If you're thinking about painting your fence, it can be tricky to know which shade to go for – but according to experts, there are some fence colours to avoid.
There are plenty of garden fence ideas to choose from, and knowing how to paint a fence is one of the best ways to refresh an outdoor space. Certain colours can make a garden feel smaller than it really is, though – and others can clash with plants and garden furniture.
These are the fence colours to avoid if you're looking to spruce up your garden this year.
1. Dark colours (in a small garden)
Dark fence colours like black, deep brown and dark grey can be a bold (and even chic) choice, but if you've got a small garden, it can make your space feel tinier than it really is.
'Dark colours often stand out in a garden when surrounded by greenery, this can create a harsh boundary in your garden that makes the size of the space feel more pronounced,' explains Jonathan Bromell, fencing expert at Wood Flooring Kent.
'Choosing a colour like sage green or light brown can help the fence blend more with natural surroundings, blurring your garden's boundaries and expanding the illusion of space.'
Cuprinol Garden Shades Fresh Rosemary Exterior Wood Paint from B&Q is a brilliant alternative, and offers weatherproof protection, too.
2. Bright colours
If you're keen to introduce some bright garden paint ideas into your space, your fence might not be the best place to start – and according to Jonathan, they're sure examples of fence colours to avoid.
'Extremely bright colours like neon yellow, lime green or hot pink can create a fun garden fence, but they can also be extremely overwhelming and harsh,' says Jonathan.
'These colours tend to clash with plants and flowers in your garden and can take away from the natural beauty of the space, rather than complementing it.'
These colours can also make it difficult to coordinate with your garden furniture ideas.
Subtler shades like Rust-Oleum Sky Blue Garden Paint from Amazon will add a subtler pop of colour to a garden fence.
3. Pinks and purples
Pinks and purples work beautifully as flower shades in the garden, but painting your fence in similar shades can steal the spotlight from your plants.
'Pinks and purples will dominate the space, as they don’t integrate very naturally in large blocks of colour,' says Melissa Quinney, gardening expert at Cabin Master. 'Having a fence in this type of shade will inevitably distract from the rest of the garden’s elements.'
'On top of this, these brighter hues will fade very quickly in the sunlight, leaving your garden with a washed-out effect.'
At the end of the day, your garden is yours – so decorate it the way that'll make you happy.
So, truly, the only fence colour you should avoid is one you'll hate.
