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If you’re after a more organic, textured looking design, consider a floor painted like this one in Resene Foundation with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Otter applied on top. Paint effects finishes are a good way to cover up less than perfect flooring or to help to hide marks. The main walls are painted in Resene Watermark with circles in Resene Quarter Albescent White, left wall in Resene Indian Ink, right wall (through doorway) in Resene Duck Egg Blue, desk in Resene Double Duck Egg Blue, pendant lamp in Resene Kia Kaha, DIY artwork in Resene Double Duck Egg Blue, Resene Exactly and Resene Indian Ink, large vase in Resene Foundation, bowl in Resene Watermark and small vase in Resene Indian Ink. Chair from Cintesi. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.
Usually we start dark below and work our way lighter to the ceiling, but this floor, painted in Resene Quarter Fossil, makes it feel light and relaxed. In this room, the top half of the wall is painted in deep Resene Forest Green, with the lower wall painted in Resene Fossil, bedside table in Resene Spanish Green and mug in Resene Forest Green. Duvet from Adairs, throw from H&M Home, ball cushion from Mocka. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.
In this pretty pastel dining room, the floor painted in Resene Yuma provides the perfect colour base for other soft hues. The back wall is painted in Resene Despacito, left wall in Resene Soulful, bowl with lemons in Resene Just Dance, round wooden tray in Resene Helix, tall vase with flowers in Resene Ethereal, pendant lamp and skinny vase with flowers in Resene Alabaster and artwork created using testpots of Resene Cleopatra, Resene Smoulder, Resene Love Me Do, Resene BFF and Resene Soulful. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton.
This living, dining and kitchen has modern touches with added old-world charm from original timber flooring coated in Resene Aquaclear, allowing the beauty of the grain to shine. The dark timber ceiling is stained in Resene Colorwood Dark Rimu with walls and trims painted in Resene Milk White. Project and image by Russell Allen.
This classic white-on-white palette looks extra fresh with tropical plants and a mix of textures, but the true star of the show is the beautiful plywood flooring finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash. The walls are painted in Resene Double Black White, the benches and mirror frame in Resene Quarter Rice Cake and the hat box and slatted crate in Resene Sea Fog. Bag and tray from Città, rug from Lapco, linen basket and coat from Osborn, artwork by Amber Armitage. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Melanie Jenkins.
In this room, the flooring ties these two spaces together, and by painting a pattern, such as this diamond pattern painted in Resene Triple Bison Hide and Resene Eighth Bison Hide. Layering different strengths of the same colour, such as Resene Triple Bison Hide on the back wall and Resene Half Bison Hide on the left wall, creates depth and interest in the space. Hall table and bud vase painted in Resene Bokara Grey, side table in Resene Tobacco Brown, vase in Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream and coat rack (reflected in mirror) in Resene Dusty Road. Armchair from Le Forge, textured vases from Slow Store. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.
Time to rethink your flooring
Floors are not always the first thing we think about when decorating our homes, but when done right, they can make all the difference and become an impactful feature. Use your favourite Resene colours to paint them with Resene Walk-on or bring out the beauty in timber with Resene Colorwood stains. Whatever you’re after, it’s possible to transform any tired surface into a space you’ll love.
Paint from the ground up
If you’ve noticed your floors looking a little tired, after many years of being trodden on, then painting them is an easy and effective way to bring them back to life. Using a lighter colour can create an airy, light feeling in a room, while darker tones can help to ground a space. We don’t often think that painting our floors is even an option, but it’s a budget-friendly way to update your home without going through major renovations. Let’s take a look at a couple of rooms so you can see what a difference it makes.
Top tip: Use Resene Walk-on, a general purpose flooring paint with an attractive satin finish based on tough acrylic resins for durability and abrasion resistance.
Usually we start dark below and work our way lighter to the ceiling, but this floor, painted in Resene Quarter Fossil, makes it feel light and relaxed. In this room, the top half of the wall is painted in deep Resene Forest Green, with the lower wall painted in Resene Fossil, bedside table in Resene Spanish Green and mug in Resene Forest Green. Duvet from Adairs, throw from H&M Home, ball cushion from Mocka. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.
In this pretty pastel dining room, the floor painted in Resene Yuma provides the perfect colour base for other soft hues. The back wall is painted in Resene Despacito, left wall in Resene Soulful, bowl with lemons in Resene Just Dance, round wooden tray in Resene Helix, tall vase with flowers in Resene Ethereal, pendant lamp and skinny vase with flowers in Resene Alabaster and artwork created using testpots of Resene Cleopatra, Resene Smoulder, Resene Love Me Do, Resene BFF and Resene Soulful. Project by Laura Lynn Johnston, image by Bryce Carleton.
Try neutrals like Resene Eighth Sisal or Resene Half Craigieburn for a classic floor colour or consider something with a little more depth like Resene Raven and Resene Porter.
Wood you walk on it?
Consider enhancing your timber flooring with Resene Colorwood wood stain. Many consider it a sin to cover up the natural beauty of wood, but that doesn’t mean you can’t boost its look and appeal. These stains bring out the grain and character of the wood while also bringing nature indoors and creating a calming, grounded space.
Top tip: Finish timber flooring with a clear protective coat such as Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K or Resene Qristal ClearFloor 2K for durability, to help protect against wear and tear in high-traffic areas and everyday use.
This living, dining and kitchen has modern touches with added old-world charm from original timber flooring coated in Resene Aquaclear, allowing the beauty of the grain to shine. The dark timber ceiling is stained in Resene Colorwood Dark Rimu with walls and trims painted in Resene Milk White. Project and image by Russell Allen.
This classic white-on-white palette looks extra fresh with tropical plants and a mix of textures, but the true star of the show is the beautiful plywood flooring finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash. The walls are painted in Resene Double Black White, the benches and mirror frame in Resene Quarter Rice Cake and the hat box and slatted crate in Resene Sea Fog. Bag and tray from Città, rug from Lapco, linen basket and coat from Osborn, artwork by Amber Armitage. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Melanie Jenkins.
Depending on the look you’re going for, try wood stains in Resene Colorwood in shades like Resene Rock Salt, Resene Natural, Resene Meranti and Resene English Walnut.
Top tip: If you have a wooden floor you’d like to refresh but don’t want to strip or sand it back to bare timber, you can use Resene Colorwood Whitewash, Greywash or the Resene Colorwood We Speak Beach range of colourwashed colours. These work like a tinted polyurethane which means you can apply these colours over already varnished surfaces. They’re especially ideal if your existing varnish has yellowed and you want to modernise it.
Unexpected underfoot
Floors, like walls, don’t always have to play it safe! Painting stripes, checked, geometric designs, or something entirely unique and your own, can act as a statement just like a feature wall would. Consider painted floors in entryways, hallways, bathrooms, or rooms that might just need a bit of character. If you’re brave enough, go freehand, otherwise the best way to get those clean lines is to use some painter’s tape to mask out your pattern first. Take a look at these two spaces for some ideas.
In this room, the flooring ties these two spaces together, and by painting a pattern, such as this diamond pattern painted in Resene Triple Bison Hide and Resene Eighth Bison Hide. Layering different strengths of the same colour, such as Resene Triple Bison Hide on the back wall and Resene Half Bison Hide on the left wall, creates depth and interest in the space. Hall table and bud vase painted in Resene Bokara Grey, side table in Resene Tobacco Brown, vase in Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream and coat rack (reflected in mirror) in Resene Dusty Road. Armchair from Le Forge, textured vases from Slow Store. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.
If you’re after a more organic, textured looking design, consider a floor painted like this one in Resene Foundation with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Otter applied on top. Paint effects finishes are a good way to cover up less than perfect flooring or to help to hide marks. The main walls are painted in Resene Watermark with circles in Resene Quarter Albescent White, left wall in Resene Indian Ink, right wall (through doorway) in Resene Duck Egg Blue, desk in Resene Double Duck Egg Blue, pendant lamp in Resene Kia Kaha, DIY artwork in Resene Double Duck Egg Blue, Resene Exactly and Resene Indian Ink, large vase in Resene Foundation, bowl in Resene Watermark and small vase in Resene Indian Ink. Chair from Cintesi. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.
These two floors, although different, both pair two colours together to create something different and unique. Consider colour pairings to do the same in shades like Resene Double Villa White with Resene Desert Sand or a slate blue look using Resene Half Raven and Resene Half New Denim Blue.
Take a look at these Floors you’ll adore for more inspiration. And for more Resene paint and product advice, visit your nearest Resene ColorShop or Ask a Resene Paint Expert online for advice today.
Published: 08 Jul 2025
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
Resene Quarter Fossil
Resene Half Craigieburn
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene English Walnut
Resene Triple Bison Hide
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Tobacco Brown
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half New Denim Blue
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
Resene Quarter Fossil
Resene Half Craigieburn
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene English Walnut
Resene Triple Bison Hide
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Tobacco Brown
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half New Denim Blue
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
