The exterior is now considered a real living space, a natural extension of the home highlighted with color. Regardless of the area allocated, gardens and terraces can become canvases of expression, just like a living room. However, using color is certainly the best way to stand out – while creating a decorative logic between the interior and the house’s surroundings. Gone are the monochrome whites and grays that once dictated garden furniture, making way for acidulous pieces that wake up a concrete floor with a snap of the fingers. Daring to use colored paints and coatings also makes it possible to create surprise and shake up the traditional look of an exterior.
Refreshing the look of the outdoors is essential when the warm weather arrives – and nothing can match the power of color when it comes to breathing new life into gardens. A touch of coral or curry yellow thus awakens a terrace that looks gray, while a pink veil on the fences envelops the garden furniture in a bubble of softness.
Inviting color outdoors above all helps to assert the personality of this long-neglected space. If a layer of red or flat areas can highlight the architecture of the building, it is not necessary to repaint the entire facade to pimp the exterior decoration. A few patterned textiles scattered on the seats are enough to color the space. Betting on fine furniture is also helpful in energizing the balcony’s terrace. Color always finds a way to exile itself outside by discreet touches or an all-over version.
1- A substantial piece colors the relaxation area of the garden
In the same way as a living space, the exterior can be articulated around a single striking element. A pergola or a colorful rug with beautiful proportions can shake up the codes of more classic garden furniture (or at least soberer in terms of the palette). The piece in question colors the entire relaxation area and makes an impression with an unexpected touch. The textile choice is decisive here: a model resistant to weather and UV is essential, or it risks quickly losing its intense pigments.
2- The furniture invites color outside
If the exterior in question benefits from an unobstructed view, there is no question of installing colored partitions, which could hinder the panorama. Many alternatives exist to brighten up a terrace or a garden, without impacting its appearance at the top of the list, the tangy furniture, which considerably changes the atmosphere without requiring DIY. Turquoise and coral chairs make it possible to break up the monochromes of gray or white that traditionally dictate outdoor spaces. Another significant advantage, the furniture can be relegated to a closet when the overdose of colors is felt.
3- Palette inspired by outdoor textiles
Betting on household linen is an excellent alternative to inviting color outside without starting a complete renovation. Less risky than a new paint job, these textiles make it easy to brighten up the garden furniture. The seat cushions provide additional comfort to the lounge chairs while injecting marked nuances into the decor. Sky blue, buttercup, coral, or even forest green, do not hesitate to mix the tones. Success guaranteed by the pool!
4- Colorful steps punctuate the exterior
It is not necessary to repaint the entire facade of the house when you want to revisit the exterior decoration. Color can be introduced on strategic elements, like the steps that lead to this terrace. Covering the stairs with a marked paint also has a double advantage: the color reinforces the spirit of the South of this small space and draws attention to the obstacles represented by the steps, limiting the risk of falls. Or how to combine aesthetics and security in a stroke of the brush.
5- When the walls are dressed in a distinct color
A color is an excellent tool for transforming apparent faults into decorative assets. The walls that surround specific city gardens (often in the context of terraced buildings) can lack elegance and serve the atmosphere of an outdoor living room – unless you invest these additional surfaces with a painting out of the ordinary. An intense hue like slate blue, midnight, or sage green wraps the space in a bubble. The dividing walls with the neighborhood, thus become pretty colorful canvases.
6- Color the exterior with a variety of plants
Just look at the side of the plant to understand that nothing can inject color on a terrace a balcony. Plants and their delicate foliage naturally brighten up outdoor spaces. The most important thing here is to vary the pleasures, and we mix shrubs with spotted leaves with evergreen varieties and a wide range of flowers. The green decor is punctuated over the days and seasons with pink, orange, or bluish notes, bringing a pleasant scent to the place.
7- Painting is essential on the fences of the garden
Unjustly relegated to the background, the palisades and fences which isolate the house have a decorative potential to be exploited. A layer of colored paint thus makes it possible to sublimate these separations while offering a new face to the exterior. Betting on pastel tones such as pink, water green can breathe a quiet atmosphere. We advise you to choose a special outdoor paint and strip the fences before starting, or the result may crumble quickly.
8- Enhance architecture through painting
Color is, above all, a Revealer in the world of decoration. As such, it can highlight assets already present in the garden. A new coat of paint enhances the amenities of this property. The fir green invites itself on the greenhouse and the fortifications surrounding the terrace. The color makes it possible to merge the elements of the architecture with the natural environment – an option not to be neglected to integrate a tool shed or children’s games without denoting.
9- The raids inspire the colors of the terrace
The outdoor space embodies for many of us a parenthesis, a privileged place to decompress at the end of the day. So to transform the terrace with an atmosphere from elsewhere, we gladly draw inspiration from the colors available in the riads of Morocco. A palette of pinks, ochres, and terracotta achieves a similar result. Then take up the decorative codes of the Medina – a string of cushions, colorful carpets, a few succulents – to transport the place to the edge of the Mediterranean.
10- The facade is dressed in marked paintings
The facade of a house naturally influences the perception of the garden. Therefore, the most daring can embark on a total renovation of the coating to invite color into their homes. Repainting the facade with a more marked paint makes it possible to affirm the style of the building and its surroundings – the adjoining terrace benefiting greatly from this renewal. It is better to favor colors such as brick red, midnight blue, black; garish tones age badly in contact with the sun.
11- Patterns for a nuanced terrace floor
Choosing a graphic floor is a great way to stand out by using color. If painting is more often thought of, outdoor tiles offer certain freedom to spruce up the decor. However, the choice of the pattern remains subject to the surface to be tiled: if space is limited, it is advisable to favor light prints, which visually increase the volume. On the other hand, everything (or almost) is allowed with a large terrace. Diamonds, cement tile spirit, or inspired by mosaics, the hardest part is deciding among all these possibilities.
12- The pool area sees life in pink
Color invites itself into the garden to energize the decor, but its role is not only aesthetic. Affixed to certain strategic places, the paint makes it possible to structure the ground in several distinct spaces. Around the swimming pool, it may be a good idea to repaint the wall with a shade that contrasts the other areas, like the slightly patinated pink that envelops the bathing area of this urban garden. In the same way, a section of wall repainted in Klein blue is ideal for identifying a lounge area or an outdoor kitchen.
13- Brighten up the garden with decorative accessories
When it comes to decorating, the saying goes that the minor details make all the difference. It is the same outside, where accessories have a fundamental role. Placing cushions on a garden bench may seem innocuous, yet their patterns and colors influence the atmosphere that emerges from the space. Small objects and textiles are great allies. No need to change the furniture; a few new cushion covers reform the lounge area in no time. Also, think of lanterns, candlesticks, and other outdoor lamps to dare the color without a false note.
14- The arty fresco has not said its last word
Letting your artistic fiber speak is the best way to set your garden apart from that of your neighbors. If the color does not scare you, this is the opportunity to cover the exterior walls with graphic flat areas. It is rare to see the frescoes in private homes, yet they set the tone for the exterior, freeing themselves from all standards in terms of decoration. The walls become veritable paintings, so there is no need to invest in original furniture—another way to look at color outside.
