Go beyond plantings with these ideas for bringing bold hues to the exterior of your home.
Spring has arrived, which means summer isn’t too far behind. If your outdoor hangout needs sprucing up, now’s the time to hatch a plan for improvements. Plants and flowers are one of the best ways to add color, but you can also perk up the space with paint, furniture and accessories. Here are some ideas to get you started.
1. Accent wall. Most people think of an accent wall as something you add only to interiors, but it’s also a terrific way to introduce a burst of eye-catching color on the outside of your home. What I love about exterior accent walls is that you can go a lot bolder than you might on the inside. This is because the area probably gets flooded with natural light, which softens and lightens the hue.
Greet visitors to your home with a splash of a warm, vibrant shade, such as this zesty orange. This color would be tricky to pull off on the entire exterior of most homes, but on a fence or small section of wall, it’s a delightful dose of fun color.
2. Textiles. Of course, paint isn’t the only way to bring color outside. There’s an abundance of color and pattern options in outdoor-grade fabrics. Again, think about going somewhat bold. This vibrant lime green coordinates nicely with the natural greens in the landscape.
This mostly neutral outdoor kitchen gets a fantastic boost of color from the canopy panels. It’s a good idea to stick to neutrals for the materials and finishes that are more costly and difficult to change, since they’ll likely age much better than if they’re in a trendy shade. Outdoor fabric isn’t necessarily cheap, but it’ll need to be replaced eventually — probably sooner than the more resilient materials used — so why not be a bit adventurous? The mix of neutral gray with a trendier yellow-green is a nice combination here.
3. Furniture. Another vehicle for introducing color to your outdoor dining or lounge area is via furniture. I’m definitely seeing a trend toward more boldly hued outdoor furniture and furnishings. They’ll really stand out if most of the other materials in the space are of the neutral variety. Bobby used this colorful dining table and chairs from Fermob as well as their fun orange bar cart.
Classic Adirondack chairs get a modern twist with a peppy hue. What a beautiful spot to enjoy the setting sun, and its own gorgeous tones, at the end of the day.
Even just the smallest hit of vivid color can have a huge impact. I love this patio for its creative mix of hues. These stools can also serve as side tables, making them a flexible and low-commitment way to bring a dash of color to the space.
4. Artwork. Borrow ideas from your interior decor to dress up your outdoor spaces. Artwork that can withstand the elements is a fantastic addition to an outdoor lounge. This is another fairly low-commitment way to bring interesting color to your outdoor hangout.
Just about anything can be rejuvenated with a fresh coat of paint. With that in mind, you don’t need to spend a fortune on artwork and accessories if your budget won’t allow it. Select weather-tolerant objects that have an interesting form, and paint them a fun shade for an affordable and personal display.
