Bring a little happiness to your outdoor space with colour

10 Dec 2025

It’s natural to spend more time outdoors in the warmer months, so why not make your garden or patio a happy and joyful place to be? A splash of colour can transform even the simplest space, turning a plain corner, fence or garden into a cheerful spot for morning coffees or long, lazy evenings with friends.

Resene’s outdoor paint and stain options make it easy to add those lively touches. Let’s take a look at some inspiring and colourful designs that other homeowners have created to get you started.

Consider adding colour to your outdoor space that’s inspired by what’s already there – nature’s vibrant hues and your blooming summer florals. Artist and homeowner Nicola chose Resene Bastille for her fence for it’s a beautiful inky, purplish charcoal colour that was also a great backdrop for all her flowers. She then used a vibrant collection of Resene testpots to create her own floral artwork reflecting the beautiful colours of her real life flowers. The colours include Resene Broom, Lip Service, Colour Me Pink, Splish Splash and Poured Milk.

Nothing inspires creativity quite as well as joy and being in an uplifting environment. Try vibrant contrasts in a selection of fresh Resene whites and sea or sky blues that evoke the sun-drenched glamour of the Mediterranean. Here, the patio floor is painted in Resene Triple Concrete with sponged layers of Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Double Stack and Eighth Black White. Wall in Eighth Black White and zig-zag arch in Resolution Blue, with a top layer in Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Polo Blue, shutter in Polo Blue with layers of Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Zircon and Half Resolution Blue, pots in Resolution Blue and table and chairs in Polo Blue. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

This exterior is an instant pick-me-up. The warm, fruity terracotta of Resene Japonica behind the cactus garden gives this outdoor space a vibrant urban desert feel while the gate painted in Zuccini adds depth to the space. Project by Lymesmith, image by Clinton Weaver.

When Maureen was living in rented accommodation following the Christchurch earthquake she had four years to dream about how she would liven up the “boring grey concrete courtyard” of her rebuilt townhouse. She went with walls and garden features in Resene Cardinal with a wooden fence stained in deep charcoal Resene Woodsman Crowshead. “Pink, to match my couch! I also got my glass kitchen backsplash in the same pink to balance the room. The kitchen people rang twice to check that I had actually chosen that colour.”

For more paint and colour advice, visit your local Resene ColorShop or Ask A Colour Expert online for free. And for more inspiration, check out Resene’s Home Exteriors Decorating Gallery.

Published: 10 Dec 2025