Outside seating area with a large cushioned wicker sofa and chair with a bright yellow wall (Yellow-Pink).

Using Exterior Paint Colours

Nothing transforms outdoor areas more than a paint refresh. A change of season is the perfect time to begin any exterior decoration project. Painting outside areas is satisfying and almost instantly gratifying, which is ideal if you’re an impatient gardener who wants to add colour without waiting for the plants to grow!

Providing the perfect backdrop for planting schemes and entertaining areas, paint works in harmony with outdoor spaces to create an extension of your home. When choosing outdoor paint, look for colours associated with the earth, sky, sea and sun for inspiration that is guaranteed to work.

Outdoor dining area with dark green wall (Mid Azure Green) and wicker soda with table and a contrasting blue patterned rug.

Serene Green: Outdoor Paint Colours Straight from Nature

For harmony and tranquillity, green paint colours are the obvious choice for the yard. They seamlessly blend in with luscious foliage in both contemporary and country settings.

Use greens like Windmill Lane when choosing exterior wood paint for front doors, to provide a contrast against red brick. Concrete walls painted in Puck or Mid Azure Green offer a contemporary and convivial look for outdoor dining areas. For a smaller project, paint a pergola in Harley Green and let the tendrils of plants wrap themselves around the painted wood.

Main Wall: Mid Azure Green

Left Back Wall: Air Force Blue

Door & Low Table: Slaked Lime – Mid

A wooden swing seat painted in the dark green shade 'Harley Green' in front of a brick wall and surrounded by greenery.

Pergola: Harley Green

Outdoor dining area painted in the neutral color Lute, with a cushioned seating area painted in off-white Flint.

Earthy Hues: Neutral Exterior Paint Shades

For a grounded scheme, look to introduce earthy paint colours in your yard. Pair the warm neutral, Lute, with the sophisticated white, Flint, and incorporate natural materials like rattan, wicker and jute for a relaxing al fresco dining area.

Wall: Lute

Seat: Flint

Front door painted in grey blue shade 'Celestial Blue' with a brick surround and a grey bench with flowers.

Country Living: A Traditional Finish

Pale blues combined with delicate blooms create a nostalgic look in both country and suburban settings. For front doors and window frames against red brick, choose the intriguing Celestial Blue and watch it change blue, green and grey throughout the day.

For a contemporary alternative for railings, Lead Colour is a strong option. When painting primed metal, use the durable Intelligent Gloss or Intelligent Exterior Eggshell finish.

Door and window frame: Celestial Blue

Bench: French Grey

Birdhouse: Shirting

Watering can: Slaked Lime

Outside seating area with an Air Force Blue back wall and a wooden panelled bench with cushions.

Coastal Living: Utilising Blue Shades

Air Force Blue is an unashamed blue that has an inherent warmth. It can stand on its own ground against livelier colours in the yard and the deep greens of nearby foliage.

Characterful blue-black Basalt sets the tone for a sophisticated coastal look, combined with the crisp Loft White on window surrounds.

Back Wall: Air Force Blue

Table: Mister David

Front door painted in bright yellow 'Mister David' with two trees and a bike under pillars.

Hello Sunshine: Bold Yellow Paints for Outdoor Woodwork

Captivating and warm, Mister David is a yellow that brightens any gloomy spot of your outside space and is ideal for creating the warmest of welcomes when painted on front doors.

For a more mellow hue, earthy Yellow-Pink is seductive and inherently warm. For a contemporary sun-kissed look, paint this joyful colour alongside Scree and Lamp Black.

Front Door: Mister David

Woodwork: Loft White

Outdoor dining area with off white paneled wall (Linen Wash) with a striped cushioned chair and wooden table.

Natural Light: Exterior Colour Schemes for Shaded Areas

For shady spots, choose hues close to white to bring light to the darker areas of your outside space. The fresh neutral, Linen Wash, is ideal for large expanses of exterior walls or weatherboarding in the yard. Its warmth is amplified when used alongside white window frames.

For a Mediterranean-style outside space, create a covered dining area with bamboo canes painted in Loft White and watch the organic shadows move throughout the day. Paint front doors in Shirting, exterior walls in warm Hammock and add terracotta pots to create a faraway feel.

Wall: Linen Wash

Window Frame: Loft White

Table: Smalt

Chair: Bone China Blue

Outdoor kitchen area made from bamboo painted in bright white 'Loft White' with a contrasting black kitchen unit.

Painted Bamboo Wall & Ceiling: Loft White

Kitchen Unit: Lamp Black & Loft White

Coral red garden gate painted in 'Orange Aurora', alongside neutral white walls in 'Hollyhock', plants and bushes.

Colour Highlights: Using Accent Colours Outdoors

Inject energy and vibrancy into your outdoor space with bright hues. This can be a fabulous way to add interest to your yard without the use of plants!

Bright exterior paint colours can also be the perfect choice for those who want to create an al fresco dining room. The intense Tuscan Red is ideal for a Mediterranean look or Orange Aurora for a more playful scheme.

For a cooler alternative, paint the summerhouse in Juniper Ash and combine it with Atomic Red on furniture.

Gate: Orange Aurora

Walls: Hollyhock

Table and Plant Pot: Joanna

Outdoor kitchen painted in deep terracotta red 'Tuscan Red' with brickwork, plants and a basket.

Back Wall: Tuscan Red

Garden with a bean bag chair placed next to a dark off-black wall painted in 'Obsidian Green' and in front of a wooden fence.

Backdrop Black: Disguise your Shed, Fence, or Outdoor Walls with Dark Colours

Using black paint outdoors has been an enduring favourite amongst designers, because it provides the perfect backdrop to vibrant plants. Green foliage and blooming flowers pop when placed in front of black - and fences recede into the shadows when painted in the darkest of colours.

Choose an alternative to true black for painting outdoor areas. Lamp Black still has intensity but is slightly softer than Jack Black and useful in yards for creating depth. Or use Obsidian Green, an off-black with green undertones.

Wall: Obsidian Green

House exterior with a large window, walls painted in neutral grey (Slit) and bright blue (Tivoli), and matching plant pots.

Grey Day

Not only does grey continue to be a favourite inside our home, but it features more and more in our outdoor spaces. Greys like Silt or Dark Lead Colour can be painted across whole exterior walls as they are gentle on the eye and especially good for reducing glare on walls that receive direct sunlight.

Alternatively, use grey in small proportions such as painting outdoor woodwork in Pompeian Ash and combining this mysterious colour with exterior walls in the peaceful Boringdon Green.

Upper Wall: Silt

Lower Wall & Planters: Tivoli

To find the perfect paint for your outside walls and woodwork, explore our range of exterior finishes.

Alternatively, find more exterior colour inspiration amongst our inspiration gallery.