How to make your garden more colourful

Is your garden currently bringing more frustration than enjoyment? It doesn’t have to be this way! In an ideal world, your garden would be the perfect place to relax on sunny days or entertain your guests, but if your outdoor space is looking drab and dreary, spending time in it can be a chore.

Luckily, if you want to truly enjoy your garden, there are some easy fixes to make it more inviting. A bright, colourful garden will uplift your mood and make it a much more pleasant place to be, so why not take the time to revamp it? Here are 10 of our best colourful garden ideas to breathe fresh life into your outdoor space.

1. Get gardening

What’s the easiest colour to add to your garden? Green, of course! An abundance of green can improve your mood by creating a sense of calm, balance and serenity, so if you want to turn your garden into a relaxing haven, it’s time to get your gardening gloves on and start planting.

Planting trees, shrubs and flowers around your garden is the best way to add natural colour to your garden, complementing any colour scheme you’ve chosen for your garden furniture, patio and home’s exterior. Add foliage to different areas of your garden, including the borders, flower beds, and even around the patio, to add colour and interesting textures throughout the space, leaving no bare, boring areas.

Got a small garden? This isn’t an issue at all! If your small garden doesn't leave a lot of space for landscaping, you can always opt for a vertical garden instead by installing plant walls or trellises on your walls and garden fences. Climbing plants like ivy are a natural choice, and they’re also perfect for decorating your wooden pergola if you have one.

2. Plant colourful garden plants and flowers

Of course, plants don’t just add a splash of green to your garden. By carefully selecting the types of flowers you want to plant, you can choose beautiful garden colour schemes to liven up this space. Want to keep things bright and joyful? Choose orange and yellow flowers like daffodils, marigolds, primroses and sunflowers. White flowers like gardenias and magnolias will create a sense of calm and tranquillity, whereas sharply contrasting colours such as purple and yellow will instantly draw the eye and make your garden more vibrant and exciting. 

3. Invest in colourful garden furniture

Another thing to consider when choosing plants and flowers is whether they’ll match your garden furniture, or you could pick your garden furniture to match your flowers! Natural wicker, wooden and rattan garden furniture all bring a beautiful earthy tone that perfectly complements the natural features of your garden, but if you want to be more experimental, opt for colourful garden furniture in bright, bold colours. You could even paint your wooden garden table and chairs to match your selected colour scheme, adding harmony to the entire space.

4. Paint your garden fence

Don’t forget about the perimeter of your garden, too! It’s all well and good adding splashes of colour in the centre, but if you leave the borders bare, the overall design won’t look very cohesive. If you’ve gone for a natural, rustic design with plenty of green foliage and wicker/rattan furniture, then a wood varnish or stain would enhance your existing wooden fence and make it more vibrant and eye-catching. However, if you want more bold garden fence colours, then adding a few coats of paint in your chosen colour is a great idea. Just make sure you sand, repair and restore wooden furniture or fences before painting them so that you have a smooth canvas to work with, giving you the best final results.

5. Add colourful shades

Making more shade in your garden is essential for staying comfortable on hot, sunny days – rare though they may be in the UK! Purchasing a generic parasol or hanging up an impromptu fabric canopy will take care of the practical side of things, but if you want to incorporate your garden shade into your overall design and colour scheme, why not add a splash of colour to create a point of visual interest in your garden? Invest in a boldly colourful or patterned parasol to shade your garden seating area, or if you want to DIY your garden shade, choose a large, colourful piece of fabric you already have and secure it over your patio using anchor points (such as nearby trees or garden fences). Plus, when the sun shines through these colourful fabrics, this will bathe the rest of your garden in multicoloured light, enhancing the colours you’ve chosen for your garden furniture and landscaping.

6. Plant flowering trees and shrubs

In addition to smaller flowers and climbing plants, there are plenty of flowering trees and shrubs you can plant to add extra colour to your garden. Plus, these larger plants are ideal for shading sunny gardens or improving privacy for overlooked gardens.

If you don’t fancy the task of planting and maintaining delicate flowers, planting flowering shrubs and trees can be a more low-maintenance garden solution, but bear in mind that this is more of a long-term project that will require yearly pruning. Rhododendrons, azaleas, cherry trees, crab apple trees and hydrangeas are all brilliant options, producing beautiful flowers in a variety of colours.

7. Use colourful plant pots

Another option for those who aren’t keen gardeners or landscapers is to use colourful plant pots to display your foliage. Planting trees, shrubs and flowers in your garden can be hard work, but by buying potted plants, you can easily decorate your garden and patio by simply arranging the pots however you’d like – and you can move them around if you change your mind! Buy plant pots that match your garden colour scheme, or simply paint terracotta pots in bold colours like blue, green, yellow and pink to create a fun, whimsical vibe. 

8. Add colourful decorations and accessories

Pay attention to the details when revamping your garden. Once the main elements – including your colourful garden furniture, plants, trees and garden fence – are taken care of, you can move onto the finishing touches. Add colourful scatter cushions and blankets to your garden furniture to make this space as cosy and inviting as possible – perfect for entertaining guests on summer evenings. Complementary colours according to your garden colour scheme are fantastic if you want to keep everything cohesive, but if you prefer the chaotic, boho vibe, then choose contrasting colours for your garden furniture accessories. For example, if the rest of your garden has rustic, earthy tones, add a pop of bright colour with blue throw pillows on your garden sofa sets. 

9. Use colourful garden stones

A change you may not have considered is swapping your boring garden path stones for colourful ones. This is an unconventional change, but it’s perfect if you’re a fan of quirky garden designs. Bright, colourful tiles or warm terracotta stones are a great addition to your garden if you want to liven up all areas – not just your flower beds or seating space. 

10. Finish it off with coloured garden lights

Finally, you can complete your garden accessories with a string of colourful garden lights around your outdoor seating area. Not only will this provide much-needed light when you’re entertaining guests in the evening, but colourful fairy lights or festoon lighting will add a fun, carefree ambience. We would recommend sticking with warm-toned colours to create a cosy feel, because very cool-toned lighting can be a bit too clinical.