Get your outdoor spaces summer ready with these tips and ideas

It’s time to spring into action, so dust off your DIY and maintenance skills! As the weather warms and we come out of hibernation, many of us realise there’s some work to do to get our outdoor areas looking ship-shape for summer.  

Keeping on top of maintenance is less overwhelming if you do little bits at the time. Over the next few weekends, consider showing some love to your gates, fences, paths and decks. Here are some quick and simple ways to set your outdoor areas up for spring and summer: 

Fresh furniture

If you have outdoor seating, tables or planters, no doubt they’ve been sitting in cold and damp conditions for a few months. Check for areas that might need repairs to make them safe to use. Give them a wash down, to remove flaking paint and treat any moss and mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer.

If your furniture is looking tired, a refresh with Resene paint is a cost-effective and quick way to bring it back to life. Try livening up a plain porch by painting furniture or pots in bold brights like Resene Bright Red, Resene Bilbao and Resene Galliano. Or opt for subtle hues like Resene Duck Egg Blue and Resene Half Lemon Grass.

If you’re staining wooden furniture and planters, use Resene Timber Gel. Experiment with different shades instead of just the natural wood colour. Darker stains like Resene Charred Black look dramatic and modern with bright-coloured cushions and throws.

This seat, table and plant pot have been refreshed with new coats of paint. The seat, wall and floor are painted in Resene Triple White Pointer, table in Resene Duck Egg Blue and plant pot in stripes of Resene Thor, Resene Carrara and Resene Inside Back. Rug, seat and cushions from Outside Space. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Outdoor rooms

Think about how you’ll use your space over summer. Will you need different types of seating, storage, table space or shelter?

And what mood do you want to create? Perhaps you like the neutral minimalist look, or maybe you have more of a bold, tropical taste? Having a theme or mood in mind helps keep your space cohesive. You might even like to create a mood board. In this space below we’ve used a small palette of yellow, green and grey – Resene Aspiring, Resene Moon Mist, Resene Flax and Resene Teak – and repeated this on walls, accessories and furniture for a cohesive look.

Consider adding texture through rugs, cushions and breeze blocks, fresh greenery to connect the space to nature, and fairy lights or candles for an added cosy evening touch.

Back wall painted in Resene Aspiring with paint effect in Resene FX Paint Effects medium mixed with Resene Moon Mist. Right wall, breeze blocks and vase painted in Resene Moon Mist, bench seat in Resene Aspiring, deck in Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain in Resene Heartwood, table and large plant pot in Resene Teak, tray in Resene Flax and small plant pot in Resene Siam. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Kiwis love a timber deck to give us long-lasting, low maintenance outdoor living that flows easily from inside, and spring is the perfect time to give them a freshen up for summer.

If you’re re-staining, give your deck a clean with Resene Moss & Mould Killer to treat any moss and mould then clean with Resene Timber and Deck Wash. Once rinsed and dry, re-stain with a Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain to protect your deck from the elements.

Tip:If you want to change the colour of your deck it is easier to go from a lighter shade to a darker colour. For a greyed tone try Resene Woodsman Tiri, for a darker brown Resene Woodsman Dark Oak, or for a slightly lighter, warmer feel use Resene Woodsman Heartwood.

Note:Remember to check what timber your deck is constructed with. Shades like Resene Kwila work well on hardwoods, while on light timbers like pine can have a more orange appearance. Choose a shade that works well with the timber you have. If you’ve got an inspiration picture or know what you’d like your deck to look like, you can always ask the team at your local Resene ColorShop or Ask A Colour Expert online.

Fence finesse

If you have a long stretch of wooden fence, refresh it with a natural look wood stain such as Resene Woodsman Natural. If you prefer darker fences, wood stain colours like Resene Pitch Black or Resene Shadow Match will help your fence nestle nicely into the background. Using a darker shade on fences also makes them recede so the focus is on your beautiful flowers and shrubs.

If you’re painting your fence, try dark classics like Resene Charcoal, Resene Double Foundry or Resene Bokara Grey.

Make sure you choose the Resene CoolColour version of your dark colour to help reflect more heat and keep the paint, stain and surface cooler.

Sally decided the front gate of her home needed spicing up. She wanted a dark colour, but didn’t want it to be completely black so opted for Resene Double Foundry as it has a slight blue tinge. For an added burst of colour she painted her fence in bright red Resene Jalapeno.

The fantastic door

One way to give your home an instant update and improve your curb appeal is to paint your front door! Embrace the trend for vivid statement doors by choosing a bold colour like Resene Turbo or Resene Clockwork Orange.

If that doesn’t appeal, think about painting your door a bolder or lighter shade of your exterior colour. For example, if your exterior is a neutral beige such as Resene Eighth Truffle, try Resene Double Truffle on your front door. Paint your door frame and any surrounding porch trim in Resene Alabaster for a fresh, light touch.

To make your door stand out and cope with wear and tear, use a Resene paint with a gloss or semi-gloss finish, such as Resene Enamacryl (gloss) and Resene Lustacryl (semi-gloss). Alternatively use Resene Super Gloss Enamel, which is a traditional solventborne enamel that has the highest gloss level, the higher the gloss the more the colour of the paintwork will be highlighted. In darker shades it will be mirror-like!

Yellow and grey are a great current combo. This front door is painted in Resene Turbo, and teamed up with Resene Double Trojan weatherboards and trims. The colours were chosen by Christchurch homeowner Nicola.

To extend your paintwork a little further, you could also paint porch steps and pathways in Resene Walk-on or for a higher degree of slip resistance, Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path.

And whilst you’re at it with your front door, consider giving your weatherboards a good clean – if you’re not up for a full repaint, this can be a cost-effective way bring them to life. Use Resene Paint Prep and Housewash or Resene Bio-Cleaner. Once cleaned treat any areas of mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Check for areas with flaking paint, rot, or lifting nails, then you can spot repair rather than having to full repaint.

For more exterior colour and paint advice, visit your local Resene ColorShop or Ask A Colour Expert online for free. And watch this space for more home exterior and design inspiration over the coming summer months.