Timber and colour combos

When matching your paint to stained or varnished timber consider the undertone and texture of the timber as well as the sheen and reflectiveness of the clear coat. As a general rule, off whites, creams and green white paint colours look handsome paired with timber.

Colour guides for common timbers

Rimu

Rimu is very common in heritage homes used on flooring, panelling, furniture and kitchen cabinetry. There are two kinds of rimu; ordinary which is yellow/green in tone and heart rich ginger/gold. Try this yellow wood with creams such as Resene Pearl Lusta, Resene Double Spanish White and greens such as Resene Haven and Resene Aspiring.

Mātai

This warm red/gold-coloured timber was used in many older homes built early last century for flooring, panelled walls or planked ceilings. It goes well with rich warm creams such as Resene Sour Dough, Resene Canterbury Clay, indulgent ochre tans like Resene Mai Tai and blue based greens like Resene Deep Teal and Resene Tangaroa.

Radiata pine

This yellow/white timber prefers clear off whites such as Resene Rice Cake and Resene Green White, dense yellow based greys like Resene Nomad and bolder colours like Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Kaitoke Green and Resene Bunting.

Cedar

Though it has a lovely warm red-brown colour when new it greys off rapidly when exposed to sunlight and weathering. It likes rich warm neutrals such as Resene Spanish White, Resene Double Biscotti and dense greens like Resene Gondwana.

Tawa

Tawa was used a lot during the 1970s for flooring and more recently for kitchen cabinetry. It is a light yellow/beige and takes on a pale honey gold look when polyurethaned with solventborne finishes. Try it with slightly green edged creams like Resene Villa White and Resene Thorndon Cream. Because of its lightness it suits deep blues, greens and charcoals like Resene Indian Ink, Resene Bondi Blue, Resene Bingo and Resene Foundry.

Oak

Oak is often stained a dark colour for traditional furniture trims and panelling in older homes or is varnished as blonde oak. It has strong open graining and when stripped back to bare wood, bleached or whitewashed it takes on a Scandinavian, coastal and shabby chic look. When left as a dark strong colour it likes associating with traditional and earthy colours – Resene Half Dutch White, Resene Jalapeno, Resene Mangrove and Resene Half Pearl Lusta. When stripped it works well with muted greys, blues and greens – Resene Triple Black White, Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Half Robin Egg Blue and Resene Periglacial Blue.

Most popular

Common applications for Resene clear coats and varnishes around the home.

• Walls – Resene Aquaclear – all sheen levels, including Resene Aquaclear Natural or Resene Colorwood Whitewash for a whitewashed look or tinted for a colourwashed look.

• Ceilings – Resene Aquaclear – all sheen levels, including Resene Aquaclear Natural, most decorators prefer satin or natural to reduce reflection or Resene Colorwood Whitewash for a whitewashed look or tinted for a colourwashed look.

• Furniture – Resene Colorwood stain, Resene Aquaclear, Resene Colorwood Whitewash or tinted to a colourwashed look, Resene Qristal Clear Poly-Satin or Poly-Gloss for a solventborne alternative.

• Doors/trim – Resene Aquaclear waterborne semi-gloss or satin, or gloss for a higher sheen finish. Or Resene Qristal Poly-Satin or Resene Qristal Poly-Gloss for a solventborne alternative.

• Floor – Resene Colorwood stain, Resene Qristal ClearFloor or Resene Qristal Poly-Satin or Resene Qristal Poly-Gloss for a solventborne alternative. Resene Aquaclear may be preferred on flooring by DIYers but is less durable.

Bright ideas

Got some leftover Resene wood stain left in the can? Get creative and use stains to rejuvenate tired furniture or transform timber offcuts into stylish household items.

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