Aralia’s 10 favourite ways to add colour to outdoor spaces

Given that the English weather hasn’t been providing us with much sunshine recently, Aralia has gathered together our ten top tips of how you can inject colour into your garden, not just for summer but for all year round.

PERGOLA OR CANOPY – 

One of the best and most dramatic ways you can add color to your garden is through a fabric pergola or canopy. Adding a brightly coloured pergola (like the beautiful orange canvas canopy used in our RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017 Trade Stand for Gaze Burvill) can transform a garden into a kaleidoscope instantly. Replace the grey rainy skies with the warm tones of the pergola, keeping you dry and creating your very own sunshine!

ARTWORK –

If you are a fan of art, remember that it doesn’t just belong indoors; artwork can also look just as beautiful displayed in your garden. Adding a colourful piece of art can create a real focal point, as well as a topic of conversation, for your summer garden. Artwork (suitable for outdoors) will also withstand the weather all year round, bringing you a pop of colour even in the rainy months. Go for acrylics on canvas’, or sculptures, specially sealed for outdoor use, to bring some culture to your garden.

LIGHTING 

Nothing is more successful in bringing color all year round than a good piece of lighting. When you add lighting elements that are bursting with colour even when they’re turned off, (like the rubberised hanging lights used at Maltese Road) you guarantee not just color 365 days a year, but also 24/7, as beautiful pieces like these will bring drama to your garden both day and night.

LIVING WALLS/GREEN WALLS 

Adding a living wall will cultivate wildlife such as the birds & the bees in your garden, meaning you can help the environment whilst adding to the beauty and vibrancy of your garden! It also provides a beautiful tapestry of natural colours that provides a great contrast to more duller coloured elements of the garden such as the paving  or furniture. Green walls are particularly successful in adding colour when used in roof terraces (as seen in our Ganton Street photo below) as they add a touch of colour to an otherwise sometimes grey and gloomy London skyline.

FURNITURE AND STRUCTURES 

A more permanent option is to include man-made elements such as powder coated metal structures or stained glass. Injecting colour through all weather furniture (such as rattan and aluminium) will mean you have a more longstanding touch of brightness. Whilst it may not be the first colour that comes to mind, white is a perfect option here. It creates both light and space in smaller gardens and provides focal points to unify larger gardens. On top of this, adding hints of white, or similar light colours, into the basic structures of the gardens creates colour and contrast at nighttime.

TO READ MORE OF ARALIA’S TIPS ON INJECTING COLOUR INTO YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE, CHECK BACK FOR PART 2 OF THE BLOG POST, COMING SOON!