From Habitat magazine - issue 23
Turn your thoughts to the outdoors and the way paint can transform your garden.
It's well-documented that we love our outdoor spaces: they are places to relax in, entertain, play or enjoy a spot of gardening. These days our decorating imaginations don't stop at the door to the garden. We've become adept at considering how accessories, furniture, ornaments and colour can be used to enhance gardens and courtyards.
Often, we will choose muddied, greyed-off paint colours for our outdoor spaces. These non-glaring tones are a good choice for our strong sunlight, are a great backdrop to plants, and they blend beautifully with other natural elements that are often used in the garden.
Boundary fences painted in an almost-black paint or stain will recede and therefore visually expand the size of your garden, no matter how small it is.
The exterior walls of your home also become an important colour element in your garden schemes particularly around any outdoor living area so treat them as you would the interior walls of your house, and choose furniture and accessories that work in with the colour of the cladding.
Exposed to the elements, the surfaces of our garden and outdoor living areas are subject to wear and tear… even when we're not actively using them.
Resene has a range of products to help keep decks, paths and our house exteriors looking good for longer.
If your deck and outdoor furniture is looking a bit drab, use Resene Furniture and Decking Oil to revive it. This oil enhances and restores the timber colour and protects against water, fungi, and UV light.
Or use one of the many colours from the Resene Woodsman stains range to rejuvenate your timber surfaces. Or a colour from the Resene Concrete Stain range to give your concrete surfaces a new look.
If you're worried about slippery paths or decks, use Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path paint. It can be tinted to a range of colours and the finish has a comfortable grit texture, reducing the risk of accident no matter what the weather.
If you've chosen a dark colour to use outside, use Resene CoolColour paint. It reflects more of the sun's heat than normal paint, protecting both the coating and the surface beneath.
Did you know... that a wash can do wonders for your outdoor areas to help them keep looking good? For a quick wash, use Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. Or for a slower-acting longer-term clean, spray on Resene Deep Clean and leave it to clean your driveways and paths.
*Outdoor fireplaces have gone from luxury to necessity as they provide a visual focus to an outdoor living area... as well as warmth that extends the use of these outdoor 'rooms' far beyond the summer months.
pictures: Sally Tagg, Juliet Nicolas, Tim Whittaker, Larnie Nicolson
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Printed copies of habitat highlights are available from late March 2024 at Resene ColorShops and resellers, while stocks last. You can view back issues of habitat magazine online.
Specifiers:
If you have an idea, project or story that you think would suit habitat, we’d love to hear from you. Please drop us an email with your details and include photos if submitting a project.
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