Just like your home’s interior, you need to consider the colors of your outdoor space carefully. Patios, outdoor kitchens, and porches all need a cohesive and stylish color scheme to make the area look picture-perfect.
A nicely colored and decorated yard can also entice you to spend more time outside, which is great for your physical and mental health. Before you get started decorating your yard, you should familiarize yourself with some universally loved advice on choosing exterior design colors.
Consider the Season
The colors of your outdoor space do not have to remain the same year-round. Just like holiday decorations inside the home, we often change towels, linens, curtains, and other decor to match the season.
You can do the same with a patio space. Swap out throw pillows with each seasonal change for a fresh look. Hang up different colored windchimes or other decor. Exchange your current rug for a more seasonal color.
In the winter, designers often use blues, whites, grays, reds, and greens.
Springtime typically represents growth and renewal; pastels and vibrant colors mimic new blooms.
Summer will utilize warm, vibrant colors, but splashes of green or blue never hurt.
In the autumn, consider colors that reflect the changing leaves, such as brown, auburn, yellow, red, and orange.
You don’t have to follow these patterns, however; whatever color feels seasonally appropriate to you works best!
Incorporate Nature
Since your outdoor space is meant for immersing yourself in nature, you can’t go wrong with natural or nature-inspired colors.
Take a look at the colors in your yard and the surrounding area. Note the shades of greens, browns, tans, and beiges. These natural colors not only complement any outdoor space, but they also provide a neutral color palette that looks excellent with any decor style.
Most patio spaces utilize these colors, so learning to work with them can be useful. For example, a deck or patio floor will likely be a shade of brown, white, or black, and they often serve as one of the main focal points of your yard.
Choose a deck or patio color that best reflects a color palette you have in mind; fark wood decks look starkly different from white or lighter-colored wood. You can stain or paint a deck to change its color if desired, but you can use the existing color to create a seamless color palette, too.
A local deck builder near me had plenty of wood color choices to consider. When you incorporate natural colors into the space, you can create a harmonious outdoor retreat.
Choose Accents
Your outside decor’s color palette should be cohesive and complementary, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use vibrance or splashes of color.
Accent colors serve as a focal point, and they are used sparingly throughout the decor to add flair and excitement. A bold red would work wonderfully in a winter-themed palette of grays and whites.
Accent colors are typically used subtly, such as throw pillows or on a single wall. The type of accent color you choose depends on what the rest of your color palette looks like, but most people select bold, vibrant, or dramatic colors as accents.
Don’t Be Afraid of Color
If you choose the natural color route, don’t be afraid to liven up the vibrancy or hues. There are plenty of colors in nature across the entire spectrum. After all, even rainbows are natural! The outdoor space should be an area you enjoy year-round, and color can make a major difference on how the space looks and feels.
In outdoor spaces, color blends in very well. Don’t be afraid to select that vibrant rug or lawn decoration. Unlike the indoors, there are many sights and colors to enjoy outside, and a bright color can fit wonderfully.
The Sun’s Impact on Vibrancy
If you choose a vibrant color for your decor, you should be aware of direct sunlight. The bright rays can easily fade colorful fabrics or paint.
If you don’t stow your vibrant decor away when you’re finished using the space, you should be prepared to replace it regularly. You can combat the sun by providing shade over your decor, storing it when not in use, or using natural elements like flowers as your vibrant color sources.
Complement Your Interior
If you’re unsure what colors to choose for your patio, consider what your interior looks like. You don’t need to copy it exactly, but it can sometimes feel jarring to walk outside and find a completely different color scheme.
Extending or complementing the color palette in both spaces can make the transition from living room to patio comforting. Similar colors, tones, hues, or vibrancies can make your design choices flow much better.
Don’t Forget Plants and Flowers
The major difference between decorating your outdoor space instead of your indoor space is your ability to use any type of plant, flower, or tree that you’d like. You don’t have to stick with indoor-only plants.
Consider using various flowers, trees, and plant life to add to your patio space’s color schemes. Decorating with flowers and other landscaping styles can really make your yard stand out.
Natural decor like plants, flowers, stones, and wood can bring your patio to life and help you connect with nature better.
Conclusion
Settling on a color scheme for your outdoor space can be intimidating. When you incorporate natural elements like plants, flowers, trees, and stones, you can extend similar colors to your deck, patio furniture, or decor.
You can use similar color schemes, palettes, or tones as the interior to create a smoother transition, too. Don’t be afraid of vibrancy, accents, or pops of color—flowers are some of the most vivid sights out there, and your yard is meant to host them. Adapting to seasonal changes is smart, too.
Try out different colors and patterns to see what you like best. Personal touches make the most beautiful outdoor spaces.
Our writers like to blog about real estate hotspots. We launched the award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2015 and the luxury property and interior decor blog www.alltheprettyhomes.com in 2024 to cover all your interior design, travel and lifestyle inspiration needs. Download our free bathroom renovation guide here.