Fast, simple outdoor reno projects for summer

From the Resene decorating blog

Summer renovation projects often pose a dilemma. It’s usually the perfect weather to get some outdoor maintenance or improvement projects done, but it’s also the perfect weather for fun family adventures to the beach and beyond.

A refreshed deck

A refreshed deck makes any outdoor area feel revived and look pulled together. This wall is painted in Resene Nebula with a deck in Resene Woodsman Uluru and pergola in Resene Sea Fog. The large vase is also Resene Sea Fog. The planter on the side table is Resene Cloud. Sofa and armchair from Poynters, tables from King, throw from Citta, palm from Freedom. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Melanie Jenkins.

If you really want to spruce up your outdoor area, without sacrificing all of your free time over summer, try scheduling in a few, high-impact projects that you can get done in a day, or a weekend so you get the best of both worlds.

Here are a few suggestions:

Revamp your wooden deck

With a bit of planning, giving a wooden deck a new lease of life is quick and easy using Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain.

First treat any moss and mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer mixed with water. Then wash with Resene Timber and Deck Wash and thoroughly rinse.

Stir your chosen shade of Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain and apply two coats to the deck in the direction of the grain, allowing dry time between coats. It’s best to leave the deck for 48 hours before walking on it.

A similar process will also work for restaining fences and weatherboards, using Resene Waterborne Woodsman and furniture using Resene Furniture and Decking Oil.

Staining your wooden outdoor surfaces not only protects them, it can be a simple way to add unexpected colour to outdoor areas. Try darker green-toned shades like Resene Woodsman Treehouse for fences that blend with your trees and shrubs to create softer borders. On your deck keep things neutral with Resene Woodsman Natural or experiment with the grey of Resene Woodsman Tiri or the golden brown of Resene Woodsman Uluru.

Top tip: Stains are transparent, so the final finish colour depends on the stained timber. Stains applied to light woods will appear much stronger and brighter in colour than stains applied to dark wood. Try a Resene testpot on an offcut before you make your final choice.

Add outdoor storage

Building a shed in a weekend might seem like a big ask, but with some of the kitset sheds now available it’s much quicker and easier. Or, you could have a fully constructed shed shipped to site, then all you have to do is the fun job of decorating it inside and out.

Paint it in a bright colour like Resene Glorious with dark teal Resene Casal for a burst of fun. Or to keep it more subtle, so your shed fades into the background of your garden, try muted green Resene Vantage Point with fresh, creamy Resene Pearl Lusta.

An outdoor painted backdrop

A painted backdrop and a pared-back colour palette create a simple but inviting outdoor seating area.

The wall and patio floor are painted in Resene Triple White Pointer with Resene Carrara and Resene FX Paint Effects Medium on top to create a sponged effect. The table is Resene Duck Egg Blue. The tray and tealight holder are Resene Inside Back and the vase is Resene Rising Tide. Sofa, table and cushions from Outside Space, carafe from H&M Home. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

A gold toned deck and dark exterior walls

A gold-toned deck stained in Resene Woodsman Uluru beautifully offsets dramatic exterior walls in Resene Nocturnal, which is also on the large planter.

The wall light is painted in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect. The table is Resene Pale Slate and the tray is Resene Waiouru. Outdoor chairs/table from Danske Mobler, cushion and radio from Good Thing, plant from Adairs. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Sheds are the ultimate in outdoor storage but if you don’t have the space or the budget there are other ways to add outdoor storage to your garden for things like garden tools, cushions and toys.

Try upcycling discarded timber into a box seat with a hinged lid. Leave spaces between slats, just as you would a deck or seat, so that water can drain through the box or line with plastic sheeting if what you’re storing needs to stay dry.

An outdoor bench with shelving and cupboards for storage, is another useful addition and can also be put together from recycled pieces of wood or an upcycled console table.

Top tip: If you’re upcycling indoor furniture to use outside there are some tricks to making it more weatherproof. If possible use pieces made from stainless steel or aluminium or talk to your Resene ColorShop staff about the best products to protect and finish them to maximise their life outside.

Upcycle furniture

Just like inside, giving your outdoor furniture fresh coats of Resene paint or wood stain is a simple way to give your outdoor areas a summer makeover.

Scouring second-hand shops can be a good way to find unique pieces like side tables, outdoor dining tables, garden art and bench seats that can be refreshed with Resene paint or Resene Woodsman stain.

A sheltered outdoor area

Think of your sheltered outdoor area as an extension of your living space and use colours to unite both for seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Resene Miso painted on the interior walls behaves like a neutral colour while connecting with the vibrant lime colours of the Cape Cod chair and small planter in Resene Awol. Side table in Resene Nirvana, DIY herb shelves in Resene Clover and other planters and vases in Resene Turtle Green and Resene Fawn Green. Wall and bench seat in Resene Foggy Grey and flooring in Resene Walk-on Gunsmoke. Sofa from Danske Møbler, leaf-print cushions from Briscoes, pale green cushion, throw, plant artwork and pale green cushion from H&M, artwork and pale grey cushion from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Natural tones such as Resene Woodsman Kwila or the weathered wash of Resene Woodsman Whitewash are popular choices for wooden furniture, but there’s no rule to say you can’t play with more unexpected colour choices, just as you would inside.

For something eye-catching to liven up a plain porch, try painting your furniture in bold brights like primary blue Resene Surfs Up and yellow Resene Paris Daisy for the colours of a summer day.

Embrace the trend for muted, calming shades with on-trend mauve Resene Lola or soothing grey-blue Resene Duck Egg Blue.

Top tip: Using a similar or the same colour palettes as you’ve used inside helps create that indoor-outdoor flow we’re all aiming for, leaving your finished outdoor space feeling much more like an outdoor room, than just a random collection of furniture.

Paint doors and windows

Painting your whole house is a huge job, but you can still give your home’s exterior a fresh look over a weekend or two by repainting doors and window trims.

Painting windows in a crisp shade like Resene Black White is a simple way to make your whole house look immediately fresher and cleaner. Your windows will look big and bright. The slightly blackened edge to Resene Black White works well outdoors because it pairs nicely with shadowy exterior greenery and works well with most other colours.

Top tip: Use Resene Timber Surface Prep before painting on worn and weathered wood surfaces like window frames to help fill surface defects.

You can also play with colours on your windows, instead of sticking strictly to neutrals, or experiment with different colours on window frames and the window surrounds. This can be a particularly effective look on heritage homes. Try crisp Resene Alabaster on frames with dark grey Resene Gumboot surrounds. Add a front door in deep red Resene Pohutukawa or bright yellow Resene Turbo for dramatic impact.

Top tip: Resene Lustacryl is a good paint choice for outdoor projects and furniture. It is a semi gloss waterborne enamel so it will perform well in most weather conditions, is easy to clean and will hide more surface imperfections than a high gloss finish.

Painting your front door a bold colour is another simple weekend job with plenty of bang for your buck. Reds like Resene Flash Point are a popular contrast to favourite neutral house colours, but other brights worth considering are lime green Resene Wellywood or citrus orange Resene Adrenalin. If going bright isn’t for you, subtler contrasts in coastal blue Resene Half Kumutoto against aqua-toned white Resene Timeless is a refreshing alternative that is still impactful. Use Resene Enamacryl gloss for your bold door colour to help the colour standout from its surrounds.

Whatever weekend project you take on, adding Resene colours, paints and wood stains where you can will immediately give your outdoor areas a new lease of life.