DIY newsflash: Paint is not just for walls

Think you can only paint on a pristine plasterboard wall? Think again.

Heike Rzehulek-Schmitt transformed her kitchen cupboards, taking them from dark and gloomy to sea-foamy and wow.

David Laterveer saved himself over $19,000 by painting the pavers in his Karori, Wellington, backyard instead of replacing them.

In fact, Resene’s paint expert Jay Sharples says there aren’t many surfaces that can’t be painted – it’s just about doing your homework, and the patience to get your prep right.

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As well as walls, he says common surfaces people paint on are timber, concrete, plaster and metal.

But less common surfaces which are still very paintable include wall tiles, floor tiles, glass, formica, terracotta and pressed copper.

Win a $600 prize to give an area of your home a new lease on life, thanks to Resene – click here.

The kitchen transformation

Rzehulek-Schmitt, an artist who reclaims furniture via her business Bye Bye Love based in Torbay, Auckland, painted 25 kitchen cabinet doors, choosing the Resene colours Sea Nymph for the lower cupboards, and Mako for the upper cupboards.

She then hand-painted the shapes of kitchen utensils to decorate the kitchen, in Sea Nymph.

“I love colours that reflect nature, and I have always loved light blue,” she says.

But she warns not to underestimate the preparation needed. “It’s a long process if you do it properly. You have to make the surfaces really plain.

“I used a wood filler to smooth out the gaps in the melamine and repair the damage to the edges. And I spent ages sanding, especially the edges, to get it all perfectly smooth.”

She used Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat to both sides of the door and then painted two layers, fine-sanding in between.

She is delighted with how it brightens up the room now. “The kitchen was a dark space, and now it’s eye-catching. The outcome really is amazing.”

Saving thousands in the backyard

Laterveer, an account director, is also happy with the result of painting his pavers, which he did after receiving an unpalatable quote for new paving of $20,000.

“The pavers were getting very old and rundown from years of water blasting. We were getting a spa put in so we thought we’d put new pavers up there for the spa.

“(After being quoted $20,000) I did a bit of research and found you could paint them, as long as we gave them a good clean.

“I water blasted the pavers within an inch of their life and stripped out all the moss build-up from the joints.”

He then sealed the concrete pavers and applied two coats of Resene Walk-on paint in the colour Delta.

Laterveer says the only “real drama” was keeping falling leaves off it while it dried, and making sure the cats were locked up.

And what does he think of the result?

“I love it. And it cost about $500 all up,” Laterveer says, though it took him three weekends. “It was worth it.”

Sharples says different surfaces, or substrates, require different primers, sealers or top coats, so you need to do your reseach before you begin.

”Depending on the surface or substrate, you will likely need a specific paint system. Some of these are easy to apply, and some would require a specialist tradesperson.”

Surfaces such as formica bench tops are possible to paint but will require ongoing maintenance. The best finish would result from being sprayed, which is not generally possible for a fixed kitchen bench top.

Similarly, he says it’s possible to paint over wallpaper, but he doesn’t recommend it.

“Depending on the type of wallpaper you would need a specific sealer. However, once you paint wallpaper it becomes very hard to remove. Also painting wallpaper won’t hide the wallpaper texture.

“I would tend to recommend spending a bit more time preparing the wall and remove the wallpaper prior to painting. It’s a bit more work but will look better in the long run, in my opinion.”

He says anyone can use Resene’s online specification service called Resene Tech Spec.

Win a $600 prize to give an area of your home a new lease on life

Don’t rip out those kitchen cabinets, or spend a fortune replacing your bedroom furniture – give them a new lease on life instead with a simple lick of paint.

We’re offering one lucky winner $600 towards their own DIY project, thanks to Resene – that’s a $400 ColorShop voucher for your supplies and a $200 Prezzy Card to pick the accessories to style your space up with once you’re done.

Yes, you can paint your walls if you want – but there’s no need to stop there! You could overhaul your bathroom, brighten up your yard, or transform your furniture into something truly individual.

All you have to do to enter is tell us what you’d paint with your prize, using this form, before 11.59pm on January 30, 2022. For the full terms and conditions, click here.

This article was produced in partnership with Resene. Read more about our partnership content here.