Keep it white or go for colour?

With an abundance of beautiful colours on the paint chart to choose from, nailing the final decision on a hue can be daunting.

But, if you specifically want to highlight the lovely lines of architecture – particularly in a contemporary home – then white is still the best choice for an overall scheme, says Resene colour consultant Amy Watkins. Sticking with a neutral backdrop allows you to introduce bolder colours in places like the office or bedrooms, or on feature walls, she says.

“If you’re painting the bedroom, for example, you could go for a dramatic dark shade like Resene Indian Ink or Resene Twilight Zone to make the room feel cocooning. It’s a great way of relaxing you into the mind frame of going to sleep. These colours are popular because they give a welcoming vibe.”

Amy explains there is a trend toward introducing colour in smaller spaces such as the bathroom. “People are going for stronger colourways like Resene Sunbaked. It’s a lovely warm, muted orange that doesn’t overpower a space.”

Lighter trims in white or a soft neutral should be used to make the connection to the rest of the house. Amy suggests using Resene Half Cararra, a popular off-white for the trims to tone down the Resene Sunbaked and carrying it throughout the rest of the home.

Black kitchens make a fantastic statement piece, she adds. “But think of the wear and tear they will endure. You are better to use a high gloss finish in this area as it’s easier to keep clean.

“If you go for darker coloured walls and cabinetry, make sure you choose a lighter benchtop and ceilings to make the scheme pop. Light coloured ceilings increase the feeling of space and make the room seem higher.”

Boldly patterned wallpaper has also made a colourful comeback on feature walls in the living space, bedrooms and even bathrooms. But if you want a wallpaper, choose your paint first, says Amy, then think of a style you like in floral, geometric or even a colourwave. That way you can narrow down your choices fairly quickly.

“Resene also has the Masons Handcrafted Selection where we can customise colours to suit a wallpaper. If you fall in love with a pattern, we can easily turn it into the colourwave of your choice.”

If you’re painting a home to refresh it for resale or to rent it out, a neutral scheme is definitely the way to go, says interior designer Linda Partridge of Partridge Design.

White is good, she says, but you need to identify which of the “five million whites” is right. Popular whites are Resene Alabaster or Resene Black White, both of which are chalky grey.

“Don’t just choose a white and think it will go with everything. Work with what you already have – things that are fixed such as your benchtops, joinery, tiles and cabinetry – to determine the right tone for your walls.”

Linda warns that if you have a lot of outdoor living facing the sun, be careful using white on the exterior as it can create glare. You likely don’t want to put on your sunglasses every time you step outside.

She also recommends looking to your neighbours home before deciding on an exterior colour. “If there is a red cedar stained house next door and you paint your home white, the colour will be reflected and yours will end up with a pink tinge.

“Also think about the demographic of your buyers. If you’re appealing to buyers with young children and animals, white can be a nightmare,” says Linda.

“Colours should be soft with not too much warmth. Yellowy creams aren’t as popular. And be mindful of pink tones. Even though pink adds warmth, a lot of people won’t like it. It’s too distinctive.”

In the past, exteriors in tea, sisal and parchment dominated the market. “Now we’ve become softer and lighter with colours like Resene Wan White, a clear white, and Resene Quarter Joanna, a warm neutral. Resene Eighth Ash is a really beautiful colour with depth. It’s cool but not cold. It looks lovely on the exterior of classic homes. Slightly warmer whites make a beautiful complement, like Resene Rice Cake, a clear eggshell vanilla. It seems to work in any scheme.”

Linda says, it’s lovely for buyers to walk into a room painted in blues or greens, but be careful where you put these colours.

“Have a reason for your choices. A blue room is beautiful if it’s a north-facing space looking at the sea or a green room facing a valley. Try to grey or smudge your colours so they aren’t too vibrant and harsh. By toning them down, you still have the idea but it’s more compatible for most people’s taste. And remember, what you see on the colour chart can change drastically depending on the light and what it’s next to.”

Amy advises it’s always better to go for lighter colours on a home’s exterior. “Certain substrates can’t handle dark colours. Our sun is very harsh and most materials absorb the heat.”

In these cases, it’s important to look to products within the Resene CoolColour system. It’s good for surfaces like cedar. But for certain substrates, it’s not fail safe.

For that reason, the latest trend is to go for white on white – whites with a slightly grey look. Resene Duck Egg Blue also works wonderfully with Resene Alabaster, suggests Amy.

Linda points out that colours on the exterior gets lighter. “So think about the depth and how they will look from the road. Darker colours can look mellow. Lighter colours are more classical. A soft sage green can look exquisite on a villa. But it may not appeal to younger people.”

If you are about to change your colours, Amy suggests you bring some of your existing materials – like your carpets and tiles – into a Resene showroom. “People tend to have issues when they start to copy someone else’s house that’s completely different. If you work with what you have, we can show you how to create the wow factor.”

February 28, 2019

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