We all know there's no relying on the British weather (snow in March anyone?) which is why it's time to get a wriggle on when it comes to sprucing up your outside space. That way, when the sun does finally decide to show its face, you'll be BBQ-ready and good to go 🥂
So, where to start when you want to give your patio or roof terrace a new lease of life? Sweeping up any leaves and debris is a no-brainer, but how about introducing some fresh new colours into the garden while you're at it? 🌳
Our highly durable exterior paint is super easy to use and works well on all kinds of wood, metal and masonry. All you need to do is decide which colour to choose. But, don't worry, we're here with a few ideas to help you on your way…
MAXIMISE YOUR CURB APPEAL
Repainting your front door is a great way to express your personality. A pale sage green such as The Trail for a stylish, low key look? Or a bold red like The Old Corset Factory for real 'wow factor'. A simple refresh with a pot of paint can really up your 'curb appeal' – either to impress potential buyers, or simply to ring the changes ✨
Sounds a bit of a faff? Fear not! We've put together a handy video with all the tips you'll need. You're welcome✌🏼
"The key with the front door is to make sure you paint the door frame and the door the same colour," says COAT's Lead Colour Consultant, Aaron Markwell. "It creates a more contemporary look and it makes the door look larger and grander.
"It's also important to think about how your door colour is going to work alongside your brickwork. If you've got red brick, I'd advise going for something like our full-bodied taupe Cold Brew which has a warm undertone, or even our deep terracotta Baked. And a yellow-toned brick tends to work well with bold colours, so I would suggest something like our golden yellow House Points or blueish black David Rose to give a real sense of drama 💃
Pro tip: Don't apply exterior paint if the temperature is below 10 degrees. Because it's water-based, the paint might freeze and flake off if the temperature is too low.
It's also helpful to think about complementary colours when you're choosing shades for your door and the surrounding masonry. Our advice is to pick a neutral for the masonry with the same undertone as the bold you choose for the front door. So if you pick deep green Brewer for the door, you could choose stoney greige Cargo, which has a green undertone, for the masonry. Another great pairing is browny red Old Street with taupe Cold Brew to create a new take on a classic Victorian colour combo.
'David Rose' levelling up this front door. We're big fans!
UP YOUR GARDEN GAME
Gone are the days when gardens were all about creosote brown fences and crazy paving. These days, anything goes in the garden, and there's a move towards treating your outside space as the 'fifth room' – an outdoor seating area that becomes an extension of your living space.
You can approach the design of your outside space just as you would the inside of your home. You can apply similar decorating principles and even choose to continue a colour scheme from inside to out.
"Choosing colours for your outside space that are similar to your interior creates a strong visual link between inside and outside," says Aaron. "It pulls that same vibe outside and creates a lovely sense of flow. It's like 'bringing the outside in' but in the opposite direction."
@houseofhaz opted for our dark and moody, 'David Rose' to add definition to her garden space.
If your living room is dark and moody, you could replicate this feel by painting the back wall of your house in our blueish black David Rose or black The Record Store. Not only would this continue the colour scheme outside, it would also create a really striking backdrop for your entertaining area. Why not fix a trellis to the wall and grow climbing plants? Or you could attach shelves to the wall and style them with colourful plant pots.
"It's worth remembering that when you're using paints outside, the colour will appear around two shades lighter than it would inside because the sun is brighter than the lights inside our homes," says COAT's Aaron Markwell. "So you need to be be gutsier when it comes to exterior colour choices."
The perfect excuse, if you needed it, to go big and bold with your garden colour choices this year 🙌
BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS
When it comes to painting your garden fence, the jury's out on whether it works best to go for something bold and dramatic, or to stick with a nature-inspired green to help the fence 'disappear' into the surrounding greenery. Either way, we've got the paint for you 👍
Choosing a dark green such as Mansard or Brewer for your fence will help camouflage it and make your garden appear bigger than it actually is. Clever, eh? 🤓
Neutral more your vibe? @luke_arthur_wells went for 'Good Intentions' for his patio transformation.
Our Colour Consultant, Aaron, also favours statement blacks for garden fences. "It works well to paint the posts in a a dramatic off-black like Dodie and then use a colour with a green undertone such as pale sage green The Trail for the rest of the fence," says Aaron. "For my own roof terrace, I painted the fence in The Record Store and then I've planted passion flowers in front of it so that when they come into bloom there's a riot of colour against the black backdrop."
CREATE STATEMENT SEATING
Garden furniture looking tired? Paint is the perfect way to smarten up your outdoor seating ready for the summer months. It's also a great way to experiment with bolder colours. After all, changing the colour of an outdoor chair or table is much less daunting than painting an entire room in your home. So be brave with your colour choices in the garden and really go for it with a bright, bold hues.
That old bench is gunna look brand spanking new in no time. Watch our vid here to find out how ✌🏼
With yellows being such big news this season, our sunny yellow House Points is the ideal way to go for a gutsy colour choice. Why not pick up a pre-loved bistro table set on Facebook Marketplace or Ebay and upcycle it with a couple of coats of our exterior paint? Or you could choose gentler, nature-inspired tones such as pale sage green The Trail or grey green Yard Party for a more relaxed look.
If you're short on time, you could always just paint the legs of your bench to create a big impact with minimal effort. "It's so simple to do and creates an amazing pop of colour," says Aaron. "Our rich teal The Four Poster would be perfect for this and would really make the legs of your bench stand out."
ADD COLOURFUL ACCENTS
Talking of easy wins, our durable exterior paint also works brilliantly on garden pots and planters. Use it to create vivid pops of colour with shades such as our bold terracotta Baked or lime green Plant Power.
Bringing the inside...out? Yep, it's a thing. @luke_arthur_wells painted their ourdoor kitchen unit in our trusty green, 'Nomad'.
"Plant Power is a brilliant way to add a tropical pop of on-trend chartreuse green," says Aaron. "It also combines really well with other natural tones you may already have in your garden such as rattan and teak. If you put Plant Power up against these natural tones, the colour will really sing out against the contrast."
Sir David Attenborough would approve. 'Plant Power' is here to make a statement.
Don't forget about adding colour with flowers as well as with paint. Isabelle Palmer from The Balcony Gardener recommends restricting the colour scheme to just two or three complementary shades.
"White, purple, pink and blue all work well together," says Isabelle. "When composing container displays, think about 'thriller, filler and spiller'. Choose a focal plant and complement it with upright plants at the back, plus some that fill in the middle and others that will trail over the sides."
Now that you've spruced up your walls, fencing and furniture, why not treat yourself to a few new garden accessories? We can't get enough of the joyously colourful garden parasols from the East London Parasol Company. Our current fave is the William Round Bamboo Parasol with its William Morris botanical print and vibrant orange tassels. The perfect finishing touch to any al fresco dining area.
Heaps of rug inspo here. @electichunkydoryhome painted their outdoor woodwork in 'Record Store' which works beautifully with their variety of furnishings.
Outdoor rugs are also hot stuff this season – great for providing an update to your outside space as well as adding to that 'inside to outside' vibe. The Fab Hab San Juan Outdoor Rug in Dark Blue from Cuckooland brings an instant hit of pattern and colour, costs just £54.95, and is made from recycled plastic bottles. What's not to love? 💕
Did you know we now offer next day delivery at weekends as well as during the week? What are you waiting for?! Place your exterior paint order and get ready to transform your garden in no time ✨
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