garden glow-up

From habitat highlights - issue 42, garden flair and care

There’s no better place to show off creative flair than in the garden.

Habitat by Resene readers from around the country have been sharing their Resene coloured garden glow-ups. Here’s a wrap-up of some of the best.

Winner

Chris, Oamaru:

Project Description

Over six months Chris and her husband transformed their formerly grey backyard into a colourful Japanese themed garden using Resene Rock N Roll, Resene FX Metallic Gold, Resene Bastille, Resene Alabaster and Resene Lemon Grass. "We built the arch and shed ourselves. It's an ongoing project. My top tip for a themed garden like this is to have a clear vision, especially if you're planning to build garden structures, and have fun with plants and ornaments to suit the theme."

Project Description

Top tips

For better moisture protection around trims like window and door frames, try Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom. It's made with added mould and mildew protection.
Lower sheen finishes help to hide surface imperfections when you're painting outside. Use Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen for everything from walls to fences, decks to furniture. Or for a more matte finish use Resene Lumbersider Matt on walls and fences.

Runners up

Nicola, Tauranga:

“We chose Resene Bastille for the fence because it’s a beautiful inky, purplish charcoal colour that is a great backdrop for all my flowers,” says artist Nicola who also used a vibrant collection of Resene testpots to create her own floral artwork reflecting the beautiful colours of her real life flowers. “I painted the wall hanging on exterior plywood. It’s similar to my artwork and I knew Resene testpots would stand up to the outdoor conditions.” The colours include Resene Broom, Resene Lip Service, Resene Colour Me Pink, Resene Splish Splash and Resene Poured Milk. I like to mix from a limited palette of colours as it makes the end result harmonise well.”

A fence painted in grey Resene Bastille; garden art

A fence painted in grey Resene Bastille; flowers

Sue, Central Otago:

Resene Hyperactive was the perfect choice for this bench on Sue’s South Island property. “We wanted a pop of colour in that area under the gum trees because there isn't much colour in that part of the garden.” Sue used other vibrant bursts of Resene orange shades around the garden such as another bench in Resene Trinidad, and a concrete urn in Resene Valencia. “We like to use bright colours around the garden and Resene has a huge range of beautiful colours.”

Adding a pop of colour in the garden with an orange chair

Maureen, Christchurch:

When Maureen was living in rented accommodation following the Christchurch earthquake she had four years to dream about how she would liven up the “boring grey concrete courtyard” of her rebuilt townhouse. She went with walls and garden features in Resene Cardinal with a wooden fence stained in deep charcoal Resene Woodsman Crowshead. “Pink, to match my couch! I also got my glass kitchen backsplash in the same pink to balance the room. The kitchen people rang twice to check that I had actually chosen that colour.”

top tip For a warm mauve that sets off your crimson pink try Resene Deluge.

Adding a pop of colour in the garden with an orange chair
Sue, Central Otago

A fence painted in pink and grey
Maureen, Christchurch

Garden care:

Keep a check on your gardens through the year, particularly if lots of rain is expected. To keep damaging moss and mould in check, make sure there isn't too much plant growth up against your home's exterior and fences or growing over pathways.

top tip Spray any paths and driveway areas with Resene Deep Clean – connect to your hose for quick application. It will work with the weather to slowly clean the surfaces for you. No need to scrub or rinse.

Grip, don’t slip:

Avoid dangerously slippery areas by adding Resene Anti-Slip Grip Additive to your paint or clear finish when you’re refreshing pavers, paths, floors or decks. For an already mixed non-slip finish for concrete or timber use Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path, a textured finish that’s comfortable to walk on and can be tinted to a range of Resene colours.

› View more step-by-step garden ideas

Manage moisture

Moisture, whether it's rain, damp or leaks is the cause of many home maintenance and decorating concerns. Here’s some tips on managing moisture inside.

Open a window

Airflow is important to protect your finishes, especially in wet areas like kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. Make sure you have enough ventilation to prevent condensation build-up.

Beautiful bathrooms

You can also protect surfaces in wet areas by using Resene Kitchen & Bathroom paint which has added antibacterial silver protection and MoulDefender to provide extra protection against mould.

Master mildew

Aside from the obvious areas to look for mould, like wet areas, also regularly check other places like behind sofas and furniture like dressing tables and drawers; anywhere that might lack airflow. Also look for peeling wallpaper. Clean affected areas with Resene Moss & Mould Killer.

Manage damage

If you’ve had a leak or flood make sure you let the affected areas fully dry. Take photos and get approval from your insurance company before doing any repairs or redecorating. Repairing too soon can cause future issues like mould or rot. When you’re ready to proceed treat the area with Resene Moss & Mould Killer then finish with a good clean of exterior areas with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash. If damage is severe you may need to replace your weatherboards, plasterboard or flooring, otherwise scrape or sand away any flaking paint, repair cracks and prep then repaint.

top tip Ask for Resene MoulDefender to be added to your Resene waterborne topcoat for extra protection against future moss and mould growth.

Colours mentioned in this article