You can paint that?

As more and more people look to reduce their footprint, paint is a great avenue for embracing upcycling in a way that’s sure to work with your colour scheme.

Got more sense than money or a desire to reduce waste? Want to enjoy your favourite furniture and homeware for longer or turn something old into something ‘you’? You’ll be surprised how easy and affordable it is to rejuvenate or upcycle with paint – it’s DIY décor for dummies that makes for super-satisfying creative projects and a unique interior.

Don’t throw that away

Where exactly is ‘away’? Putting things in the bin doesn’t make them magically disappear – so that’s where upcycling comes in. Forget ditching furniture and photo frames that are looking a bit tired – get creative.

If you don’t have your own odd bods to bring up to scratch, visit op shops to find pre-loved pieces, keeping an eye out for interesting forms made from quality materials. All you need to reboot many of them are some inexpensive Resene testpots.

Start simple in the kitchen by revitalising worn utensils or chopping boards by painting the handles; complex neutral Resene White Linen looks chic combined with timber. Update an old serving tray with elegant Resene Kensington Grey or nut brown wood stain Resene English Walnut. Bring a set of coasters into the now by using painter’s tape to mask the cork and create stripes or other shapes; try a tonal effect using lighter and darker versions of one base hue, such as seagrass Resene Earthstone, rustic green Resene Frontier, earthy green Resene Flax and grey-green Resene Finch.

Elevate an elderly ladder into sophisticated shelving for decorative objects and potted plants, painting it all one colour or each step a different shade. Turn wooden boxes into floating shelves to affix to the wall; paint inside and out or use wallpaper to line the base that’ll be the backdrop for your display. Try Resene Wallpaper Collection HAN100417818 which is beautiful teamed with oceanic blue Resene Wavelength and foam pink Resene Ebb. Rework crates into storage for children’s rooms in bold brights such as pure Resene Red Berry, energetic yellow Resene Turbo, bold blue Resene Endeavour and vivid green Resene Bingo.

Are the stools at your breakfast bar looking stained or shabby? Resene testpots can make quick work of that! Give the legs and tops a lick of paint – yes, even if they have a fabric cover – in punchy on-trend colours like Resene Away We Go, Resene XOXO and Resene Party Zone. Wall in Resene Rice Cake, plywood floor finished in Resene Aquaclear, cabinetry in Resene Aura, ledge in Resene Atlas, ‘maze’ pattern on planter in Resene Away We Go, small plant pot (on table) in Resene Party Zone. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

Upgrade plant pots that have seen better days with colours that take your fancy; greenery is striking against staunch Resene All Black. Transform an old suitcase into stylish storage or a side table. Wake up a tired timber headboard with a two-tone colour-blocked effect, applying your base colour, masking the area to be painted with painter’s tape, allowing the paint to dry, then peeling off the tape.

Double down on vases and vessels by adding a brighter colour to the inside of a piece painted a more subdued shade, such as violet Resene Kingfisher Daisy with romantic Resene Covert. To coat the interior, pour in a little paint, swirl it around, then tip out any excess and leave upside down to dry. Or take the exterior tonal with three stripes, like beige Resene Quarter Biscotti and pale pink Resene Paper Doll sandwiched with Resene FX Rose Gold.

This is how we do it

Another bonus of the upcycling process is that paint will protect your pieces from further wear. If you get sick of the new look, just paint over it or strip timber back to its original state and there’ll be no regrets. All this does require is some proper prep, though.

Wall in Resene Half Villa White, ottoman base in Resene Double Pravda, side table in Resene Double Pravda, large plant pot in Resene Aura, small plant pot and vase in Resene Bi Hoki, ladder and tray in Resene Peace, ‘plus’ pattern on ottoman cushion in Resene Peace and ‘plus’ pattern on square cushion in Resene Kandinsky. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton.

While every project has its own intricacies, the basics remain the same. First clean the surface – for interior areas use Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, for outdoors, use the right Resene cleaner – e.g. Resene Timber and Deck Wash on timber or Resene Paint Prep and Housewash on painted surfaces. Lightly sand, if needed, and wipe clean. Tighten any loose screws and stop gaps with a filler such as Resene EzyFill Quick.

Prime timber with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat, allow to dry, then add two coats of semi-gloss Resene Lustacryl or glossy Resene Enamacryl tinted to your colour of choice. For timber outdoor furniture, remove existing mould and ward off future growth by prepping with Resene Moss & Mould Killer. Follow with Resene Wood Primer, then two coats of tinted Resene Lumbersider.

Be sure to prepare slippery surfaces like laminate so your paint won’t peel off. Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer is perfect for the job. On metal, use a wire brush to get rid of any rust, then coat it with general-purpose Resene GP Metal Primer.

To prepare plant pots, scrub them clean, then use Resene Moss & Mould Killer if necessary. Seal pots inside and out to stop water seeping through and lifting the paint; use Resene Aquapel & Terracotta Sealer for terracotta pots. Once dry, turn pots upside down and paint from the base before turning right side up to finish the job.

Upcycling and Resene testpots are great tools for putting your own personal spin on accessories. Paint stripes on a lampshade in Resene Quarter Bokara Grey and Resene Hive, create abstract DIY artwork using Resene Tablelands, Resene Smitten, Resene Ethereal, Resene Twisted Sister and Resene Hive and freshen up interestingly shaped vases in (from left to right) Resene Smitten, Resene Hive, Resene Just Dance and Resene Twisted Sister. Walls in Resene Rice Cake, ply flooring finished in Resene Aquaclear and trims in Resene Tablelands. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

Better with age

Put a twist on upcycling something old by making it look even older. Furniture in particular is chic when given a vintage vibe. Create a distressed or antique look with Karen Walker Chalk Colour, then buff Karen Walker Vintage Wax into timber or use Karen Walker Soft Wax Clear for a final soft waxed sheen.

Resene FX Paint Effects medium can be mixed with your favourite Resene colour then used to create a patina. Or simply paint normally and use fine sandpaper to gently rub colour off areas that would naturally suffer wear and tear, then finish with Resene Aquaclear to seal, prevent actual dings and allow easy cleaning. Or paint one colour over another, then sand certain spots to reveal the undercoat. Or use Vaseline, wiping it on areas that would usually age, then painting over the top; the Vaseline will prevent the paint reaching those parts. Once the paint is dry, wipe off the Vaseline with a clean, dry cloth before finishing with Resene Aquaclear.

Are your shoes looking a little worse for wear? Instead of tossing them out, refresh them with your favourite Resene testpot colours. Background in Resene Bunting, shoes in Resene Sunbaked, Resene Despacito, Resene King Tide, Resene Bismark, Resene Unwind, Resene Sorbet, Resene Raging Bull and Resene Meditation. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton.

Top tips:

Avoid drips by not putting too much paint on your brush. Use the right-sized brush to get into nooks and crannies. For furniture, use a roller to paint panels more quickly.

Paint cabinet doors when open and closed to be sure you get the front, back and hinges and don’t miss any drips. Turn chairs upside down to start, then approach them from all angles. Dressers will benefit from you taking the drawers out to paint separately.

For help getting started with your decorating project, ask a Resene expert at your local Resene ColorShop or on the Resene website with the free Resene Ask a Tech Expert service, www.resene.co.nz/techexpert. View hundreds of decorating projects on the Resene website, www.resene.co.nz/upcycling-for-good, for inspiration for your DIY projects.