take one testpot...

From Habitat magazine - issue 24

Or two, or three or four. Use these handy little tubs of Resene colour to work some creative magic. Here are some ideas to get you started.

A hex for you

Or rather, a hex or two on your walls. This on-trend shape is being seen on all sorts of home accessories and décor items. Here, it forms a fun honeycomb pattern on the wall of a child's room, created by using a simple stencil. Resene testpots are perfect for small stencilling jobs like this.

The colours are Resene Kakapo (green), Resene Optimist (turquoise blue), Resene Transmission (grey) and Resene Coast (charcoal blue). The wall is Resene Half Tea, the floor and skirting are Resene Sea Fog, and the bedside table is in Resene Mantle and made by The Recipe Ltd.

Golden moments

Resene have testpots for most of their colour collections, including ones you wouldn't expect like timber stains and metallic paints.

This glam centerpiece is so easy and cheap – all it takes is some recycled cans and a testpot of Resene Gold Dust from the Resene Metallics and Special Effects range. Fill the cans with romantic flowers, like these roses and peonies, and cluster them down the middle of the table. The wall in the background is Resene Abbey Road and the timber globe lamp is from Lighting Direct.

A modern take on a desk tidy

This cool desk tidy is not only easy to paint with Resene testpots but easy to make, too. Made from pine board and battens glued together, it has Resene Elephant on the base and Resene Rolling Fog on the front batten. The other battens and the cute asymmetric mountain peak design are in Resene Riptide (mid green), Resene Dali (bright green) and Resene Fringy Flower (pale green). Then pop in your mobile, tablet, notes, pens and other bits. You could also make a simpler version to use as a tablet holder in the kitchen for reading recipes. The Hollow Table Lamp is from Freedom Furniture.

See our video on how to create this desk tidy as well as some other quick and easy projects on habitatbyresene.com/habitattv.

How to stencil – it's simple

• Paint effects artist Greer Clayton shows how to create a simple stencil.
• Find the shape you want and either download a template from online, or draw it yourself. There are also stencils at www.resene.com/stencils.
• Draw the shape onto either light card, or for better results use mylar plastic sheets, available from art supply stores. Use a craft knife to cut out the shape.
• Position your stencil shape, and use low tack masking tape to hold in place if necessary. A small sponge roller is perfect for stenciling – they come as a set with a matching paint tray at Resene ColorShops.
• Pour some paint into the tray, dampen the roller slightly, then roll through the paint making sure the paint is evenly distributed on the roller.
• Run the roller over a paper towel to remove excess paint; if you don't do this, the paint might bleed under the edge of the stencil. Repeat this step if you want more intense colour, once the paint has dried.
• If you use a small paint brush instead of a roller, dab the excess paint off on a paper towel, then dab (not stroke) the paint onto the stencil, starting at the edges.

Did you know... that the paint in most Resene testpots is made from Resene Lumbersider, a low-sheen hardwearing paint normally used for exteriors? So it's tough enough for a huge range of craft, art and DIY projects.

pictures: Bryce Carleton, Melanie Jenkins

Want to get your own free copy of future issues of habitat magazine?

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:

  • Earn CPD points reading this magazine – If you're a specifier, earn ADNZ or NZRAB CPD points by reading habitat magazine. Once you've read an issue request your CPD points via the CPD portal for ADNZ (for NZ architectural designers) or NZRAB (for NZ architects).  Join our specifier and trade database...

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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