Despite our country’s cosmopolitan mix of cultures, tastes and attitudes, the colour of one home is scarcely different from another.
With few exceptions, there’s not a trace of rich burgundy to be seen, not to mention vibrant turquoise, ruby red and lime green. While our interiors can be vibrant, our exteriors are tame.
Beauty may only be skin deep, but neglecting what is on the outside of your home could cost you in the long run.
Putting bold hues on a feature wall outside your home or on the front door can make your house stand out among its wishy-washy neighbours. Using striking colours will leave you feeling satisfied, and a little bit naughty. Just ask Resene colour consultant, Bonni Monthe.
An ex-pat South African, she suggests Kiwis could broaden their colour palette and let loose with a paintbrush on their home exterior.
“You don’t see people using really strong colours outside. People like to play it safe,” says Bonni. “It’s like, ‘what will the neighbours think’. In general New Zealanders seem to prefer the earthier colours. They don’t feel confident about putting bright colours outside, so all the houses start to look the same.”
Keeping up with the Joneses isn’t always the best move when it comes to painting the exterior of your home. It is a canvas just waiting to be coloured, and sets the tone from the outside in. Splashes, dribbles or generous dollops of colour can jazz up your home and give it the wow factor.
“It’s the combination of the neutral and the colour. It just jumps right out at you,” says Bonni.
She says harsh light in the southern hemisphere may have something to do with our reluctance to use colour.
“We’ve got very strong light,” says Bonni, who has lived in New Zealand for eight years. “In Europe they have brighter, cleaner colours because the light is greyer. Here, I could count on one hand the number of people who have chosen to use strong colours outside.”
Of course, neutral shades have their place – who doesn’t like a clean, fresh palette? Cream spells classic simplicity. But let’s face it, it’s not very daring.
“There’s a lot of grey going on, which can look a bit drab,” says Bonni.
She says Kiwis may opt for pale paints because of the cost factor – bold coloured paints tend to be pricier than lighter tones.
Remember that a little colour goes a long way, bold doesn’t have to mean garish and you don’t have to go the full hog.
It’s what’s on the inside that counts, but don’t neglect the outside of your abode.
“When people use colour outside, they use just a little of it,” says Bonni. “If you use splashes of colour and you get tired of it, it’s really easy to paint over.”
With colour, you can shout out your taste, or whisper it. And if you’re keen on a strong colour but don’t want to be the black sheep of your street, stick to just a few feature walls.
“Try not to have it too symmetrical,” says Bonni. “It’s like with gardening – you don’t plant four plants, you plant three.”
She says that scouring magazines for ideas, seeking out design websites and using test-pots are a good start.
“I think when people choose a colour off the colour chart they have no idea how it’s going to look on the wall. It’s best to use neutral colours for your roof, window frames and aluminium joinery.”
The placement of colour can also be crucial, and while it’s good to be individual in your tastes, you do have to consider the landscape – and your neighbours.
“You can’t be totally self-centred. My daughter wants us to paint the fence pink, but I don’t think we’ll be as daring as that!” says Bonni.
