Hi friends! If you’ve seen my recent DIY projects, you know I’ve been playing with a ton of bright planters and pots. But now? I’m dreaming of simplifying things, maybe going for more earthy vibes with just a few pops of color instead of all-out brightness.
I figured maybe you guys were ready for a little refresh as well, so I thought I would share a few easy ideas for finding your perfect outdoor color scheme.
Celebrating Neutrals
Got a house you want to show off? I love when the architecture gets to be the star. Sometimes just simplifying the materials and colors in your yard can beautifully frame your home and help it really pop!
When I first moved in, I struggled with so much beige in the backyard. I had a beige patio, beige gravel… you name it. So, I brought in a ton of gray with patio furniture, walkway gravel, and stepping stones.
And guess what? Gray and beige can absolutely live in perfect harmony. This gorgeous modern yard just proves it.
Plus, keeping your landscaping and furniture tones simple lets the colors of your plants be the main event. Look at all the different green and red hues in this garden. Just stunning!
Light-colored stone and gravel are the perfect partners for medium gray and beige tones, like the paint color on this house. I also love how the dark trim on the house and flowerbed adds another layer of depth.
And don’t forget that your plants will add their own dose of color that can make a huge difference. This space has such a range of warm tones, all thanks to garden plants with golden and reddish leaves.
For one thing, all the natural colors of the outdoors can have such a powerful effect. Those deep, crisp greens? They create this cooling, visually soothing feeling. Perfect for a hot summer day!
This amazing landscaping shows us that warm and cool neutral tones CAN work together in total harmony. Honestly, they balance each other out and make the whole palette of your yard feel bigger.
If you’re worried that neutral shades are just plain dull, think again. There’s a whole range of colors to play with. Focusing on opposite ends of the neutral spectrum is such an effective way to get balance. Light + dark = total symmetry and drama!
Bringing in Color
If you’re not sure how much color to add, you can always start small. A couple of pots by the door and a pretty, rich-hued throw on your sofa are so easy to replace if you get tired of them. Plus, you can always add more if you love the look!
The images below show that a neutral palette is a surefire way to get a chic, modern look. But what about bright color? Before you start, pay attention to the color of your home. Your outdoor plants and accents should work with it, not fight against the whole look of your house.
One standout piece of furniture or a set of cushions can make such a huge impact! In this modern yard, that vibrant orange seating is the perfect complement to all the gray and green tones.
Do you have a swimming pool? Pools almost always add a really distinct blue tone to your yard. You have to work with it, not against it, as you bring in other colors.
Greens and yellows are also so eye-catching, especially when you use them together. We see these citrus-y shades in modern interiors all the time, so it just makes sense that we’d see that festive feeling in outdoor spaces too!
I’ll end today’s post with a photo that has a whole array of bright colors, walking that line between pastels and really saturated hues. If you just love color, then don’t hold back. Your outdoor space should show off your personality and style!
Also, look at the colors of the plants that are already there. Sometimes we’re programmed to think color only comes from man-made things (like chairs or pots). Not true! A yard filled with neutral stones and furniture might have a huge range of hues, from yellows and greens to bright pink flowers.
Ready to go bold? I mean really bold? Try a bright pop of yellow. I’ve seriously thought about using this color in my own backyard, since it works so well with other warm shades like brown and tan. It also creates a beautiful contrast to gray. Painting a patio wall is a great way to start!
Blue is such a popular choice for modern yards. Not only does it play up the beauty of natural things like water and the sky, it’s just refreshing and so easy to accent with other tones like lime and yellow!
