour.

One option is to apply a Resene Colorwood Whitewash or beachwashed finish over the top which can help to lighten the stain finish. It’s best to try this on a small inconspicuous area first to check it achieves the finish you are after.

Tonal layers of warm neutrals

Tonal layers of warm neutrals can create a lighter, brighter look while keeping the overall finish soft and inviting.

Walls and skirting painted in Resene Truffle, floor washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, mirror frame in Resene Half Truffle, DIY artwork in Resene Double Truffle, coffee and side tables in Resene Triple Truffle, ceiling light fitting in Resene Triple Truffle with Resene Double Truffle sponged effect, vase in Resene Half Truffle, bowl in Resene Quarter Truffle and planters in Resene ConcreteWash tinted to Resene Stonewash and Resene Claywash. Sofa from Interior Warehouse, rug from Briscoes, lamp from Lighting Direct. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.

A bright beige living room

Lighter doesn’t need to be whiter. These walls painted in neutral Resene Tea keep this room bright against darker contrasts.

Floor finished in Resene Colorwood Shade, tables in Resene Zeus with Resene FX Metallic Catch 22 on the tops, platter and ball in Resene Tea, pedestal dish in Resene Zeus with Resene FX Metallic Catch 22, dark vase in Resene Black, light vase in Resene Triple Tea and tealight holder in Resene Tea with Resene FX Metallic Bedrock. Sofa from Nood, cushions from Adairs, H&M Home and Kmart, prints from Ros Ruseva, Etsy. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

“You could look at trying to sand the stain colour out but you would be unlikely to remove it all and you could end up with a patchy finish. Depending on the stain used, you could look at applying a coat of Resene Wood Primer and then painting, rather than staining, the timber in a lighter colour.”

One of the experts at your local Resene ColorShop will be able to advise on the best products to use for your floor, if you want to go from dark to a lighter finish.

Top tip: If you’re painting your floor with Resene Walk-on, remember to finish this with Resene Concrete Wax to make the floor easier to clean.

Think beyond white

When decorating with added light and brightness in mind it can be tempting to immediately go for the starkest ‘whitest’ whites like a Resene Black White or Resene Quarter Alabaster, but Resene Colour Expert Brooke Calvert says bright needn’t mean fridge-bright white.

Going for a creamy note can add light as well as warmth for an inviting space.

“When it comes to selecting the ‘right’ white for a room with low natural light, look for Resene colours with a Y for yellow as the start of their Resene code. You don’t have to go with a heavy old-fashioned cream, but there are whites with just a touch of warmth that will lift your space. Try colours like Resene Merino, Resene Half Rice Cake or Resene Blanc.”

Even beiges and other off-white neutrals will make spaces feel brighter, particularly if you’re transitioning from a dark colour, she says, suggesting Resene Foundation, Resene Credence or Resene Open Sesame as a base colour palette. “These colours provide a cosy, inviting atmosphere while keeping a lighter look intact.”

Brighten up a space with pale flooring and decor items

Flooring and decor items in pale shades can give any room extra lightness and brightness, leaving you free to explore slightly bolder wall shades.

These walls are painted in Resene Jetsam Brown with floor washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Shelves and bench seat in Resene Colorwood Bark, table and vases in Resene Warmed Brown, tray in Resene Albescent White and shelf vase in Resene Warmed Brown. Dining chairs from Soren Liv, dark vase from H&M Home. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Brooke adds that a semi-gloss interior paint such as Resene Lustacryl, or even a high gloss such as Resene Enamacryl or Resene Super Gloss will reflect more natural and artificial light around the room. These glossier surfaces are also hardwearing, making them great for areas that might need regular clearing.

“The only thing to remember is that high-sheen finishes can highlight imperfections in the walls, so they will need to be in good condition.”

Quick and simple makeovers

One of the fastest and simplest ways to execute a radical colour transformation is to wallpaper your dark walls (or even ceilings) in a lighter shade. Opt for a simple plain finish like Resene Wallpaper Collection 423204, a lightly textured surface like Resene Wallpaper Collection 751345 or a bolder pattern like Resene Wallpaper Collection 2311-173-01.

Give yourself more colour options by trying an anaglypta textured style like Resene Wallpaper Collection RD101 that you can then paint over in a light neutral such as Resene Akaroa or a soft pastel like Resene Kandinsky.

Other tips to take dark rooms into the light are:

Try soft, versatile pastels that add subtle colour, without dominating a room. Try Resene Contented, Resene Duck Egg Blue or Resene Nirvana
To go lighter without losing depth and interest in a room, try layering neutrals of a similar tone such as Resene Cararra, Resene Double Bianca and Resene Double Villa White. Or choose try layers of one shade that comes in a range of colour intensities, such as Resene Parchment which comes in eighth through to triple strengths.
Large mirrors are very effective at bouncing light around rooms and adding extra visual dimension making them feel larger and lighter.
Kitchen cabinets can take up a lot of wall space, so transforming by painting them a lighter shade can quickly make a kitchen lighter and brighter. If you have melamine or laminate cabinets use Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer before applying two coats of your chosen Resene topcoat.
Tie back heavy dark curtains or replace with retractable blinds.
Don’t be afraid of a few shadows. Going lighter doesn’t mean every corner must be vividly lit. Variations in light make a room feel welcoming and natural.
Check your lighting. You may need to add a little extra lighting or adjust your light bulbs to get just the right amount of light to bring out the best in your room.

› To learn more about transforming your spaces in lighter, brighter ways have a listen to the If these walls could talk podcast

Colours mentioned in this blog...

Into the light

The practicalities

Think beyond white

Quick and simple makeovers

Other tips to take dark rooms into the light are:

Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.com