style to last

Take care using a lot of hard-to-replace surfaces, such as laminate, melamine or tiles, as chances are your tastes will change in a few years and a makeover can become costly and time-consuming.

With the right preparation and Resene products, a painted finish is hard-wearing, easier and less expensive to do and simple to update in the future when you feel like a fresh new look.

Function with flair

Bathrooms and kitchens are highly functional places so choosing products with a durable finish, like the Resene Kitchen & Bathroom range of paints is important, but it need not mean you have to cut back on creativity.

For example, try a faux-tile effect painted splashback. Keep it classic and simple with subtle checkerboard squares in Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom semi-gloss tinted to Resene Alabaster and Resene Silver Chalice. For a touch more colour try Resene Half Sauvignon as your background with a painted stencilled design in pastel Resene Pattens Blue. Finish your painted splashback with a glass cover for an easy-clean finish and a touch of shine.

If you do choose a tile finish for a functional feature such as a splashback, consider keeping the colour to a classic neutral such as white or off-white. You’re less likely to go off the colour over time, avoiding expensive removal. Instead, you can easily and affordably update the walls and cabinetry around the tiles with paint as your tastes change.

You can even paint over old laminate or melamine cabinetry that’s looking dated for a simple but highly effective way to update your kitchen or bathroom. Simply clean the surface, then apply one coat of Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer, followed by two coats of your chosen topcoat colour. Finish with new handles.

Consider your colours

A white-on-white colour scheme can be a tempting choice in kitchens and bathrooms, based on the notion it will look crisp and clean. In fact, by using just white, you can end up with a room that feels cold and glary, particularly in a windowless bathroom or toilet, or any room with bright, artificial light.

Using a high-gloss finish can also accentuate glare and harsh light in a bathroom so consider using Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom over most wall surfaces and work with a glossier finish such as Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom on trim or accent areas and Resene SpaceCote Flat Kitchen & Bathroom on the ceiling.

Instead of bright white, try a more mid-toned neutral, like Resene Spanish White or Resene Half Tea, or opt for a darker colour like Resene Half Forest Green with a neutral trim in Resene Half Scotch Mist – and use good lighting and mirrors for the brightness you need.

Using shades with warm undertones like mustard yellows, oranges and reds on bathroom walls can make the room feel more humid and a little confined, while sour shades of green can be quite unflattering under some artificial lights. On the other hand, darker shades can be more forgiving of splashes and marks.

Try subtler, fresher colours like Resene Frozen, Resene Wax Flower, Resene Secrets or Resene Pot Pourri, and bring bolder colour into your room with accessories like towels, bathmats and soap dispensers.

Top tips

Resene Paint Expert Jay Sharples says the main factors to consider with painted surfaces in wet areas like kitchens, bathrooms and laundries, are temperature, air flow and humidity. His top tips to tackle these are:

• Treat surfaces to be painted with Resene Moss & Mould Killer and clean surfaces before painting with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner.
• Prepare plasterboard with Resene Sureseal (waterborne or solventborne) to protect against moisture.
• Protect surfaces with the Resene Kitchen & Bathroom range with added anti-bacterial silver and the mould protection of MoulDefender.
• Avoid long hot showers for seven days after painting. If you can’t use an alternate shower, limit shower time and carefully wipe walls to remove excess moisture.
• Check you have adequate ventilation in your bathroom to avoid moisture buildup.

› If you’re using a brighter or darker colour in your wet area that isn’t available in the core kitchen and bathroom range, ask Resene ColorShop staff to add Resene MoulDefender to your paint for extra protection.

Colours mentioned in this article

Products mentioned in this article

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