Outer limits

Resene – Paint project, from Homestyle magazine

Give a space a colourful edge by emphasising its borders with paint.

Bedroom with painted borders

Get the look

Paint your walls with two coats of a light low-sheen colour using Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. We chose Resene Crowdpleaser — a pale yellow that’s a warm alternative to white or other neutrals. Allow to dry.
Use painter’s tape to mask a wide border (approximately 6cm wide) on each side of the join where the walls meet and where they meet the ceiling and floor, leaving a paintable space the width of your final two lines combined. You’ll paint this section with your lighter border colour (we used Resene High Tea). Mask the floor and cover it with a dropcloth, so you don’t get paint on it.
Use a brush or mini roller to paint within your masked wall space with two coats of your chosen shade (here it’s Resene High Tea). Allow each coat to dry, then remove all of the tape.
Prepare to paint your darker border line closest to the edges of the room halfway over your existing lighter line by placing the edge of your painter’s tape in the middle of the original line, so you end up with two lines of equal width. Apply two coats of paint (we used Resene Porter), allow them to dry, then remove the tape.

Stylist’s tips

When selecting your paints for this project, examine the swatches together to check that they work harmoniously and that the border hues will stand out against the main wall colour. Be a little more playful with the shade of your first line to create an accent in the room – it’s such a small dose of colour that you can afford to be brave and go with whatever tickles your fancy.

Backdrop Walls in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Crowdpleaser, detailed with Resene High Tea and Resene Porter; ceiling in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene White Pointer; floor in Resene Walk-on in Resene Stonewashed.

Accessories (from left): Over and Over artwork by Kristy Gorman, Melanie roger gallery. Tres rug by Nanimarquina, Slit table by Hay, Cult design. The Sunday Shoe slippers, Tessuti. Rock candleholder by Tom Dixon, Ecc. Pedestal bowl, Rachel carter ceramics. Moon pillowslips, and duvet cover, Penney and bennett. Circus 750 pendant by Resident, Simonjames.co.nz. Book stylist’s own.