Outdoor patio area with wall and table painted in Resene Albescent White
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This bright and summery outdoor space is features a wall and table painted in Resene Albescent White, floor in Resene Sorrell Brown in Resene Walk-on, seat in Resene Quarter Sorrell Brown, small pots in Resene Albescent White and Resene Grain Brown, large pot in Resene Sorrell Brown, Resene Grain Brown, Resene Jetsam Brown and Resene Albescent White. Cushions from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Outdoor patio area with wall and table painted in Resene Albescent White
Fence painted in Resene Lumbersider in Resene Black
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Homeowners Alice and Caleb painted their fence in Resene Lumbersider in the shade Resene Black. Using a dark hue added a refined, modern touch to their 100-year-old-villa and it also paired well with the black trims on the exterior of their home.

Fence painted in Resene Lumbersider in Resene Black
Blue bedroom with feature wall painted in Resene Rhino
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This bedroom feature wall is painted in Resene Rhino with a striking ombre batten headboard in Resene Neutral Bay, Resene Half New Denim Blue, Resene Gull Grey and Resene Midwinter Mist. The floor and light are painted in Resene Iron, drawers in Resene Gull Grey, bedside table in Resene Neutral Bay and vase in Resene Half New Denim Blue. Duvet and pillowcases from Foxtrot Home, throw and blue cushion from H&M Home, grey cushion from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Blue bedroom with feature wall painted in Resene Rhino
Home office with walls and frames painted in Resene Rhino and floor in Resene Merino
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Office walls and frames painted in Resene Thor, floor in Resene Merino, desk in Resene Tea, chair in Resene Sorrento, bin and ball in Resene Breeze, pencil pot in Resene Gargoyle and pinboard in Resene Tiara. Lamp from Nood. Design by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Home office with walls and frames painted in Resene Rhino and floor in Resene Merino
Toilet featuring dark green walls
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Homeowners Karl and Tim painted their once dark and dim toilet in Resene Fun Green. It’s now modern and bright, with Resene Quarter Rice Cake on doors and Resene Ceiling Paint White on the ceiling.

Toilet featuring dark green walls
Kids playhouse painted in Resene Olive Green
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Wall painted in Resene Time Out, playhouse painted in Resene Olive Green with roof in Resene Geronimo. Kids Cubby House from Mocka, rug from Flooring Xtra, pink stool from Danske Møbler, mushroom lamp, tea set and watering can from Nature Baby, Dorothy the Chicken from Città, mushrooms from Little Whimsy. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick. 

Kids playhouse painted in Resene Olive Green

Home projects and jobs to do over the long weekend

Labour weekend is almost here and it’s the perfect excuse to roll up your sleeves and tackle a few home jobs and DIYs. You’d be surprised at what you can get done in a few ‘focused’ days, and we’ve got some inspiration to get you started. From refreshing a room with a striking feature wall, to re-staining the deck, or giving tired furniture a second life, there’s plenty you can achieve, and with the right Resene products, it’ll look good long after the weekend’s over!

Set for summer


This bright and summery outdoor space is features a wall and table painted in Resene Albescent White, floor in Resene Sorrell Brown in Resene Walk-on, seat in Resene Quarter Sorrell Brown, small pots in Resene Albescent White and Resene Grain Brown, large pot in Resene Sorrell Brown, Resene Grain Brown, Resene Jetsam Brown and Resene Albescent White. Cushions from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

With the long weekend ahead, it’s the perfect time to give your outdoor spaces a little love and get them ready for summer. Start by deciding on the look you want. Coastal and relaxed, dark and dramatic, or natural and weathered. Coastal schemes come to life with soft and pale timber stains like Resene Woodsman Uluru and Resene Woodsman Bleached Riverstone, while darker tones such as Resene Woodsman Pitch Black create a sleek, architectural feel. Just remember to check what kind of wood you have as stains look different on different types of timber.

Over three days, you can easily prep and stain a deck, repaint outdoor furniture or give your fencing and planters a colour refresh with pops of bright accented hues. A little effort now means your space will be ready for long afternoons outdoors when summer truly arrives.

Top tips:Before you paint or stain your outdoor areas, apply Resene Moss & Mould Killer and give your timber a good clean with Resene Timber and Deck Wash. For refreshing outdoor timber chairs and furniture, use Resene Timber and Furniture Gel. For decking, use Resene Woodsman Decking Stain. For painted flooring use Resene Walk-on.

Fresh fencing


Homeowners Alice and Caleb painted their fence in Resene Lumbersider in the shade Resene Black. Using a dark hue added a refined, modern touch to their 100-year-old-villa and it also paired well with the black trims on the exterior of their home.

There’s nothing quite like a freshly painted or stained fence to improve the street appeal of your home. This is an easy home improvement, perfect for a long weekend and for this time of year leading into summer. Your fence can also have a big impact on the way you feel about your home. They are often the first thing you see when arriving home, and something you see every time you’re sitting outside or looking out the window.

A weathered or peeling fence is an unwanted reminder that it needs some attention! Here’s some handy tips on how to refresh your fence:

  • If your wooden fence is unpainted or stained BUT weathered and tired (possibly with some moss and mould evident) use Resene Timber and Deck Wash and Scrub the wooden fence thoroughly using a stiff bristled brush, or if you have a water blaster or can borrow one, water blast – but take care not to damage the timber. Rinse well with clean water and allow the wooden fence to dry.
  • If painting a new timber fence, apply two coats of Resene Lumbersider or for a stained finish, two coats of Resene Waterborne Woodsman
  • Older timber fencing typically needs priming with Resene Wood Primer before applying a paint finish, this could be time consuming and an additional cost,however staining with Resene Waterborne Woodsman is usually more straightforward and easier to undertake.

Top tip:Resene Lumbersider is a great option if you want a solid colour finish and you don't want to have to do the job again for years. If you prefer the beauty of the wood grain to show through opt for a Resene Woodsman Natural Wood Oil – darker stains are known to last significantly longer than lighter stains meaning less time between re-staining. If you’re choosing a dark colour, opt for the Resene CoolColour version to help reflect more heat than a standard version of the colour.

Fantastic features


This bedroom feature wall is painted in Resene Rhino with a striking ombre batten headboard in Resene Neutral Bay, Resene Half New Denim Blue, Resene Gull Grey and Resene Midwinter Mist. The floor and light are painted in Resene Iron, drawers in Resene Gull Grey, bedside table in Resene Neutral Bay and vase in Resene Half New Denim Blue. Duvet and pillowcases from Foxtrot Home, throw and blue cushion from H&M Home, grey cushion from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Feature walls have that ability to really transform any space. They are also a great option if you’re not wanting to paint your entire home. Have a think of what colours or mood you’re trying to create in the space, for example, tranquil blues in a bedroom – try Resene Blue Moon or Resene Seachange, or cocooning mossy greens in a living room – try Resene Olive Green or Resene Marshland. You can opt for one solid colour to contrast with your surrounding walls, or even think about adding a more creative and unique feature such as a batten headboard (above) or a hand painted mural.

Top tip:Before committing to a colour, head to your local Resene ColorShop to pick up some Resene testpots to try them out. Paint them on A4 card and see how they look in the space. Colours can look different at different times of the day.

Home sweet office


Office walls and frames painted in Resene Thor, floor in Resene Merino, desk in Resene Tea, chair in Resene Sorrento, bin and ball in Resene Breeze, pencil pot in Resene Gargoyle and pinboard in Resene Tiara. Lamp from Nood. Design by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

We might be heading towards the end of year break, but it’s a nice time to make the last push of the year enjoyable by refreshing your home office. Plus, when you come back from holiday in the new year, a fresh new office space will be a lot more enjoyable and motivating. This delightful office brings the colours of nature indoors for a calming work environment.

Blues, greens and neutrals can have soothing yet focusing qualities and prevent overstimulation or distraction. Try colours like Resene Half Lemon Grass, Resene Bud, Resene Relax or Resene Breathless, and keep things mostly minimal and practical to maximise productivity. You’d be surprised at what a coat of paint can do to transform even the smallest of spaces.

Project powder room


Homeowners Karl and Tim painted their once dark and dim toilet in Resene Fun Green. It’s now modern and bright, with Resene Quarter Rice Cake on doors and Resene Ceiling Paint White on the ceiling.

In a small space like this, why not experiment with a bold, bright colour? A pop of teal like Resene Retro, a splash of sunshine yellow like Resene Quarter Moonbeam, or a burst of blush like Resene Ebb can feel daring here without overwhelming your entire home. Or, if clean and crisp is more your style, a fresh coat of the popular Resene Black White or Resene Alabaster will bring a sense of purity and airiness.

Top tip:For wet areas, choose the right paint. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom is built for bathrooms, offering waterborne enamel toughness paired with mould and bacteria resistance thanks to its MouldDefender formula and anti-bacterial silver protection.

Play time


Wall painted in Resene Time Out, playhouse painted in Resene Olive Green with roof in Resene Geronimo. Kids Cubby House from Mocka, rug from Flooring Xtra, pink stool from Danske Møbler, mushroom lamp, tea set and watering can from Nature Baby, Dorothy the Chicken from Città, mushrooms from Little Whimsy. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick. 

It’s always a great time to set up a play space for the kids, but now you’ve got a big three day weekend coming up, why not put a little extra effort in! A small playhouse, indoors or out, is a great way to give children their own space where they can play, learn and use their imagination. It’s also super fun to decorate! The kids can even help to pick out the colours. It doesn’t need to be perfect either, children don’t see the finer details, they see castles, caves and endless possibilities in the simplest of spaces.

Check out more long weekend projects to do, and for more paint and colour advice visit your local Resene ColorShop or Ask a Colour Expert online.

Published: 22 Oct 2025

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].

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