Inspired exteriors

The popularity of light greys and deeper whites – especially in double or triple strengths – is also holding strong. While neutral colours are trending warmer overall, the shift is moving faster indoors than it is outdoors and homeowners and designers still have a strong preference for painting their exteriors in greyed off tones such as Resene Double Merino, Resene Triple White Pointer and Resene Double Sea Fog.

Those looking for more colour but not full-on blacks are choosing weathered blue greys and grey blues, such as Resene Dusted Blue and Resene Neutral Bay. These continue to be top choices, as are greyed greens with warmer undertones, such as Resene Siam and Resene Flax, which better coordinate with natural surroundings than bluer greens do.

Top tip:  Exposure to UV light causes timber to lose its colour and grey, so always protect any outdoor timber cladding on your home with an exterior wood stain or paint to help protect your investment and keep your home looking beautiful. Avoid using a clear finish direct onto exterior timber as it won’t provide enough protection against the sun’s harsh rays.

*Choose a warmer green for exterior cladding if you want your home to blend better with its natural surroundings. Weatherboards in Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Siam, trims and balustrade in Resene Double Sea Fog and steps in Resene Gravel. Design by SGA (Strachan Group Architects), image by Simon Devitt.

Outdoor entertaining spaces

With most of us spending more time at home, many are choosing to invest in the quality and design of their outdoor entertaining spaces – and with good reason. With comfy furnishings, protection from the sun and wind and perhaps a fireplace or heater, it’s easy to get year-round enjoyment out of patio and deck spaces. And painting or staining your furniture and décor in your favourite Resene colours will help it look even more welcoming.

One thing that makes a good outdoor entertaining space into a great one is flexibility. Items like bean bag chairs, movable lanterns or festoon lighting, attaching castors to the bottoms of side tables or investing in a serving cart can make reconfiguring your layout quick and easy. A built-in bench that doubles as both a seat and storage can stow away extra throws or cushions to help keep your space tidy in between get togethers.

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