When it comes to decorating outdoors, choosing the right colors is a great place to start. Time spent alfresco is often celebratory or relaxing, and choosing cheerful or soothing colors can embrace the natural setting while emphasizing those moods. Striking the right balance can be tricky, though, so we have rounded up some of our favorite colorful outdoor spaces to help get you started. Soon you’ll be kicking back in a colorful space of your own creation.
TRIED & TRUE
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: you can’t go wrong with blue and white. This color combo is almost impossible to get wrong and we’d go so far to say it’s universally loved. If you want to kick it up a notch, throw in an accent color like pink, peach or yellow.
MAKE THE LOOK YOUR OWN
PICK A PALETTE
If you’re not sure how to pair colors, there are two easy methods that can assist you. For the first, pick a colorful decorative item, like a patterned pillow, and select items that use its prominent colors (in this case, green, pink, yellow and white). For the second method, choose a color you know you’d like to use and, referencing a color wheel, mix in one or more of its complementary colors.
MAKE THE LOOK YOUR OWN
NATURALLY INSPIRED
Another easy way to put together a palette is to look to Mother Nature for inspiration. The space seen here mimics the pink flowering bushes nearby. Pink and green are a natural pair and copying the palette is an easy way to show your command of color.
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JUST A TOUCH
Sometimes less is more. Starting with a neutral black-and-white base, a few pops of pink make a big impact in this refined and glamorous space. The accent color’s impact wouldn’t be as strong against a colorful background.
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GO BRIGHT AND BOLD
This space shows how you can also use a neutral black-and-white base to showcase a variety of colors. While the multi-colored rug builds a strong foundation, limiting the pillows to just two colors keeps things from getting too crazy.
MAKE THE LOOK YOUR OWN
Show us how you’ve added color to your patio or porch by following us on Instagram and using #frontgate to share your photos.
