Four makeover ideas to spring into

With warmer, longer days comes the desire to take on some home maintenance or makeover project.

Here are some ideas for spring – or summer – makeover projects that will leave your home looking fresh and smart inside and out, and most can be done in a weekend.

Make a grand entrance

One of the most effective areas to focus on in a spring makeover is the front entrance to your house, says Resene colour expert Christine Hodges.

“Start by cleaning away any dirt, dust and cobwebs with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash and treat any moss and mould with Resene Moss & Mould Killer, following the instructions,” says Christine.

Next is to paint your front door. “Choose an unexpected colour that makes you smile, every time you come through the door.”

There are no rules as to the colour you choose. If you’re more of a minimalist, look to paint your door just a shade or two darker than your home’s exterior colour and add contrast with a crisp trim. For a bolder, yet still achromatic neutral finish, paint your door in almost-black Resene Jaguar.

Top tip: Consider how much sunlight your surface will be exposed to when using dark paint colours outside. Choose the Resene CoolColour version of your dark paint or wood stain to help reflect more heat and keep the surface cooler.

If you have space, furniture like a simple bench seat or a shoe cabinet can be another way to add personality and colour to your front entrance.

To complete your new-look front porch Christine recommends adding to, or complementing, the colour scheme by painting planter boxes and pots.

A contrast front door with tonally similar furniture and decor touches creates a high-impact front entrance. This storage box and coat hooks are painted in Resene Poured Milk, home exterior in Resene Half Periglacial Blue, door in Resene Blue Night, door frame in Resene Alabaster, planters in Resene Slipstream and Resene Grey Seal and bench seat in Resene Coast. Project by Emily Somerville-Ryan, image by Bryce Carleton.

Create space

Look around your indoor and outdoor spaces to see if there’s an area to create a “chill out” space. It might be as simple as a lounger under a tree with an upcycled table, painted or stained in your favourite Resene colour, for drinks and snacks.

Outdoors, you could mark out a small area or create a path to your retreat space with painted pavers to place a table for morning coffee. Add colour by preparing your concrete pavers with Resene Concrete Primer, then use Resene testpots in your favourite colours to create your own colourful design or pattern. Or for a non-slip finish you can paint your cleaned pavers in Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path.

Top tip: Wooden pallets are a great upcycling material to use for DIY planters. Finish them in Resene Woodsman wood stain. A dark stain shade like Resene Charred Black makes a great backdrop for flowers and greenery. Just add fairy lights!

For a retreat zone inside your house, try and find a corner for a favourite chair or even a pile of comfy cushions. Paint around that corner, including the floor and ceiling in a different colour to the rest of the room. Try Resene Double Tea against walls in Resene Quarter Tea for a neutral look.

Pops of colour and contrast will quickly give an outdoor area a new lease of life. Weatherboards and large planter in Resene Nocturnal, light in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect, table in Resene Waiouru, decking in Resene Woodsman Uluru and sculpture rods in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect and Resene Alabaster. Furniture from Danske Møbler, speaker from Good Thing. Project by Melle van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Add colour where you can

Christine suggests getting your kids involved in simple colour projects like painting plant markers for the vege garden. “Use Resene testpots on the markers and add the names of veggies, herbs and flowers decorating with colours they like. Try using old pallets cut down and sanded so there’s no sharp edges.”

Resene colour expert Madison McLeod suggests another kid-friendly project by painting old, clean jars. “They make great planting pots for your kitchen herbs and spices.”

They can also be excellent storage solutions for small kids’ toys or art supplies that the kids can paint themselves to add some colour to their bedrooms or play space.

Painting the cupboards in your kitchen is another quick way to give your home a spring refresh. It needn’t be bold brights either. Try a soft green like Resene Tic Tac Toe against greyed whites, a delicate blue like Resene Double Duck Egg Blue or subtle yellow Resene Moondance.

Painted pavers immediately elevate andpersonalise this retreat zone. Weatherboards painted in Resene Half GreyChateau, pavers in Resene Non-Skid Deck and Path tinted to Resene LandscapeGrey with stencilled design in Resene Off Piste, table in Resene Grey Chateauand planters in Resene Grey Chateau, Resene Poet and Resene Jimmy Dean. Chair,throw and cushions from Nood. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by BryceCarleton.

Paint floors and ceilings

Painting wood floors can be a practical option if your floorboards are damaged or stained and need a little more camouflage than a sheer stain would give.

In larger rooms painting flooring in dark shades can anchor the space and create a sleek, sophisticated base underneath showpiece rugs. Try a moody brown like Resene Chocolate Brown, and to keep the room feeling light and airy, opt for walls in a watercolour green like Resene Carefree or a beige like Resene Karry with trim in Resene White.

Painting ceilings anything other than white or cream can be quite a hurdle for many of us to cross, but the impact on your space can be huge. For a subtle look that still adds interest and colour try a pale pastel like Resene Half Pale Rose. Deeper sunset shades like Resene Summer Rose or Resene Dawn Glow will add drama, while still being muted enough that the room still feels airy and light. Pair your bolder ceiling with tonally similar walls such as Resene Inspire and a crisper white finish like Resene Alabaster.

Top tip: Using darker colours on your ceiling with Resene SpaceCote Flat can be a good way to add a sense of proportion or cosiness to rooms with high ceilings

Visit your Resene ColorShop for everything you need to get your spring project underway.

Creating a relaxation nook, either outdoors or indoors, can be achieved quickly with a touch of colour and creative use of furniture and decor. This deck is stained in Resene Woodsman Tiri, with walls painted in Resene Spanish White. The side tabletop is painted in Resene Nullarbor, small pots in Resene Quarter Spanish White, wall hanging in Resene Colorwood Cedar, light in Resene Villa White and palm planter in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect. Chair and palm from Danske Møbler, cushion from H&M Home. Project by Melle van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.