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Take your interior timber surfaces to the next level with these Resene wood products

09 Jun 2025

In contemporary design, timber is far more than just a structural element; it’s a canvas for creative expression. From flooring and wall panelling to furniture and joinery, wood surfaces bring depth, texture and a sense of permanence to a space. However, it’s the finishing products that we apply to these surfaces that truly define how the timber we use in our projects performs and presents over time. 

Resene offers a comprehensive range of products specifically developed to enhance the appearance and longevity of interior timber, transforming standard timber into a rich design feature that will complement and elevate your overall scheme. Whether the goal is to enrich natural grain, add a subtle wash of colour, unify wood tones across various surfaces or protect from wear and tear, these products give designers the control and flexibility they need to create high-performance, visually expressive spaces. 

More than just finishes, these Resene products are tools for storytelling-allowing timber to take on different moods, respond to changing light conditions and align seamlessly with the rest of your materials and Resene paint colour selections. When used in combination, they offer a layered approach that’s equally suited to residential warmth, commercial sophistication or the durable demands of public and institutional environments. Learn how to use some of our favourite interior wood products to take your project’s timber surfaces up a notch. 

Customise with Resene Colorwood stains

Resene Colorwood stains are the cornerstone of timber toning, allowing you to celebrate the natural grain of wood while customising its colour to suit the mood or material palette of a space. Available in a wide range of colours, from pale Scandi-inspired tones to warm mid-century hues to moody darks, Resene Colorwood stains can be used on everything from timber flooring to wall panelling, ceiling cladding, cabinetry, furniture and joinery. Applied directly to bare timber, Resene Colorwood stains provide semi-transparent colour to add pigmentation and depth without masking the wood’s natural variation. This makes Resene Colorwood stains ideal for projects where you want the organic texture of timber to remain visible while integrating itscolour cohesively with broader design schemes. 

Level up:The beauty of Resene Colorwood stains is that you can easily increase the intensity of your chosen wood stain colour by adding additional layers, but the opportunities for customising the look of your timber doesn’t end there. To get a unique look with even more depth, try layering a single coat of two different Resene Colorwood stain colours on top of one another. Pick up testpots of your chosen Resene Colorwood  stains from your local Resene ColorShop and try testing them out on a scrap piece of your project’s timber before finalising your specifications to make sure you and your client are satisfied with the look. This sample can then be provided to your builder or painter to use as a reference. 


Left:Left timber wall stained in Resene Colorwood Dark Ebony, back and right walls, picture frame and shelving unit stain washed in Resene Colorwood Bask, floor and lamp base painted in Resene Digeridoo, table vase in Resene All Black and bench vase in Resene Triple Blanc. Table from Powersurge.
Right: Batten walls painted in Resene Twilight Zone, floor stained in Resene Colorwood Crowshead with one coat of Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash applied on topand tabletop and bowl in Resene Indian Ink. 

Bring warmth and softness with Resene Whitewash 

For lighter, coastal-inspired interiors or Scandi-style schemes, Resene Colorwood Whitewash is a go-to product. This semi-opaque stain offers a soft veil of whiteness that mutes the timber’s inherent hue while still allowing grain to remain visible. It’s a popular choice in residential and hospitality settings where brightness, calm and understated elegance are desired. When applied to timber ceilings, walls or furniture, Resene Colorwood Whitewash gives the impression of age-worn softness, lending a sun-faded authenticity that can be layered with other woods or paired with clean whites, subdued neutrals and soft pastel tones. It’s also a smart solution in spaces where too much natural timber might otherwise feel visually heavy. 

Level up: If you like the soft, casual look that Resene Colorwood Whitewash offers but your palette needs a bit more colour, check out the Resene We Speak Beach collection. These six timeless colourwash hues – Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, Resene Colorwood Becalm, Resene Colorwood Bask, Resene Colorwood Shore Thing, Resene Colorwood Rising Tide and Resene Colorwood Shade – are inspired by hazy summer days at the beach and a selection of Resene’s most popular weathered colours. To get the silvery look of aged timber – without damaging the integrity of your material – go for Resene Colorwood Light Greywash or Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash.For exterior timber projects, all of these can be tinted into Resene Woodsman Wash. 


Left: Arched wall painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Kinship, left wall and back wall in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Sea Fog, floor finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash and vases in Resene Foundation (left) and Resene Boris (right). Chair from Matisse.
Right: Back wall painted in Resene Creme De La Creme with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Courtyard applied on top, left pillar in Resene Courtyard and floor finished in ReseneColorwood Bask. Artwork by Damien Kurth from Sanderson Gallery, left chair and pendant lamp from Good Form, right chair, table and plant stand from Ligne Roset, vase from Smith & Caughey’s, glassware from Tessuti. 

Alter timber that’s already been stained with Resene Colour Enhance

To subtly enrich or tweak the undertones of light-coloured timbers – especially those prone to uneven colouring or a naturally bland appearance – Resene Colour Enhance offers a targeted solution. This clever productcan be used as an additive to a number of different Resene formulas, allowing you to dial in the look of different surfaces and timber types by gently warming, cooling or enrichingtheir colour. Resene Colour Enhance can be particularly effective when working with variable timber species across different areas of the same space, helping achieve a more cohesive overall tone while still maintaining the individuality of each of your project’scomponents. It is especially useful in renovations and commercial or civic projects where large expanses of timber require a consistent finish across multiple zones or joinery types or in renovations. 

Level up: On timber surfaces that has already been stained, Resene Colour Enhance offers a unique opportunity to change the colour and look without having to sand the wood back to bare. Simply add Resene Colour Enhance to a suitable clear coating, such as Resene Aquaclear or Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K, and apply it on top. 


Left: Background finished in three coats of Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K mixed with Resene Colour Enhance Japan Black, tray (top) in one coat of ReseneAquaclear satin mixed with Resene Colour Enhance Japan Black, large spoon (on tray) in two coats of Resene Aquaclear satin mixed with Resene Colour Enhance Japan Black, small spoon (on tray) in three coats of ReseneAquaclear satin mixed with Resene Colour Enhance Japan Black, spoon (bottom left) in one coat of Resene Aquaclear satin mixed with Resene Colour Enhance Red Brown, bowl and spoon (bottom right) in two coats of Resene Aquaclear satin mixed with Resene Colour Enhance Red Brown and bowl (bottom centre) in two coats of Resene Aquaclear satin mixed with Resene Colour Enhance Walnut. Wooden vase from Public Record.
Right:Timber wall and bowl stained in Resene Colorwood Walnut, floor painted in Resene Half Pearl Lusta, coat stand and picture frame in Resene Colorwood Hanmer, shelving unit stain washed in ReseneColorwood Breathe Easy, lamp painted inResene Double Pearl Lusta and candleholders and floor vase painted in Resene Twizel. Rug from Nodi. 

Conserve integrity and create cohesion with Resene Aquaclear

No interior timber finish is complete without appropriate protection, and Resene Aquaclear is one of the most popular interior options for doing just that. This Eco Choice approved waterborne clear polyurethane is designed to preserve the integrity of stained surfaces while providing a durable finish that’s gentler on the environment and project occupants. It’s suitable for a wide range of interior surfaces such aswall and ceiling cladding, skirting boards, trims, handrails, joinery, shelving and furniture. Importantly, it’s low in VOCs and easy to clean, making it a safe and practical choice for residential homes, schools, healthcare environments and other spaces where longevity and low maintenance are key considerations. 

Level up:Resene Aquaclear is excellent for those who are after a cohesive look across their project – especially if you’re after a consistent finish across a variety of surfaces. If you’re after an alluring lowsheen finish, pair Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen on your painted surfaces with Resene Aquaclear satin on your timber. For a higher sheen look, try Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss on joinery with Resene Aquaclear semi-gloss for your wood surfaces. And if you want a luxurious glossy look,go for Resene Enamacryl on your fixtures and furniture andchoose Resene Aquaclear gloss for protecting your timber. 


Left:Plywood panels (on back wall) finished in two coats of Resene Aquaclear satin mixed with ReseneColour Enhance Japan Black, floor in three coats of ReseneQristalClearFloor 1K mixed with ReseneColour Enhance Japan Black, coffee table in two coats of ReseneAquaclear satin mixed with ReseneColour Enhance Japan Black, side walls, shelf, column and tray painted in Resene Black Sand, concrete pot finished in two coats of Resene Concrete Clear satin mixed with ReseneColour Enhance Japan Black and floor vase in Resene Merino. Flower artwork and frame in ReseneColour Enhance Japan Black, artwork on right in ReseneColour Enhance Japan Black, ReseneColour Enhance Red Brown and pencil with frame in ReseneColour Enhance Red Brown, stool and large wooden bowl in ReseneColour Enhance Walnut and small wooden bowl in ReseneColour Enhance Red Brown, all mixed with ReseneAquaclear satin. Kettle, mugs, wooden vases, lamp and canister from Public Record, armchairs from Mr. Bigglesworthy.
Right:Timber background stained in ReseneColorwood Dark Ebony and finished in ReseneAquaclear Satin, scoop stained in ReseneColorwood Dark Ebony, board and spoon stain washed in ReseneColorwood Bask, juicer in ReseneColorwood Egmont, large bowl painted in Resene Digeridoo and fluted bowl in Resene Triple Blanc. 

For more ideas for using Resene products on timber surfaces, check out our stories on Resene Colour Enhance and how to combine Resene wood stains with neutral paint colours from recent issues of BlackWhite magazine.If you’re not on the BlackWhite mailing list, you can pick up a copy at your local Resene ColorShop, read the online version and sign-up to receive future issues free. 

projectsAmber Armitage, Vanessa Nouwens
imagesBryce Carleton,Wendy Fenwick 

Published: 09 Jun 2025