Landscape Design
8 Ways to Add Year-Round Color to Your Yard
Brighten up your landscape with paint, garden accents, lights or furniture
In an ideal world, your garden would be filled with year-round seasonal color, thanks to strategic plantings. In the real world, too many of us are faced with times when our gardens are, quite frankly, rather drab and dreary. If your garden occasionally suffers from the doldrums, check out these ways to add some color that you can count on.
You don’t need to paint all of your fencing and walls. Using paint on only one or two walls can be equally effective. It’s a good way to set off one section of the landscape or create an accent wall. In San Jose, California, a garage wall painted in a red-orange hue adds depth and contrast to this corner of the yard.
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If you’re nervous about adding a large swath of permanent color, choose a smaller place to start. The wood planks here got a fresh look with a mix of bright paint colors.
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2. Seek Out Colorful Containers
Gone are the days when terra cotta and dark green plastic reigned supreme in the world of container gardening. Though those are still valid choices, today there’s an increasing range of container colors and styles to choose from. Find one that plays off the colors of your plants or your hardscape.
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Gone are the days when terra cotta and dark green plastic reigned supreme in the world of container gardening. Though those are still valid choices, today there’s an increasing range of container colors and styles to choose from. Find one that plays off the colors of your plants or your hardscape.
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Raised beds in a mix of hues add interest to vegetable gardens. Paint them yourself or look for options in stores and online. Another option would be to add vibrant tomato cages and plant supports.
3. Add Art
Sculptures and other artworks, murals, banners and even small accents can help enliven an outdoor space. Just be sure whatever you put up can handle the elements.
Sculptures and other artworks, murals, banners and even small accents can help enliven an outdoor space. Just be sure whatever you put up can handle the elements.
4. Highlight Architectural Features
Think about making architectural features a highlight of your garden rather than having them retreat into the background. The windows in this masonry garage are highlighted with shutters, giving it the look of an old-world ruin that complements this natural garden style.
Think about making architectural features a highlight of your garden rather than having them retreat into the background. The windows in this masonry garage are highlighted with shutters, giving it the look of an old-world ruin that complements this natural garden style.
On a smaller scale, choose a trellis that will play off the colors of the nearby plants, as this combination trellis and bird feeder does here, or provide an interesting contrast with a color that will play off the nearby plants.
5. Create Colorful Play Areas
Children’s play areas are natural spots to play with color and experiment. This yellow playhouse is teamed with colorful outdoor furniture and garden decor.
Children’s play areas are natural spots to play with color and experiment. This yellow playhouse is teamed with colorful outdoor furniture and garden decor.
6. Light Things Up
Colored lights and lanterns will ensure your garden is still colorful once the sun goes down. These lanterns are festive during the day and glow in different shades at night. You could stop with one or two, but having this many gives the space a year-round, or at least a summer-long, party feel.
Colored lights and lanterns will ensure your garden is still colorful once the sun goes down. These lanterns are festive during the day and glow in different shades at night. You could stop with one or two, but having this many gives the space a year-round, or at least a summer-long, party feel.
7. Include Some Whimsy
Not sure how much to add? Even just one small thing that makes you smile can also make your garden stand out. Colorful lanterns nestled along a garden path add an unexpected surprise in a traditional landscape setting.
Not sure how much to add? Even just one small thing that makes you smile can also make your garden stand out. Colorful lanterns nestled along a garden path add an unexpected surprise in a traditional landscape setting.
If all else fails, embrace your inner kitsch and add a garden gnome.
8. Don’t Overlook Furniture
Perhaps the easiest way to add color is by letting your outdoor furniture take center stage. Whether you go for cool shades or hot colors, the pieces are sure to catch your eye.
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Perhaps the easiest way to add color is by letting your outdoor furniture take center stage. Whether you go for cool shades or hot colors, the pieces are sure to catch your eye.
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Don’t limit your furniture to the patio or deck. A strategically placed hammock provides another garden destination.
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Spice up your landscape’s perimeter with color. Cooler neutral or darker shades will blend into the rest of your plantings and add a calming feel to the space, while brighter colors will pack a punch. If you’re unsure, consider green; many shades of it will blend in easily with most landscapes.