White and other pale neutrals are often a go-to choice for the outside of a house. They’re easy on the eye and sit happily in both urban and more natural situations. There’s even a colour called Resene House White, which many painters of long-standing will tell you is the perfect grey- edged white for exterior use. For exteriors, it’s often best to stay clear of bright whites. Our intense sun in this part of the world can make pure white quite blinding to look at. You and your neighbours may end up having to wear sunglasses, even when the sun isn’t shining. Use the light reflectance value (LRV) that is handily noted on the back of Resene paint chips to guide you. Any colour with an LRV of higher than 85% may be too bright for exterior use unless your house sits in a shady wooded dell. Our bright light quality will also make any colour look far paler outside than it does inside. If you have any doubts about the strength of the colour, err on the side of caution and go a shade or two darker. So choose Resene Half Tapa rather than Resene Eighth Tapa, for example. outside on the When you’re choosing an exterior colour scheme, consider the setting. Grey-based neutrals, like Resene Concrete, Resene Silver Chalice and Resene Delta, would look smart in an urban setting, whereas more brown or green edged neutrals like Resene Sandstone and Resene Ash, might suit a rural or more natural setting. You’re going to buy a lot of paint for an exterior, so it’s even more important to test your colour choice first. Buy Resene testpots in your favourite colours and paint a large piece of card leaving a white border around the edge. Pin it up on both the shady and the sunny side of the house. Always paint two coats and allow it to fully dry to get a true colour rendition. Clockwise from top left: Resene Double Gravel weatherboards in a house by Jennian Homes Coromandel. Resene Thorndon Cream weatherboards, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream trims, Resene Triple Thorndon Cream sills and Resene Shuttle Grey veranda boards, designed by LAD Architecture. Resene Half Masala, Resene Half Taupe Grey and Resene Fuscous Grey, designed by hungerford+edmunds architects. Resene Silver Chalice Resene House White Resene Delta Resene Fuscous Grey Resene Half Masala Resene Half Taupe Grey Resene Half Thorndon Cream Resene Thorndon Cream 28 |