Lean into nature

There’s nothing quite like knowing you have your own outdoor oasis waiting for you after a long day.

Time to relax and appreciate greenery doesn’t need to wait until a camping trip or holiday – create a personal slice of paradise at home. An outdoor chill-out zone can be steps from your door, ideal for relaxing as a family and entertaining guests. For a sophisticated look, embrace any natural wood grain of decking with a Resene wood stain finish. Tones like Resene Smokey Ash and Resene Tiri from the Resene exterior wood stains range add colour to timber while allowing its natural grain to show through. The green of plants and grasses will pop against the finish.

When planning your outdoor space, think about what it already offers. Create a harmonious design by integrating focal points – if a large tree overhangs your deck, for example, use the shade and place any furniture underneath. Outdoor spaces should be aesthetically pleasing; they should reflect both a respect for the environment you’re in, as well as your personal tastes.

The key to getting an outdoor deck area to feel intimate and inviting is to ensure the space feels like a private room. Essentially, a deck is an extension of your home. Using solid furniture and a screen is your best bet to create a sense of space and structure. Elevate either an inexpensive trellis or a stylish divider with a dark paint colour. This fern divider painted in Resene Ironsand, a smoky brown grey, pops against the green of outdoor plants and offers great contrast against the board and batten wall finished in Resene Waterborne Woodsman in Resene Smokey Ash.

Colours like Resene Element, Resene Bokara Grey and Resene Foundry painted on dividers also contrast fantastically against the green of plants and the soft finish of wood stains. Painting a divider is an easy weekend project that brings an instant sophisticated finish to an off-the-shelf item. If deep and dark isn’t your style, try adding boho-flavour to your deck with a divider in a brighter turquoise shade like Resene Keppel or Resene Gulf Stream. Adding a divider will offer privacy, conceal any less than beautiful views and block any snoisy neighbours.

Resene Woodsman stains are fantastic for finishing timber decking, just as they are great for board and batten walls. This deck has been finished in Resene Woodsman in Resene Tiri, a modern and deep grey. Stains will breathe new life into your deck, emphasise natural beauty and are simple to apply.

Build a sense of ambience and tie your deck hues together with furnishings. Think of designing an outdoor space like you would any room: keep it cohesive, stick to a colour palette and divide the space into areas for different things, such as a cosy seating area, a BBQ, firepit or pizza oven cooking area and an area for eating and conversations. Think about how you will actually use the space – is there a place to rest your plate or cup at the same height of your furniture? A place for kids to sit? There aren’t many outdoor items that can’t be made to coordinate with a fresh coat of paint. Most Resene testpots are made with Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen, which is designed to be durable for outdoor use without the need for a clear coat. This table is in Resene Touchstone, with vases in complementary shades of grey Resene Eighth Friar Greystone and Resene Double Sea Fog. The resulting look is layered, intimate and cohesive. Soft furnishings will also amp up the comfort of your outdoor area. Play with cushions and squabs in contrasting tones – hues like Resene Smitten and Resene Optimist contrast beautifully against the Resene Touchstone.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Melle Van Sambeek. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2022