Taking colour outside

In a post-pandemic-world colour has taken on new meaning in our daily lives – in interiors, clothing, homewares and even exteriors. We are looking to our home to provide a welcoming sanctuary of safety and calm, a retreat from the anxieties and threats of the outside world – and this starts with the exterior.

While interiors have adopted a more serene, cocooning ambience, a similar transformation has begun on homes’ exteriors with Wattyl reporting a spike in interest in three distinct colour palettes for homes, both modern and traditional.

According to Wattyl the most popular colour palette for urban dwellings – both modern and more conventional weatherboard homes – will be a mix of warm, from the deep green grey of Wattyl Dundee to the beautiful weathered timber hue of Botany Grey and the soft, silvery grey of Dewkist (this latter primarily being used for trims). Together they create a sense of solidity and security, both welcoming and reassuring.

The love of blues for coastal homes will persist says Wattyl, although the post-Covid-19 palette of blues has a distinctly mellow grey undertone. The predominant hue is a steely blue in Wattyl Phantom Grey with the contrast of Greystoke being a perfectly balanced, mid tone blue⁄grey. The freshness of Strauss White forms the perfect contrast for trims and balustrades. The combination of colours in this palette feel soft and warming – an important factor in the current clime.

Earthy tones are gaining rapid popularity in both the home and in fashion

Earthy tones are gaining rapid popularity in both the home and in fashion, with the warm browns of Wattyl’s Teriyaki, Golden Clay and Warm Sand hitting the spot in terms of stand-alone colours as well as being used in combination.

The deeper brown of Teriyaki and the mid-brown Golden Clay, when used on a building’s exterior, create a sense of unity with the earth, providing a closer link to nature and a comforting familiarity.

The Wattyl brand is an icon of Australian history, founded here in 1915 and most famous for its Solagard exterior paint, specifically designed for the harsh Australian weather conditions.

It is still the brand most favoured by the Australian consumer in terms of ease of application and durability, according to the latest Canstar Blue review 2020 (https:⁄⁄www.canstarblue.com.au⁄home-garden⁄paint) – qualities that are backed by its 15 year warranty against flaking, peeling and blistering.

Wattyl Solagard offers excellent aesthetics and protection for concrete, timber, masonry and metal building-exteriors in finishes that range from Ultra Premium Gloss to Low Sheen, Masonry Matt and Satin. There are also Solagard Ready Render and Natural Stone finishes.

Wattyl Solagard Total Protection Technology provides complete protection against cracking, peeling, blistering and flaking. Its high performance polymers and durable pigments provide resistance again chalking and colour fading in extremes of sun and weather while its powerful formula inhibits the growth of mould and mildew.

Apply just two coats for previously painted surfaces and three for bare timber. This self-priming paint will be surface dry in 30 minutes and can be recoated after two hours. The paint will be fully cured in seven days (these times are subject to prevailing weather conditions).

One litre of Solagard covers approximately 16m2 – clean-up is in cold water.

Wattyl Solagard exterior paint is available nationally from Wattyl Paint Centres and Yamba Mitre 10.