What Colour to Paint a Fence: Ways to Refresh Your Garden’s Look

what colour to paint a fence

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Upgrade your garden fence with a lick of paint. It is a simple method to make your garden look better without putting in a lot of work or spending a lot of money. Therefore, knowing what colour to paint a fence is essential before deciding what paint you will use for your garden fence. In today’s blog, we’ll be advising you on what colour works best and helping to answer the question: what colour should I paint my garden fence?

Fence Paint Colours for Summer

Let’s examine the various top colours to take into account for your garden during the summer.

Black

Who’d have thought that black would be a recommended fence colour for summer? But, although this shade might seem intense, it can appear very neutral with the right accessories. In fact, black is an excellent colour for modernising your yard while adding an edge, unlike lighter shades. Best of all, a black fence allows other elements in your garden, such as pots and flowers, to stand out and give them the attention that they deserve.

Blue

For a more subtle colour, opt for a blue garden fence. This shade adds a fun pop of colour to your garden, and it works well to add some contrast to make your outdoor furniture and plants stand out. With loads of shades available, we are sure you could find one to your liking.

Grey

If the idea of a colourful garden fence frightens you, grey is an excellent go-to to avoid edging towards a darker colour while still injecting some light into your garden. Best of all, grey offers some incredible versatility since it goes well with virtually any other colour and can transform your whole garden.

Additionally, you can choose a grey paint or stain, depending on the texture and result you’re looking for. In particular, a natural wood stain allows the wood’s grain to shine through, while the paint provides a solid colour and won’t show off the natural detail of the wood.

Natural Wood Stain

If the idea of any colour at all sends you into a frenzy, then we recommend a wood stain on your garden fence panels. One of the biggest benefits of stain is that it’s available in various colours—from clear to dark brown, for example. In fact, this option is excellent for rustic homes or if you’re looking for a more natural look that doesn’t require much upkeep.

White

This colour is the epitome of class and style. A white-painted fence can massively transform your garden, and it’s perfect if you don’t want to take a huge risk but still want to inject some life into your home’s exterior. White is also a great go-to for homes with white trim to accent the exterior and provide an overall more cohesive finish. Plus, with brightly coloured plants dotted around the garden, you can allow the colours to pop and come to life.

Paint or Stain for Your Garden Fence?

It’s a good question and one to certainly consider when deciding on what to do with your fence posts. The biggest difference between paints and stains is that paint is opaque, whereas a stain is semi-transparent. Also, paints are typically available in a wider range of colours, whereas stains are usually only available in a couple of shades of brown.

So, if your main focus is on adding a pop of colour to your garden fences, you might be swaying more towards paints than stains.

Choosing a Colour Scheme

Painting garden fence

When considering what colour to paint a fence, you shouldn’t just pick your favourite colour or a shade out of the blue, but take into consideration the colours that are already in your gardens, such as the colour of flowers or smaller details like the shade of your large patio doors. The paint colour you choose should enhance what’s already in your garden (unless you have the intention of completely transforming your exterior).

Moreover, when choosing what colour you want your garden fence to be, you should consider the flowers and plants that fill your garden. For example, vibrant, bright colours work well with darker colours or even whites because the contrast allows the nature in your garden to stand out.

With that being said, you should bear in mind that bright plants might make your garden feel smaller, which isn’t the look that most people are trying to attain. As a result, we suggest avoiding bright pinks, greens, yellow and oranges, which can make your space feel smaller than it actually is.

Tips for Painting Your Garden Fence

Once you’re comfortable with the fence paint you want to use, it’s time to get out the paintbrush and get the job done. Below are some tips and tricks for painting your garden furniture and enhancing your home’s exterior.

Mow Your Lawn

A common mistake that people make is going straight to paint a fence without considering the garden’s condition. So we recommend mowing the lawn and getting out the strimmer to maintain the grass at the bottom of the fence. Doing so will allow you to perform a better job painting while also making the end result look much more fabulous.

Get Rid Of Any Debris

Next, you’ll want to remove any stubborn dirt and debris on your fence before you begin painting. Doing so will enhance your garden’s appearance in the end while also providing a smooth, fresh base for you to begin painting on.

Scrape Away Any Flaky Paint

You can’t (and shouldn’t) paint on a surface that’s flaky and uneven. So we suggest scraping the fence before you move on to painting. Get your hands on coarse sandpaper to smooth out any areas of the fence that are uneven and cracked. You’ll need a smooth surface for the best results.

Wash the Fence

Additionally, we recommend adding a pressure washer to your fencing supplies. Spray the fence with the washer to remove any stubborn dirt and spots because fences can be a magnet to mildew and algae. To take your cleaning habits to the next step, apply diluted bleach to the surface using a hand brush. Then, leave the fence to thoroughly dry. It depends on the climate in your area; you might want to leave the garden fence to dry overnight or even for a couple of days.

Protect Your Garden

Now that you’re ready to take the paintbrush to the fence, you’ll need to protect your garden first. It involves applying a sheet to flowers, grass, raised beds and more. The more surfaces that are covered, the fewer chances there are of paint splattering on them.

Don’t Paint When It’s Too Hot

Hot weather might be an instigator for getting the garden finished and completing chores, but we suggest that you avoid painting your garden furniture when the sun is at its strongest. That is because the sun will cause the paint to dry quickly, resulting in a patchy mess. Our best advice is to check the weather forecast several days before you intend to paint. You’ll want to avoid intense heat and rain.

What Are Your Tips for Looking After an Outdoor Space?

Knowing what colour to paint a fence can be a daunting decision to make. But take your time to learn about the pros and cons and how to make the right choice for your garden style, and you won’t regret it!

Now that you’ve heard from us on how to create the dream garden, we’d love to hear your advice. Share your tips on transforming your patio space, including any recommended paint brands, in the comments.

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