Into the woods: Ideas with timber at home

26 Nov 2025

Modern design trends seem to be continually searching for closer connections to our natural environment. Nowhere is that more evident than in our love for wood finishes.

Wood is branching out beyond weatherboards, shelves and decking, to play bigger and more interesting roles in both interior and exterior spaces. Whether it’s floor-to-ceiling panelling or cosy outdoor rooms, there are two consistent motivations for today’s use of wood in interiors: celebrating the textures and warmth inherent in the raw material and the desire to be sustainable by using wood that is repurposed or from renewable stocks.

Here are some ideas for being bolder with wood in your home:

Outdoor elegance

Exterior walls stained in Resene Woodsman in the shade Resene Limed Gum and trims in Resene English Walnut. Project by Dennis Chippindale from Stephenson & Turner, image by Simon Devitt. (Featured in habitat by Resene issue 42.)

Resene Woodsman was a flawless choice for this Christchurch home against the striking harbour view. Resene wood stains, being inspired by nature themselves, sit beautifully within any natural environment, especially darker tones.

Porch rear wall stained in Resene Waterborne Woodsman Crowshead, with battens in Resene Waterborne Woodsman Pickled Bean. Tray and planters painted in Resene Paddock, table and chairs in Resene Element, pot in Resene Quarter Merino, floor painted in Resene Walk-on in Resene Gunsmoke, topcoated in Resene Quarter Concrete and Resene Bokara Grey mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium. Cushions from Mitre 10. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Make the most of porches and exterior spaces to create a cosy nook you can use through the cooler months. On exterior fences try a deep stain like Resene Waterborne Woodsman Crowshead, a moody tar brown, which works beautifully against other ginger-toned stains like Resene Woodsman Pickled Bean or Resene Woodsman Warm Kwila. Resene Crowshead is also now available in Resene Woodsman landscape and fence finish along with Resene Bark, a deep brown stain, and Resene Green Mountain, a black-based green.

Don’t forget your patio floor or decking, as the colour there can really help indoor-outdoor areas feel contained and cosy. Try Resene Walk-On tinted to a warm grey like Resene Eighth Stonewall or Resene Woodsman Decking Stain in Resene Bushtrack. Simply add some warm throws to take your porch right through winter.

Top tip: Choose the Resene CoolColour version of Resene Waterborne Woodsman in darker shades to reflect more heat. Maintenance coats will be needed every few years but the interval will be dependent on how dark the colour is and the condition of the timber. Unlike many paint finishes the darker the shade of wood stain the more durable it is.

Rustic elegance

Wood strips in Resene Woodsman Natural Wood Oil, tinted to Resene Tararua, Resene Kahurangi, Resene Paparoa, Resene Fiordland, Resene Mt Richmond and Resene  Aotea make up a unique feature wall. Floor stain washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Wall painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Westar with trim in Resene Eighth Rice Cake, rattan side table in Resene Otter, shelf unit in Resene El Paso, large vase in Resene Sour Dough and small vase in Resene Cape Cod. Chair from Dawson & Co. Project by Katrina Hobbs, image by Bryce Carleton.

Showcase the natural texture of wood with a good wood oil like Resene Woodsman Natural Wood Oil which adds a richness to the material, suggests interior designer and Resene stylist Katrina Hobbs.

She suggests experimenting with a timber feature wall, combining panels of varying width wood finished in different shades of Resene Woodsman Natural Wood Oil, which include Resene Tararua, Resene Kahurangi, Resene Paparoa, Resene Fiordland, Resene Mount Richmond and Resene Aotea. You can even use a combination of lighter and darker oils for subtle colour variations or use a mix of different woods. “The result is a wall that feels alive, full of texture and dimension.”

Top tip: If you’re after a relaxed, coastal feel to interior timber surfaces, use the Resene We Speak Beach range, a collection of six colorwash hues from Resene Colorwood inspired by beach scenery. It is ideal for walls, ceilings, flooring, and furniture, and allows the wood grain to show through. The colours include soft blues and greens, sandy hues and rocky shore tones.

Wood on wood

Walls stained in Resene Colorwood Charred Black, bedhead and floating shelf in Resene Colorwood Bark with contrast painted in Resene Colins Wicket and vase in Resene Waiouru. Linen from Kinship Linen, lightshade from Mitre 10. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Elevate simple plywood walls with dark, dramatic wood stains like Resene Colorwood Dark Ebony or Resene Colorwood English Walnut. Layer different dark stains around your room for a sense of abundance and luxury that offsets the inexpensive materials. 

Adding curved shapes and accents will emphasise the drama created by the wood look adding visual depth while still retaining the texture of the wood grain. Try adding accents in Resene FX Metallic Bullion for notes of glamour against the natural look of the wood.

Form and function

Shelves stained in Resene Colorwood Matai, wall painted in Resene Spanish White and décor items in Resene Half Blanc, Resene Double Thorndon Cream, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream and Resene Night Magic. Project by Megan Harrison Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.

You can never have enough shelving and storage, but with creative use of wood you can easily turn a functional piece of decor into a striking feature wall. Rather than a single shelving unit, consider sourcing wood to make or upcycle into a selection of boxes and shelves that can be hung much like you would a gallery wall.

Map your design out, then pencil the shapes on your wall as a guide. Paint or stain your boxes before hanging. Try the Resene Colorwood Whitewash for a relaxed, home-made finish, or paint in Resene Waterborne Super Gloss tinted to Resene Black for a sleek, modern look.

Top tip: If you some of your shelf treasures are clashing, repaint them with Resene testpots to suit your taste. Use Resene Aquaclear to keep the timber colour while being easy to dust.

Renter-friendly

Lower drawers painted in Resene Lustacryl in Resene Clouded Blue with upper section finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash. Vases in Resene Frozen and Resene Sea Fog, wall and skirting in Resene Sea Fog and floor stain washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Project by Sarah Beedell, image by Bryce Carleton.

Reviving wood furniture or decor pieces you already own or thrift from a second-hand store, is an inexpensive way to embrace more wood finishes if you’re renting or on a tight budget.

Look for simple, classic designs that are sturdy and in good condition. Instead of staining or painting the whole piece one colour, think about how it will sit in your room, and how you might play with different wood finishes to create the look you want; add splashes of colour inside or out with Resene testpots; try a coloured stain like Resene Colorwood Deep Purple, or experiment with textured looks using Resene FX Paint Effects Medium.

Top tips for wood stains:

Resene offer a choice of woodstains, each designed to achieve a specific look or finish. Below is a guide to help you get the best result and in some cases help save you time and extra prep work!

1.  Resene Colorwood is an interior wood stain that is designed to be applied to bare timber, once applied it is then wiped off using a clean cotton cloth, these type of stains are also known as wiping stains. Resene Colorwood is typically overcoated with a clear finish or varnish (although this now more a generic term for clears applied over interior timber)

2.  Resene Waterborne Woodsman is New Zealand’s largest selling wood stain and almost singlehandedly reinvented the exterior stain market. It is primarily used on exterior cladding including cedar, pine and macrocarpa as well as  trellis, retaining walls, fences and planter boxes. Part of its success is attributed to the availability of CoolColours, which last longer and reduce heat related issues like timber cupping and warping.

3.  Resene Natural Wood Oil is a relatively new (waterborne) wood stain that while primarily targeted at exterior timbers – in particular cedar, can be used on interior timbers also, making it ideal for timber features that progress from inside to out. There is a clear available too which while not recommended for exterior exposure can be used on timber ceilings that transition to external soffits. Woodsman Natural Wood Oil is also available in Resene CoolColour and in a range of light natural shades that enhance the natural beauty of timber including cedar.

4.  Resene Wood Oil Stain is a traditional solvent based exterior wood stain. It is very versatile and used on cladding fencing as well as decking.

5.  Resene Woodsman Decking Oil stain is as the name implies designed for hardwood and pine decking

6.  Resene Furniture and Timber Gel is primarily designed for exterior timber, but is often used on interior furniture and on exterior joinery. It has a light gel-structure so is less prone to dripping and splashes when used.

7.  The final colour will be affected by the colour and shade of the timber and any previously applied stains, so this needs to be factored in when deciding on a colour and of course it is wise to test a small area first.

8.  If you want a clear finish to protect your wood, it can alter how the stain colour appears. A clear gloss urethane such as Resene Aquaclear over Resene Colorwood will make the stain appear more vibrant than a clear flat finish such as Resene Aquaclear Natural.

9.   Avoid clear finishes and varnishes outside unless sheltered from the worst of the elements. For example a hardwood timber front door could be coated using Resene Furniture and Timber Gel could be used or Altex’s Timbercote which is a marine spa varnish.

10. If you don’t want to strip an existing varnish, you can apply Resene Colorwood Whitewash, Greywash or We Speak Beach colours over the top. Alternatively add Resene Enhance to Resene Aquaclear, this will subtly recolour the timber, usually multiple coats are required. Resene Enhance Red/Brown is ideal for rejuvenating washed out (sun-bleached) rimu. This also works on yellowed varnished timber to help to hide the yellowing.

Published: 26 Nov 2025