Winter painting tips from Resene Paint Expert Murdo Shaw

Murdo says the autumn and winter months are great for focusing on interior projects. Ceiling painted in Resene Ceiling Paint in Resene Alabaster, walls in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Half Fossil and trims in Resene Lustacryl in Resene White.

The weather might be cooling down, but that doesn’t mean your painting and decorating projects need to go into hibernation. There are plenty of jobs to keep you busy indoors during the colder months, from cleaning and maintenance to touch-ups and room makeovers. Read on for Resene Paint Expert Murdo Shaw’s top tips for autumn and winter jobs.

What can we do to prepare our homes for winter?

Get ahead of winter moss, mould and slippery paths by applying Resene Deep Clean to your decks, paths, driveways and perpetually green and slippery areas. It’ll work slowly over time, killing moss, mould and lichen, and will stop those areas becoming a problem later. In winter, by the time we notice things are becoming green and slippery, it can often be too wet to deal with.

What’s your favourite project to do over winter?

Interior painting and wallpapering are easy and when the weather is bad, prepping surfaces inside is a good way to keep busy. For outdoor projects I like small jobs that I can finish in a day, like washing surfaces or redecorating outdoor furniture.

Best winter painting tip?

Plan ahead and don’t try to do too much in one day! Everything’s going to take longer to dry – fillers, primers, sealers and even walls you’ve washed. Break your project into smaller parts and try to do a few steps in the days leading up to when you plan to paint, so your painting day isn’t spent waiting for things to dry.

Taking care of any moss, mould or lichen build-up on your driveways, paths and pavers is crucial before the wet weather sets in. Murdo suggests using Resene Deep Clean as you can simply spray it on while nature does the rest of the job.

Updating or upcycling old or worn-out furniture is a great project to undertake indoors during the colder months. If you're not sure which paint colours or products to use, take your item (or a photograph of it if it's oversized) into your local Resene Colorshop and the team will help you out. Chair painted in Resene Lustacryl in Resene Saltpan, Resene Spitfire and Resene Gelato.

What paint jobs should I do if I’m on a budget?

Paint a feature wall – a splash of colour can change your space dramatically. I’m also a big fan of upcycling furniture. Along with being a fun and cheap project to undertake, it’s also hugely satisfying to see the new life colour can bring to old furniture. I love the look of bold bright colours inside drawers and cabinets that surprise you when they’re opened.

What Resene paint colours are you loving at the moment?

As the weather is getting colder, I’m drawn more to warm natural colours like Resene Dark Buff, Resene Korma and Resene Cumin. But saying that, I do like subtle pinkish hues and my current favourites are Resene Contented, Resene Valentine and Resene Soul Searcher.

More tips on winter painting and decorating:

When you’re painting inside during winter, keep an eye on the temperature of the room and ensure you have good ventilation. Run a heater or heat pump before you start painting to get the house to an even, comfortable temperature of around 15-16°C.
Keep the windows open for ventilation and airflow while the paint is drying, and if you have access to a dehumidifier, get that going as well to help the drying process.
Avoid using a gas heater as they can add moisture back into the air which will slow the painting drying process.
Paint application and performance can be adversely affected in cold temperatures, but using Resene Wintergrade Additive will help your paint cure at temperatures as low as 3°C. It can be added into selected waterborne Resene paints to winterise them.
If the forecast is for light showers, don’t fret – Resene Umbrella Additive can be added to your paint. Once applied, a coating containing Resene Umbrella Additive quickly starts to build a protective shell that then extends throughout the whole coating. Water is able to evaporate from the topcoat allowing it to dry, while light showers simply roll off leaving the still-drying paint firmly attached to the substrate.
Important note: If you have a cold and wet day, you can’t use Resene Wintergrade Additive and Resene Umbrella Additive at the same time. Use one or the other, not both. If you find it is cold and wet, it might be better to opt to prep an interior decorating job instead and wait for better weather conditions outside.