And this goes for decorating too! Make the most of being dry and warm to get those interior projects underway, whether it’s a fresh paint palette, a wallpaper makeover or just a splash of on-trend colour or texture to update your space.
Resene paint pro Murdo Shaw says winter is the best time for painting inside.
“In summer, people sometimes struggle to get a good finish on their ceilings. When it’s a blisteringly hot day, if you put your hand on the ceiling it could be 34-35°C. So what happens is as soon as you put paint on that, it dries and you can find it hard to keep a wet edge, so you’ve got to go incredibly fast to get a good finish on it.
“Whereas in wintertime, just open the doors and windows first. Your ceiling paint is going to stay wet for longer, so you’ve got plenty of time to apply the paint and work on your technique. Once you’ve done that, close your doors and windows, and you can also put an oscillating fan through the room for a bit of air movement.”
Resene consultant Amy Watkins says it is still worth checking the temperature, even in colder weather.
“This will have an impact on how long the paint takes to dry and what your finish will be like. While these generally aren’t factors that you can ‘control’, they should be things that you pay attention to when choosing which day/s you’re going to get stuck in.”
Winter is for wallpaper
When looking for winter-friendly ways to refresh indoor spaces and create a cosy atmosphere indoors, Amy says: “Definitely consider using wallpaper”.
“It doesn’t have to be a big bold design, you could use a neutral woven/linen pattern that’s deeper in colour than the other walls in your home to give a warm, cosy feeling to a room.
“Another benefit with wallpaper is that you don’t have the dry time like you do with paint.”
She recommends looking at wallpapers “that relate back to nature” and sit on the warmer side of the colour wheel.
“Whether it’s a floral pattern with big bold leaves or a textured paper that uses one of the colours that can be found in nature such as terracottas, browns and deep reds. The key is we want to bring in the warmth as much as possible.”
Those looking for what’s hot right now: Amy says there are two new wallpaper books out that are proving very popular
“Botanica and Nomade both have a mixture of warm tone textures, through to your bigger bolder statement pieces.”
Cool colour
For a wintry palette that will transcend seasons, Resene colour expert Brenda Ngatai recommends off-whites with a subtle grey undertone, such as Resene Athens Grey, Resene House White or Resene Merino, to provide a versatile base for your interiors.
“Put these three examples side by side and you can see how different they are, yet they all work really well with a fresh, clean white such as the classic Resene Alabaster used on ceilings and architraves,” Brenda says.
Opting for chocolatey tones is another way to keep your space feeling modern and up-to-date.
“Consider chocolate blacks such as Resene Dark Chocolate or Resene Bokara Grey. They’re colours with good depth.”
For added colour to pair with your neutrals, Brenda nods to the dusky terracotta pink of Resene Soiree or Resene Amaranth for a soft, subdued ochre brown.
“All these rich dark colours look stunning with touches of copper or brass metallic, which brings in additional dimension and texture to the finished design.”
Make a statement (wall)
Brenda also suggests embracing the idea of a statement wall to elevate wintry spaces with more colour: “Some interior walls are screaming out for colour!”
Having a bolder colour on just one wall can be a manageable way to change out seasonal shades, without a huge expense.
“Try a muted note of Resene Duck Egg Blue, which also has a subtle grey undertone to keep to a neutral theme, or something punchier like Resene Forty Six or fresher like Resene Rivergum.”
Mix ‘n’ match decor
For some seasonal experimentation that won’t break the bank, Brenda points to playing with different textiles and smaller decor items.
“Change cushions and throws, adding more texture in winter months with woven patterns, velvets and woollen fabrics. Also opt for warmer, neutral colours or richer dark tones in your textiles,” she says.
A change of art
Switching out artwork can also quickly change the feel of a room.
“Something a designer friend said to me once has always stuck with me: ‘Put some of your art pieces to rest’,” Brenda explains.
“Take some off the wall for a few months. Keep the pieces up that add to a wintry vibe, then replace them with pieces that create a summer or spring vibe. I’ve done this and it does make a good change to the look and feel of a room.
“When it's time to change again and bring back the ‘resting’ pieces, it’s like seeing your dear old friends again.”
Article created in partnership with Resene.
