Imparting the joy of sunny South Africa into your outdoor spaces in a long-lasting way means saying farewell to the monotony of white and beige walls, and welcoming the charm and allure of colourful facades that can withstand the elements. ‘But,’ notes the Retail & Digital Marketing Manager at Kansai Plascon, Jeetan Makan, ‘we often find that homeowners shy away from leaning into brighter colours for their outdoor spaces because they’ve been told that colour is a no-go.’
Making introducing colour into your spaces both easy and inspirational is Plascon’s Colour Combination for 2024, a selection of aquatic hues that bring a sense of calm and optimism. Launched in a 60-30-10 ratio — the industry-standard design approach of 60% of a space being in a dominant colour, 30% in a secondary colour and 10% in an accent colour — this year’s colour combo is made up of Caribbean Sea (G7-A1-2), which evokes sunlit shallow waters on a warm day; North Beach (B4-B1-1), a bold and saturated azure; and Aqua Pura (G7-C2-2), a gently shaded blue-green reminiscent of rays of sun sparkling on water.
Another reason that outdoor spaces like patios are often decorated in neutral colours is that homeowners fear the fading power of the elements. Luckily, Plascon’s UV-resistant Micatex ensures that the beauty of a colourful wall stays that way. This extremely durable premium-quality water-based coating with a fine-textured matte finish is suitable for application on all exterior surfaces, from PVC gutters to cement plaster and brickwork. What’s more, the colours in the Micatex range can be finely adjusted to personal preference thanks to the Plascon Inspired Colour (PIC) tinting system.
A vital step in ensuring your exterior walls withstand the heat is proper preparation. Enter MasterPrep, Plascon’s very first water-based grey plaster primer, which will save you both time and money while at the same time ensuring a bolder topcoat colour. The low-VOC MasterPrep primer offers superior priming performance, evening out porosity and providing excellent adhesion for the topcoat. It’s breathable, allowing moisture to escape, and it’s extremely quick drying, ready for an overcoat in an hour. These qualities not only enhance the colour and finish of the topcoat, they also reduce overall time and labour costs.
Bright hues can invigorate a space and create a sense of fun, hospitality and vibrancy. So don’t let old-fashioned notions about not using colour on exterior walls cramp your style – go ahead and enliven your outdoor spaces with bold, vivid colours.