NZ colour consultant comparison. Resene vs Dulux vs Independent Experts. What’s right for you?
Choosing the right colours for your home should be exciting. Yet for many New Zealand homeowners, it’s the single most stressful part of a renovation. You stand in a room armed with a fan of swatches, staring at a wall of a hundred different whites, each one looking exactly the same and entirely different all at once.
This is the paradox of choice. The sheer number of options, combined with the fear of making a costly and long-lasting mistake, can lead to decision paralysis. You know how you want your home to feel, but translating that feeling into a specific paint scheme can feel like an impossible task.
The good news is, you don’t have to do it alone. Colour consultation has become an essential service for savvy homeowners who want to get it right the first time. But just as the number of paint colours can be overwhelming, so can the choice of consultant. The market is dominated by three distinct models, each with a different business model, cost structure and philosophy.
Understanding these differences is the key to choosing the right partner for your project. This guide will provide a clear, objective breakdown of the three main approaches to colour consultation in New Zealand, helping you make a confident decision.
Model 1: The product led approach (e.g. Resene, Dulux)
This is the most visible and accessible model in the market, offered by the major paint manufacturers themselves.
How It Works:
Paint brands like Resene and Dulux use colour consultation as a powerful tool to support their core business: selling paint. They offer services that range from free in-store advice to paid online or onsite visits, all designed to help you navigate their specific product range and move forward with a purchase.
Resene offers a range of options, including free virtual and in-store consultations with their in-house ‘Colour Experts.’ For a more detailed service, they provide onsite consultations for a fixed fee (typically around $175-$250), which results in a full schedule and samples of recommended Resene colours.
Dulux operates a slightly different model, connecting you with a network of qualified independent designers for an hourly fee (around $125 hour, or $89 for virtual consults). While the designers are independent business owners, the service is designed to produce a full Dulux colour and product recommendation and often includes samples and a $25 discount towards a Dulux paint purchase.
The Pros:
High accessibility: With retail stores nationwide and simple online booking systems, these services are incredibly easy to find and engage.
Low upfront cost: The free or low-cost nature of these consultations makes them an attractive entry point for those on a tight budget.
Simplicity: The process is streamlined and straight forward, providing a quick path from indecision to a ready to go paint list.
The Cons:
Inherent product bias: This is the fundamental trade off. Because the service is a function of a paint sales business, the advice is, by design, limited to that company's products. Your consultant is there to help you choose the best Resene or Dulux colour, not necessarily the best colour for your project from the entire market.
Limited Choice: You are paying for the consultation (either with a fee or with your future purchase) with your freedom of choice. A competitor brand might have the perfect shade, a more durable finish for your specific needs, or a more sustainable low-VOC option but these will not be part of the conversation.
Who it’s best for:
The product led model is a good fit for homeowners with a simple, straightforward project, a limited budget and who are happy to commit to a single paint brand from the outset.
Model 2: The full service approach (Independent interior designer)
At the other end of the spectrum are independent interior designers and boutique design studios who offer colour consultation as one component of a much broader, holistic service.
How it works:
Engaging a full-service interior designer means bringing in an expert to help shape the entire vision for your space. Their work goes far beyond paint, encompassing everything from joinery and electrical plans to sourcing fabrics, flooring and window treatments. They are true client advocates, providing completely brand-agnostic advice tailored to your project's unique needs.
Their pricing structures vary, often involving an initial consultation fee, hourly rates ($150+ per hour is common), or a comprehensive project fee that can range from several thousand dollars for a smaller projects to tens of thousands for a full home renovation.
The Pros:
Holistic expertise: You are getting a partner with deep, comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of interior design. They ensure every element of your room works in perfect harmony.
Truly independent: Their recommendations are driven solely by what is best for your project. They can specify products from any brand or supplier to achieve the perfect result.
Transformational results: A good interior designer can fundamentally transform a space, creating a cohesive and professionally executed outcome that goes far beyond what a simple paint job can achieve.
The Cons:
High cost: This level of comprehensive, one-on-one service comes at a premium price, making it inaccessible for many homeowners.
Excessive scope: If your primary challenge is choosing colours, hiring a full-service designer can be overkill. You may be paying for a level of strategic design thinking that your project simply doesn't require.
Significant commitment: Engaging an interior designer is a major decision and often involves a long-term professional relationship.
Who it’s best for:
The full-service model is the ideal choice for homeowners undertaking a large scale renovation or new build who need comprehensive, end-to-end design guidance and are prepared for the significant financial investment required.
Model 3: The specialist approach (Pigment)
Sitting perfectly in the gap between the other two models is the independent colour specialist. This approach is designed to solve one problem exceptionally well: giving you complete confidence in your colour choices through expert, unbiased advice.
How It Works:
A specialist colour consultant offers the high-end expertise and brand-agnostic advice of a top interior designer but focuses it exclusively on the art and science of colour. The service is unbundled from a larger interior design package, making expert guidance accessible without the high cost and commitment of a full-service studio.
The process is collaborative and client focused, designed to demystify colour and reduce the anxiety of the decision making process. The consultant works to understand your personality, lifestyle and the unique architectural features and light conditions of your home to develop a cohesive palette that is a true reflection of you.
The Pros:
Fierce independence: Like a full-service interior designer, a specialist’s advice is their only product. They are completely brand-agnostic, with the freedom to recommend the absolute best colour, product and finish from any brand on the market. Their only bias is towards the perfect outcome for you.
Deep specialist expertise: Because they focus solely on colour, specialist possess a deep knowledge of colour theory, paint technology, the nuanced effects of New Zealand’s unique light and how different materials interact. This is their core competency, not just one part of a broader service.
Accessible expertise: This model delivers the calibre of advice you would expect from a high-end design firm but in a focused, accessibly priced package. You get exactly the expertise you need, right when you need it most.
Anxiety reducing process: The entire experience is designed to transform an overwhelming task into an enjoyable and empowering one, giving you a clear plan and the confidence to move forward.
The Cons:
Focused scope: This service is specifically for developing your colour and paint finish plan. It does not include other aspects of interior design like furniture selection or layout.
Higher upfront cost than product led services: There is a professional fee for this expert, independent advice. However, this fee is an investment in ensuring the final result is perfect, potentially saving you from a costly mistake.
Who it's best for:
The specialist model is designed for the considered homeowner. You are design aware and understand the impact of colour, but you are time poor and potentially risk averse. You want the confidence that comes from expert, independent advice without committing to the cost and scope of a full interior design project.
The comparison at a glance.
Which model is right for you?
Choosing the right type of colour consultant depends entirely on your priorities, your budget and the scope of your project. To find your perfect fit, ask yourself these questions:
Choose a Product-Led service if...your project is simple, your budget is the primary concern and you are happy to work within the ecosystem of a single paint brand.
Choose a Full-Service Designer if... you are undertaking a large, complex renovation, need comprehensive guidance on everything from layout to lighting and have a significant budget for professional design fees.
Choose a Specialist Consultant if... your priority is getting the colour absolutely right with expert, unbiased advice. You value independence, want access to the best products from the entire market and are looking for a confident, actionable plan without the cost of a full interior design service.
Ultimately, the goal is to move from a place of uncertainty to one of confidence. By understanding these three distinct models, you can choose the path that best aligns with your needs and ensures the final result is a space you love.