• Design an outdoor space with an indoor feel by creating a private room-like look using solid furniture and a screen. Follow our lead and elevate an inexpensive trellis with a dark stain. We painted ours with Resene Waterborne Woodsman CoolColour in Resene Sheer Black — an easy weekend project that brings a satisfyingly instant and sophisticated finish to an off-the-shelf item.

• Resene Woodsman stains are also ideal for timber decking — ours is in Resene Driftwood. If you prefer a darker finish, just apply another coat or two.

• To add weight to the sense of solidity, we opted for a concrete-like wall. On top of our base coat of Resene Quarter Scarpa Flow, we brushed on Resene FX Paint Effects Medium coloured with Resene Bastille in a loose criss-cross pattern, before rubbing it dry with a clean cloth to blend.

Stylist’s tip

Customising planters with Resene testpots is another cost-effective way to communicate your colour scheme and bring personality into your outdoor room. We painted one with Resene Half Hairy Heath.

Styling: Juliette Wanty. Photography: Wendy Fenwick. 2021

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