Creating Happy Outdoor Spaces: Colour in the Garden 🌿🎨
Don’t Forget Your Garden! Why Your Outdoor Space Deserves a Colourful Makeover
With sunny days approaching, it’s time to show your garden, balcony, or even that tiny communal space you share with your neighbours some well-deserved love! If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor area, why not turn it into a joyful, personality-filled retreat? Whether you’re an urban dweller with a postage-stamp-sized balcony or have a full-on backyard jungle, adding colour can completely change how you experience the space.
Just like our interiors, gardens deserve a dopamine boost too! So let’s dive into fun, easy, and creative ways to bring colour to your outdoor oasis—without having to wait for your plants to bloom.
Your home should be a reflection of you, not a rulebook dictated by trends or expectations. Let’s break down how you can tap into your natural instincts and choose colours with confidence, without overthinking every little detail.
1. Colourful Furniture: Because Grey Garden Sets Are Boring!
Who decided that outdoor furniture should be neutral, beige, or just plain sad? Sure, it’s safe—but safe is boring! Why settle for dull when you can have a bright pink bench, a sunshine-yellow bistro set, or a turquoise lounge chair that radiates joy?
Colourful furniture is one of the easiest ways to inject personality into your outdoor space. It instantly transforms even the smallest balcony or patio into a happy little retreat. Don’t worry if you don’t have the budget for a brand-new set—you can refresh what you already have!
🖌️ Quick Fix: If your outdoor furniture is looking a bit meh, grab a brush and give it a bold new life with a fresh coat of weatherproof paint. You can even go beyond solid colours—try stripes, ombré effects, or playful stencils to add extra character.
🎨 DIY Idea: Got an old wooden chair that’s looking worse for wear? Don’t throw it out—turn it into a dopamine décor masterpiece! Paint each leg a different colour, go for a rainbow gradient, or add funky patterns. It’s instant joy on legs—literally! 🌈
💡 Extra Tip
If you want a low-maintenance pop of colour, swap out your chair cushions for bright, weather-resistant fabrics—no paintbrush required!
2. Happy Planters = Happy You!
Let’s be real—your plants deserve stylish homes too! Ditch the basic terracotta pots and go bold with playful, colourful planters in mustard yellow, cobalt blue, or bubblegum pink. Mix and match for a fun, eclectic look!
🎨 Fun Ideas:
Paint smiley faces or funky designs on your pots for an extra personality boost—your plants will literally be grinning at you 😃!
Feeling daring? Try metallic or neon colours for a statement look that really catches the eye.
Try a "painted pot rainbow"—line up your planters in a spectrum of colours for an Instagram-worthy display! It’ll make your garden (or balcony) feel vibrant, cheerful, and totally unique.
Here’s another secret: you don’t even need “real” planters! Almost anything can be turned into a plant pot—tin cans, old hats, teapots, even basketballs! (Yes, really!)
🔥 No-Paint Hack: Wrap your pots in colourful fabric or twine for a DIY, textured look—zero mess, all the fun!
🎨 Think Outside the Planter:
Upcycle an old basketball into a vibrant hanging planter—it’s an unexpected, playful way to bring dopamine décor to your garden🌈✨!
🔗 Check out my DIY tutorial here!
Turn a vintage teapot into a whimsical flowerpot—perfect for herbs!
Spray-paint tin cans in bright colours for an instant budget-friendly planter collection.
Feeling groovy? Why not stick disco ball mirror stickers on them!
Got an pair of boots or an old hat? Line it with coconut fibre, fill with soil, and boom—quirky, stylish plant décor!
3. Don’t Ignore Your Walls & Fences!
Your walls and fences are like giant blank canvases waiting for some love! They’re literally the backdrop to your outdoor space—so why leave them plain when you can turn them into a statement feature?
The best part? You don’t need to be an artist to make an impact. A simple coat of sunshine yellow, deep teal, or coral pink can instantly brighten up even the shadiest garden corners.
🚪 Game-Changer: Paint your garden gate a surprising colour! Imagine walking through a deep turquoise, sunset orange, or even a bold neon pink entrance—it sets the mood before you even step in!
🎨 Other Creative Ideas:
Go for colour-blocking by painting sections of your wall or fence in contrasting shades.
Stencil a design—geometric patterns, oversized florals, or even a tropical leaf print for a botanical feel!
Feeling extra bold? Paint a mural—even something as simple as abstract shapes or wavy lines can create a fun, artistic vibe.
🌿 Bonus Tip: If you prefer a more natural approach, consider growing climbing plants like ivy, jasmine, or bougainvillea against a brightly painted wall for a stunning contrast of nature and colour.
4. Play with Outdoor Rugs & Cushions
If you can’t paint everything (maybe your landlord wouldn’t be thrilled about a hot pink fence), you can still layer in colour through outdoor textiles. Rugs, cushions, and throws instantly add warmth and personality—plus, they make your space way cosier.
A striped or geometric outdoor rug can define your seating area, while patterned throw pillows add the perfect touch of dopamine décor. And don’t forget hammocks! A quirky, colourful hammock isn’t just comfy—it’s a statement piece!
🏡 Pro Styling Tip: Mix different patterns!
Stripes + florals? Yes. Polka dots + tropical leaves? Even better. The key is to keep it playful—dopamine décor is all about embracing joy through contrast and fun combinations.
💡 Extra Tip: If you’re worried about weather damage, go for outdoor-friendly fabrics or simply store cushions in a fun-painted storage box when not in use!
5. Let There Be (Colourful) Light!
Evenings outside don’t have to be lit by boring white bulbs—where’s the fun in that? Playing with outdoor lighting is an easy way to set the mood and add a touch of magic to your space.
✨ Bright Ideas:
Fairy lights in warm, golden tones create a dreamy glow for cozy evenings.
Paper lanterns in bold colours give a playful, festival-like feel.
LED string lights in rainbow hues bring a fun, whimsical touch.
🛠️ DIY Hack:
Take mason jars, paint them with translucent glass paint in different colours, and pop in LED candles. Voilà! You’ve got homemade lanterns that glow beautifully at night—and they cost almost nothing to make!
💡 Extra Tip: Solar-powered garden lights now come in all sorts of fun colours—why not line your garden path with bright blues or purples for a cool, enchanted look?
6. Let Your Plants Do the Colour Talking
Of course, nature is already a master at colour coordination—but why not take it a step further and intentionally curate a palette for your garden? By selecting plants that bloom in vibrant hues or have striking foliage, you can create an outdoor space that feels like a living work of art.
🌼 Play with Colour Combinations:
Warm & Energizing: Think fiery reds, oranges, and yellows—perfect for creating a bold, lively atmosphere. Try marigolds, poppies, and sunflowers.
Cool & Calming: Blues, purples, and soft pinks bring serenity and relaxation—think lavender, hydrangeas, and salvia.
Contrasting & Dramatic: Mix deep purples, rich greens, and pops of neon for a high-impact garden. Consider coleus, purple basil, or dark-leaved dahlias.
But flowers aren’t the only way to bring colour to your garden! Some plants, like rainbow chard, red cabbage, and variegated succulents, offer unexpected hues through their leaves and stems—a perfect way to add colour that lasts beyond blooming season.
🎧 Want more inspiration? If you're unsure which plants to choose, or how to mix and match shades for the most stunning effect, check out Episode 6 of my podcast with Joelix ("Plants & Colours")! 🌿🎨 We dive into how plants and colour interact, plus tons of tips on making your green spaces feel even more vibrant.
7. Dopamine Décor for Your Garden with Painted Features & Unexpected Upcycles!
Ever spotted a discarded chair, table, or ladder on the street and thought, That has potential? I do this all the time! Instead of seeing something old and unwanted, I imagine how a splash of colour could bring it back to life.
🌍 Upcycling is the ultimate dopamine décor trick—you save money, reduce waste, and get a one-of-a-kind piece bursting with personality!
Unexpected Upcycle Ideas:
Old wooden ladders → Vertical plant stands (each step painted a different shade!)
Skateboards → Floating plant shelves (quirky and fun for urban gardens!)
Vintage suitcases → Flower beds (drill drainage holes and plant directly inside!)
Discarded drawers → Mini herb gardens (stacked for a tiered effect!)
🛠️ Street Find Glow-Up
Take this wooden ladder I found on the street—it was worn out, sad, and destined for landfill. With a little imagination (and some electric blue paint), I turned it into a vibrant plant stand for my garden!
Here’s a quick step-by-step DIY:
Step 1: Clean & sand it down.
Step 2: Pick a rainbow colour palette—each step in a different shade 🌈!
Step 3: Use an outdoor-friendly paint for durability.
Step 4: Stack potted plants on each step—now it’s a showstopper!
💡 Next time you see an old item, ask yourself: "How can I bring it back to life with colour?" You might just save it from landfill and create your new favourite garden feature!
Final Thoughts: Your Outdoor Space = Your Playground!
The beauty of decorating outdoor spaces is that there are no rules—it’s all about what makes you happy! Whether it’s a rainbow of flower pots, a brightly painted bench, or playful outdoor textiles, embracing colour is a simple way to create a garden that feels uplifting, fun, and uniquely you.
🌈✨ I’m speaking at The Ideal Home Show ✨🌈!
If you’re visiting the Ideal Home Show on March 31st, join us on the Spring Clean Stage at 12:45 PM, where we’ll be talking all about Dopamine Décor: Using Colour to Spark Joy. Plus, don’t forget to enter Protek’s garden colour competition (only available on the day) and share your favourite outdoor colour ideas!
Want More quirky ideas? Join My Online Course 🎓!
If you’re excited about bringing more colour, creativity, and personality into your home but don’t know where to start, I’ve got you covered!
🌈 My online course, Colour Your Home Happy, will take you step by step through the process of transforming your space with confidence.
🌈 Through six comprehensive modules, you’ll learn how to confidently use colour, pattern, and design to create a space that feels uniquely yours.
You’ll also get access to:
🎨 Fun exercises to uncover your personal colour story
🛠️ DIY ideas to bring your vision to life
💡 Styling tips to create a cohesive, meaningful home
🌈 A supportive community of fellow colour-lovers
✨ Ready to trust your colourful instincts? ✨