Fence painting ideas
- When it comes to painting your fence, the colour you choose makes all the difference. Dark shades can create a striking contrast and highlight plants, light tones can make a garden feel larger, and neutral or bold colours add specific character, from rustic charm to vibrant energy.
- When choosing a colour to paint your fence, consider elements like your shed colour, overall garden colour scheme, and how often you update your garden to ensure your fence paint complements the entire space.
- Some fun and vibrant fence painting ideas include turning your fence into a canvas by adding murals, adding stripes, or getting children involved in the painting process - a great activity when adding visual interest to your garden.
A fence isn’t just for creating a boundary around your garden, it can also be used to brighten up the space and create a certain look and style. Repainting your fence is the quickest and easiest way to transform your garden, whether you want it to blend in with your plants for a natural and cohesive look, or add a splash of colour to an otherwise neutral space.
Stuck on what to go for? We’ve put together some garden fence painting ideas to spark your imagination.
Which colour should you paint your fence?
Different fence paint colours can have wildly different effects on the look and feel of your garden, even if you’re just using one solid shade. Some colours will help your fence to blend in, while others will make your space look bigger. Continue reading for some of our favourite fence paint ideas.
Dark shades
If you want your fence to take a backseat, darker shades can help to prevent it from taking the spotlight away from your plants. For a traditional, country look, a rich oaky brown stain is a great choice. If you’re going for something more contemporary, charcoal grey or black is a better fit.
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Light shades
Lighter colours can brighten a space, making it appear bigger. They do this by reflecting the light around your garden, making it feel less closed-in, which is especially suitable for smaller gardens. Lighter shades that work really well for this are sky blues or light creams, but be careful with harsh light shades like brilliant white, as these can draw too much attention to your garden’s boundaries and have the opposite effect.
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Natural greens
Painting your fence in a shade of green can achieve the same ‘opening’ effect as light shades, as it’ll blend in with your plants and shrubs, making your garden look bigger. However, we do recommend that you swatch your chosen shade as you don’t want to pick a green that clashes with your plants, but one that complements them.
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Neutral shades
Neutral-toned fences will complement natural elements in your garden, as well as wooden furniture and planters. Browns, beiges, and greys are especially ideal for country cottages, giving your garden a rustic, traditional look.
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Bold colour palettes
Bold shades like yellows, pinks and teals can add sunshine to your garden all year round, so you don’t have to rely on British weather to brighten your mood.
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Top tips for choosing a garden fence colour
While one of these options may seem the most appealing on its own, you’ll need to consider your garden before you take the plunge on a shade. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a new colour for your garden fence:
The colour of your shed: your fence and shed should be cohesive for a sleek look, so it’s a good idea to either choose a colour that matches your shed or repaint your shed to match your newly painted fence.
Your garden’s colour scheme: if you’ve gone for a specific colour scheme in your chosen plants and outdoor furniture, make sure to pick a fence paint colour that complements this palette.
How often you update your garden: if you’re always switching up your flowers and plants as each season hits, pick a fence paint colour that’s versatile enough to stand its ground amongst the colours.
Painting a pattern or design on your fence
For a little more creativity in your fence painting ideas, a fence can be seen as a huge blank canvas to let your imagination go wild. It’s the perfect place to express your personality in your garden through a motif or pattern of your choice.
Murals
If there are any artists in your household, a fence repaint is the perfect chance for them to tap into their creativity. A simple mural, such as one depicting minimalist leaf and tree shapes, can have just as big an impact as a large-scale multicoloured abstract masterpiece.
Stripes
A standard slatted fence is already made up of a series of straight, parallel panels for you to use as a guideline as you add colourful stripes to the fence, making it an easy fence painting idea for beginners. You’ve even got the option to go wild with a rainbow of colours or use two or three complementary shades in a repeating pattern.
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Creative fence painting designs
As anyone who’s seen The Karate Kid knows, painting your fence can be a bit of a chore. So, why not make it more fun by getting the little ones involved? Mess is much less of an issue in the garden than inside, so there’s no better time to treat your fence as a canvas for them to try out some painting. Whether you’re painting the fence in one solid colour and they’d like to contribute a few strokes, or you want to encourage them to make their mark on it with something more creative, the options are endless.
The best colour and design for your fence depends on a few factors. You’ll want it to complement your garden, either by choosing a colour that blends in with your existing plants, or by adding a splash of colour to brighten up the space. However you choose to paint your fence, it will have a huge impact on your garden.
If you’ve chosen your paint, our how to paint a fence guide gives you all the tips and tricks you need to start painting.
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FAQs
What month is best to paint a fence?
How do I make my garden fence look nice without painting it?
Is painting a fence black a good idea?
What are the best colours for painting a fence?
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