take a testpot
From habitat highlights - issue 41, small projects
With a Resene testpot or two you can transform your spaces quickly, easily and inexpensively.
Mat and frame in Resene Rice Paper, with artwork in Resene Grapevine, Resene Harvest Gold, Resene Koru and Resene Half Black White.
Resene testpots are a handy tool for all kinds of makeovers. They’re great for fun kids’ projects, maintenance touch-ups and, of course, testing your chosen Resene colours to see if they will look right in your spaces and places. But Resene testpots are also great for all kinds of small, creative projects that can often be finished in a few hours, offering a high reward for little effort in terms of your finished look.
From chaos to calm
Add layers of soothing, nature-influenced neutral colours or earthy tones to add immediate serenity to busy spaces.
If you have a disorganised space you want to sort, start by spending some time decluttering and organising, thinking about just how you want the area to look and function.
Look at your existing colour scheme and work with Resene colour paint swatch cards to come up with a palette of three or four muted, neutral shades that will give you a soothing, clean finished look. By using your shades over small decor pieces like pots, storage boxes or wall hooks, you can quickly and easily transform and organise your space with Resene testpots.
Picture perfect
Upcycling old picture frames, or painting new ones to suit your colour scheme, is one of the simplest ways to make good use of Resene testpots. As well as the frame itself you can also use your Resene testpots to paint the surrounding mat for a frame that will really set off your artworks, whether they’re DIY or bought, and add a colourful finishing touch to your room.
Mat and frame in Resene Harvest Gold, with artwork in Resene Half Black White, Resene Drop Dead Gorgeous, Resene Coconut Ice, Resene Manuka Honey and Resene Grapevine.
You’ll need:
- Resene testpots
- Small, good-quality paint brush
- Craft knife, pencil and ruler, if you need to cut your mat to size
How to:
Sand your frame down, getting rid of any varnish and leaving it with a smooth finish. Wipe down with a damp cloth. Paint the frame and, if you want, the inner mat, in your chosen Resene testpot colours. Using the ruler, measure your print or photograph and cut the mat to size if needed. Frame up and enjoy your colourful piece of artwork.
› For a step-by-step guide to making this project, visit www.habitatbyresene.co.nz/tips/picture-frames.
Entry level design
A simple wooden unit and wall hooks add immediate organisation, and useful seating, to this entry area. It’s a look that can easily be achieved inexpensively with Resene testpots. The rear wall is Resene Eighth Bison Hide, with the floor washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Hook shelf in Resene Tana, bench seat in Resene Quarter Tana, crates in, from left, Resene Rice Cake, Resene Linen and Resene Triple Rice Cake, stool in Resene Triple Lemon Grass and vase in Resene Duck Egg Blue. Scarf from Maman.
Top tips for entrance ways:
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Maximise vertical space: Install wall-mounted shelves or hooks above a shoe area to store hats, bags and accessories. Using vertical space, like we have with hooks in this space, helps keep the floor clear, creating a sense of openness.
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Use multifunctional furniture: Opt for entryway furniture with built-in storage compartments. A bench with under-seat storage like these crates or a table with drawers provides hidden storage for shoes, reducing visible clutter.
Simple shelves
Adding a little creative flair to practical shelving elevates them from a simply functional way to organise your personal items, to a unique, personalised art piece.
Wall painted in Resene Half Villa White, top semi-circle in Resene Awash and lower in Resene Half Rivergum.
Yellow items in Resene Half Moonbeam, blue items in Resene Frozen, beige items in Resene Half Joss, tall vase lower right in Resene Rainee, small green items in Resene Half Rivergum and wire ball in Resene Black.
You’ll need:
- Resene testpots. We used Resene Awash and Resene Half Rivergum
- Pencil and ruler
- Spirit level
- String and drawing pin
- Cutting in brush
- Drill, drill bits and screws
How to:
Paint shelves the same shade as your wall. Using the pencil and level, draw where you want your top shelf to be. Work out how much space you want between the shelves and draw another line using your pencil and level. Measure the length of your shelf and find the halfway point. Mark the centre on both of your guidelines. Tie a piece of string to a pencil. Tie as close to the tip as you are able to. Using your centre point, either firmly hold or pin your string in place. Keeping the pencil straight, draw your first semi-circle. Repeat on the second guideline. Using a cutting brush and your Resene testpots, paint inside both semi-circles. Hang shelves and decorate.
› For a step-by-step guide to making this project, visit www.habitatbyresene.co.nz/tips/semicircle-shelves.
Weekend warriors
Who doesn’t love DIY renovation or artistic projects that can be easily finished in a weekend, particularly if they’re projects the whole family can get involved in?
Using Resene testpots to add a creative mural to a bedroom or playroom wall, repainting picture frames, upcycling furniture, a powder room feature wall or simply painting an art canvas are all great ways to keep the kids entertained, as well as add personality and colour flair to your home at minimal cost and without taking too much time.
Up and away
Using crates as hanging baskets is a smart, creative way to add storage to this practical but fun mural. Wall in Resene Wan White, floor washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, large balloon and shelf in Resene Boundless, smaller balloon and shelf in Resene Nirvana, balloon ropes in Resene Top Notch, large hanging crate in Resene Rulebreaker, small hanging crate in Resene Lakeside, toy box in Resene Melting Moment, house and small cat ornament in Resene Aoraki, large mason jar in Resene Scrumptious, small jar and pen pot in Resene Divine, large cat in Resene Epitome and box in left balloon in Resene Soft Apple. Stools in Resene Pale Rose, Resene Sugar Plum Fairy, Resene Rulebreaker and Resene Tequila Sunrise. Table in Resene Fluffy Duck.
Colours mentioned in this article
Projects: Sarah Beedell, Annick Larkin, Amanda Montgomerie, Hannah Tapner
Images: Bryce Carleton