Page 28 - HW September 2020

painting & decorating
The power of colour to de-stress, nurture and cocoon will be a key antidote to
the uncertainties of a post-Covid world, according to colour experts across the globe. Steve Bohling reports.
HERE IN NEW Zealand, Wattyl (www.wattyl.co.nz) Colour & Design Specialist, Sarah Stephenson, says many of us will satisfy our desire for wellness, happiness and safety by surrounding ourselves with colours that invoke calmness and security, as well as those that forge a stronger connection with nature.
Wattyl has announced four new colour palettes for 2021 that deliver an uplifting injection of carefully curated colour that cleverly walks the line between timeless and contemporary.
Says Sarah: “ ese palettes, designed with a focus on wellness and nurturing, are for painting on walls, for soft furnishings and other decorative elements, from bedlinen to artworks. Colour really can transform our home into our sanctuary, something most of us are craving.”
Wattyl’s 2021 palettes span the spectrum from “Uplifting Lights” and “Nourishing Earth Tones”, to “Shadowy Darks” and “Humble Whites”.
With colour a ecting us all in di erent ways, both physically and emotionally, Valspar (www.valsparpaint.nz) has long been a proponent of the psychological role colour can have in our quest for calm and security.
“Blues, universally recognised as peaceful, calm and gentle, have tremendous power in managing stress,” says Sarah Stephenson with her Valspar hat on.
“Blue hues are soothing and help calm our minds, they reduce our heart rates, lower our blood pressure and reduce anxiety. Deep sea blues such as Valspar’s In uential, the soft sky blue of Midnight Ice and the beautiful aqua of Sea Breeze Blue all create a sense of tranquillity and serenity – ideal for living areas and bedrooms.”
“Greens have a deep connection with nature – it’s a colour we can all relate to. A restful and quiet colour, green symbolises renewal and hope and can di use anxiety, helping us to stay calm and feel refreshed.”
Valspar recommends shades of green that connect us with our environment such as the soft grey/greens of the eucalypt – Sarah recommends Valspar’s Cats & Dogs, Olivers Army and Hiatus as perfect examples.
“Soft blush tones and muted pinks are the go-to hues for a spa-like feel that makes us want to relax and unwind. Layered tone-on-tone, these pink hues bring a harmonious and soothing ambience to a space and create a sense of optimism.”
To get the balance exactly right, Valspar advises care in the choice of pinks – colours such as Hey Baby, Secret Rose and Naïve Pink.
“Warm neutrals are always a safe and reassuring choice – they feel homely and relaxing and work especially well in a
Here’s to hybrids (and rust) – With Resene Room Velvet having moved to a new hybrid water borne alkyd technology, complete with the bene ts of toughness and durability, lower VOCs and easy clean up in water, now there’s a hybrid version of Resene Lusta-Glo. The new Resene Waterborne Lusta-Glo is tough and durable, with lower VOCs and easy clean up in water. Initially
the new product is available in white and colours off white, with more tones to be released in the future.
Also new to the Resene FX special effects range has grown, from metallic to pearl shimmer, magnetic to crackle, blackboard to chalkboard, uoro to glow-in-the-dark and now there’s Resene FX Faux Rust Effect. This waterborne coating used to create a rust style effect on exterior and interior surfaces and, once applied, it looks like rust and will continue to develop as the coating ages. Best used in non-contact areas, leave it as is or protect it with a clear nish using diluted Resene Waterborne Aquapel
www.resene.co.nz
Mark that hazard! – 3M is launching 3M Hazard Marking Duct Tape this month. Featuring a scrim backing which resists tearing, this general purpose poly tape stretches and conforms to curved surfaces and corners, whilst the strong and durable rubber adhesive ensures tape remains in place. Available in black/yellow or red/white, this high visibility, diagonal pattern tape can be used for social distancing practices, marking safety lanes on oors, overhead hazards and other hard to notice obstructions. Roll Size is 48mm x 22.8m.
www.mmm.com
26 NZHJ | SEPTEMBER 2020
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