Home makeovers that won’t break the bank

Beautifying your home needn’t break the bank. Maybe you want to add some flair and colour to your home, maybe you’re planning to sell and don’t want to overcapitalise or maybe have pressing maintenance to address on a limited budget.

Whatever your home improvement goals, there are a range of tips and tricks you can employ to help stretch your dollars further.

Resene’s team of colour, design and technical experts have seen it all when it comes to home maintenance and design projects. Here are some of their best cost-saving tips as well as suggestions for care and restoration to help your tools, surfaces and finishes last longer.

Resene colour expert Meryl Southey:

1. Do as much as you can yourself; cleaning, sanding, painting, gardening and upcycling are all achievable for basic decoration, then leave the difficult stuff to the professionals if it’s out of your skillset.

2. There’s a lot of online tutorials on all aspects of home renovation and maintenance, including on the Resene, habitat by Resene and MasterStroke by Resene websites, offering excellent advice and tips.

3. If you’re new to home renovation, start small.

Paintedflooring and a wallpapered feature wall can be cost-effective ways of breathingnew life into worn or damaged surfaces. Wall papered in WallpaperCollection M37302, floor and skirting painted in Quarter Sisal, bedsidetable and basket in Sisal, bench seat, coaster, planter and knotornament in Double Sisal, pendant light, tabletop book and palm hooks in Triple Sisal and shelf book in Double Rice Cake. Bedlinen fromAdairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Resene colour consultant Jill Marsh:

1. Adding just a feature wall, a single drop of Resene wallpaper, or a small pop of colour can transform a space with minimal work or expense - and it can be changed out easily. Small areas like behind a TV or one wall in an entrance can change how a space feels.

2. Don’t skimp on painting equipment. Buy good quality, clean it well after each use and hang to dry. This will keep brushes and rollers in top condition for multiple uses.

3. Protect your home exterior by annually washing with Resene Paint Prep and house Wash diluted as recommended with water.

4. Revive interior walls by removing marks with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner.

Resene colour consultant Connor Watson:

1. Use the Resene paint calculator at www.resene.com to gauge how much paint you need. Not only can it help you avoid waste, but you may also find you need to buy a more cost-effective 10 litre pail, rather than returning for multiple four-litre cans.

2. If you’re fully changing your colour scheme look at what furniture you already have that you can repaint or stain rather than buying new.

3. Consider using one gloss level and colour on both walls and ceilings so you don’t need to buy separate cans of paint. Try a versatile finish like SpaceCote Low Sheen which can be used throughout your home from dry areas like living rooms to wet areas like bathrooms.

Top tip: Low sheen finishes are great at covering small imperfections in your walls, particularly in darker shades.

1. Wallpaper may be a cost-effective - and time efficient - alternative if you have damaged walls that require a full skim coat.

Tacklingsmall creative projects that are easy-to-achieve and fun are a cost-effectiveway to revive a room. Wall painted in Wan White, floor stain colour washedin Breathe Easy, large balloon and shelf in Boundless, smallerballoon and shelf in Nirvana, ropes in Top Notch, large cratebasket in Rulebreaker, smaller crate in Lakeside, toy box andshelf box in Soft Apple, table in Fluffy Duck, stools in Pale Rose, Rulebreaker, Sugar Plum Fairy and TequilaSunrise, tall planter in Sauvignon, small planter and cat ornament in Aoraki, pen pot in Divine and mason jars in Scrumptiousand Divine. Project by Annick Larkin, mural by Hannah Tapner, image byBryce Carleton.

Resene colour consultant Amy Watkins:

1. Always test your paint colour in the room it will be used in. Try out your Resene testpot painted using two coats onto A2 cardbaord, leaving a 2cm white border, to ensure the existing wall colour doesn’t affect the shade you are testing. Check the colours in both natural and artificial light, in different parts of the room, and at different times of the day.

Resene paint expert Jay Sharples:

1. Keep a record of the colours and products you use so you don’t have to guess if you need repairs or touch ups. Take photos of paint cans and keep them in your phone or write the colours behind the light switch fitting in each room, which can be a big help to new owners too.

2. Don’t “set and forget” once you’ve painted. Protect your finishes and ensure longevity with regular maintenance and cleaning. Remember, you clean your car regularly to help protect the paint, your house needs the same. It’s your biggest asset!

3. Wrap your brush in cling film or a recyclable plastic bag between coats or while taking a break. This helps keep the paint fresh and saves you from having to continually wash out brushes.

Opting for adarker stain instead of classic wood tones creates a high impact finish in youroutdoor areas without a huge cost outlay. Rear wall stained in WaterborneWoodsman in Charred Black, decking in Woodsman Decking Oil Stainin Tiri, sandbox and bamboo screen in Waterborne Woodsman in Bark, planter box painted in Dark Rum, table in Cobblestone, stools and tray in Burgundy and tall pot in Bullwhip. Lanterns from Look Sharp. Project by Melle van Sambeek, image by BryceCarleton.

Resene colour consultant Christine Hodges:

1. Always have a plan with a budget and try to keep to it.

2. If you’re unsure about any aspect of your project, ask an expert for advice so you don’t make costly mistakes.

3. If the project is beyond your abilities, consider getting a professional tradie in to do the work. It might cost less than starting something and being unable to finish it properly yourself or having to redo it.

Resene colour consultant Hannah Lynch:

1. Proper preparation is essential before painting. This means using the right cleaners, tools and primers, and don’t skip that important sanding step to ensure your paint or stain has the best surface to adhere to.

2. Always remember to wipe off any sanding dust.

Resene stylist Moneuan Ryan

1. Simply paint your room in a versatile warming neutral like Blanc, Thorndon Cream or deeper Double Parchment or Perfect Taupe. Neutrals give your room an immediate lift, and most will be versatile enough to work with existing furniture and decor.

2. Look at the areas and pieces you pass every day that might need care and attention as they’ll have a big impact on how you feel about your interiors. A good example might be your front door or a bench near your entrance area. Add a bolt of colour to give both the space and you a lift. Some of my favourite colours across the spectrum for these types of projects, in different degrees of boldness, are: Racing Green, Double Cod Grey, Eternity, Turbo, Buttercup, Poppy, Red Berry, Red Oxide or Avant Garde.

3. If you have a wooden dining set, give it a quick sand and an upgrade with a fresh coat of paint or stain. Try a traditional stain shade like Colorwood Matai or have fun with an unexpected stain colour like Colorwood Apollo Blue.

Top tip: For pieces like a dining set, try a nature-toned stain like Colorwood Natural, and a bolder colour on chairs.

Testing your paint colours to see how theyappear in different lights will make sure you have no surprises and no need forrepainting. Rear left wall and top half of front wall in Villa White, bottom of front wall and fruit bowl in Spring Fever and book in Villa White. Bookshelf and side tablefrom Kmart, chair from Noho. Project by AmberArmitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Additional tips from the Resene Advice team:

1. Spruce up your kitchen by painting outdated laminate kitchen units. Start by cleaning thoroughly then prime with Laminate and Melamine Primer, followed by two coats of Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom in your chosen colour.

2. If you’re renovating to sell, avoid overspending and overcapitalising by getting good advice on what your home is worth, so you can recoup your costs on the sale price.

3. Repainting ceilings is a good way to make a whole room feel fresher. Clean thoroughly and paint with SpaceCote Flat in your chosen colour for a washable finish.

Top tip: Whiter ceilings can help make rooms feel lighter and brighter. If you want a cosier finish, consider painting your ceiling in a bold colour like moody blue Coast against walls in neutral Sea Fog or pastel blue Casper.

1. If you’re renting, add moveable colour on canvases, sheets of ply or furniture so you can take your paint feature with you. Sections of a bold patterned wallpaper such as Wallpaper Collection 39507-4 added to canvases can also make eye-catching artworks that can move with you.

2. Instead of painting a whole room, create a fun, creative mural instead using Resene testpots or one-litre paint cans in simple geometric shapes or stencils. Experiment on paper first before committing to the wall.

3. Sanding and painting wooden, concrete or even tile floors can be a quick and cost-effective way to revive a room. Try a stencilled pattern to replicate the appearance of tiles in paint or try a block colour that gives the space a lift and works with your existing colour scheme. Use Resene Walk-On flooring and paving paint for a durable finish.

For all your questions about cost-saving tips or other aspects of your renovation project, visit your local Resene ColorShop or use the free Ask a Resene Paint Expert service online, www.resene.com/paintexpert.