13 striking shed paint ideas for a speedy garden update
13 striking shed paint ideas for a speedy garden update
On the hunt for some creative shed paint ideas to spruce up that tired-looking wood, and turn it into an attractive garden feature?
Whether you’re green-fingered or not, fixing up your shed is a quick, easy, and relatively cheap way to give your garden a lift – a lick of paint, and a sprinkling of some of the best garden furniture will transform your entire outside space.
Charles Walton, chief executive and founder of outdoor lifestyle specialist BillyOh, says: 'Sheds don't get nearly enough attention when it comes to sprucing up our gardens and usually end up being a dumping ground to hide unsightly items. But we’d encourage people to have pride in their sheds; not only do they provide a focal point and can really set off the design of a garden but a well-maintained shed can add value to your property.'
'Sheds don’t have to look dull. If you want to give yours a new lease of life then why not give it a lick of paint? Just make sure you use a specialist outdoor wood paint. A top tip for preventing nail heads from rusting through the paint is to apply PVA glue to them before you paint. If you prefer the natural look then make sure you apply a quality wood stain to protect your shed from the elements. This should be done at least once a year.'
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By Holly Phillips, Hebe Hatton
1. To match or not to match (to your home’s exterior)?
Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, says: ‘A well-painted shed can bring your whole exterior look together. For a cohesive design, consider painting your shed in the same color palette as your exterior. You could use the same body-trim-accent combination, or flip the body and trim colors for a little contrast.’
‘For a more playful look, try painting your shed in a complementary color. For example, if your house is a deep blue, try a vibrant orange for the shed. It’s unexpected but a tried-and-true color pairing that looks great.’
‘While the best color for your shed will ultimately depend on your home’s exterior and other elements of your backyard, my favorite colors for sheds are dark gray, sage green, and a very deep, brown-toned gray. For this, I recommend Urbane Bronze SW 7048(as shown), a rich, moody choice. I love dark hues for exteriors – they convey so much depth and have a mysterious, artistic look to them.’
Fancy having a go this weekend? Learn how to paint a shed - outside and in, and give yours a fabulous new finish.
2. Sage is all the rage for an instant refresh
When it comes to shed color ideas, if you’re looking to reference nature, but still want your shed to stand out from the garden crowd, try lighter shades of green, like calming sage or scrumptious mint, for a subtle color contrast with a youthful spirit. Did we mention that soothing greens are blooming for garden trends?
Lynne, blogger, A Farmhouse Reborn, says: ‘I've been seeing a lot of green garden sheds lately; we even repainted our own. I love the sage green shed with a lighter sage green trim. It's green on green and it's perfect for an outdoor shed! We specifically chose historic green paint colors from the Valspar line at Lowe's called: Homestead Resort Parlor Sage - how much more old Virginia can you get?’
Wadden says: ‘Green is a classic exterior color, but a sage green, with a hint of gray, modernizes the hue and connects it to nature. My favorite is Dried Thyme SW 6186.’
3. Chill out with Scandi neutrals
Whether your shed is utilitarian in function or doubles up as a relaxing garden rooms, give it a tranquil look and feel inside and out, that embodies restorative vibes, with a nurturing Scandi neutral shade, like white, gray, or gentle blush. To complete the slow living idyll, fill your space with tactile natural textures, and warm and cozy layers.
Robin Antill, director, Leisure Buildings, says: ‘Is there anything more refreshing than pure white? It has a clean, Scandi feel to it, and is perfect if you want minimalism – and if you change your mind next summer, all you have to do is paint over it with white.’
4. Pick shades that make you smile
Your shed, your shade. In small backyard designs, make your shed stand out from the neighborhood watch with a happy-go-lucky hue that turns the generic brown exterior into a color pop feature of sunny-side-up delight.
Ben Thornborough, Thorndown's co-founder, says: ‘Select your color palette based on shades that will fit with your existing garden and your plants, and most importantly, bring a smile to your face.’
‘Use sample pots to make sure you’re getting exactly the color you want and always go with a wood paint that has been specially formulated for exterior use. This will ensure your chosen colors last longer. At Thorndown, we use exterior grade color pigments, meaning that the color you chose is the color you’ll see for years and years.’
5. Orange is the new lemon
Go bold, citrusy, and bright in your garden, with statement shades of on-trend orange. Emerging as the hottest homeware color this season, don’t let your shed miss out on such a zesty, fashionable fix-up.
Choose a vibrant, saturated shade for an energizing boost that will create a backyard focal point, or choose a calming coral hue, to bring some Mediterranean sun-baked goodness and holiday happy home…
For a fruity update that packs a punch, we love Robust Orange by Valspar, at Lowes.
Be sure to utilize shed storage to max out your cozy space too.
6. Discover your shed’s playful side with tonal pastels
Turn a neglected shed from drab to fab with a two-tone or even three-tone approach to color on your shed’s exterior AND interior!
We adore Wayfair’s super fun idea of using pastel shades in a creative way to transform this standalone building into a haven of happiness. Follow suit, and pick two to three pastel shades, then use one to awash your shed’s entire interior - yes floor and ceiling too; and use a complimentary tonal pastel on the exterior.'
'For a finishing accent, paint the door interior in a third chosen pastel. Utterly unique, and totally charming, for anything from a playroom bolthole for kids to a snug summerhouses for afternoon tea breaks.'
7. Earn your style stripes with a mono palette
For a modern garden update, consider a striking mono stripe paint idea. As shown in this chic and cheap fence, black and white make a stand-out combination for a chic contemporary twist. You could also follow suit, and paint your shed door a contrasting color to really add impact and personality. It’s all about having 'shed' loads of fun get getting creative with garden paint ideas.
Aaron Lebowski, interior designer, Juliei Salone, says: 'A shed is an extension of your home and it should reflect that. A black and white shed complements your home no matter what color it is. It also gives your shed a modern, sophisticated look and enhances the architectural aspect of the structure.'
8. Go for a classic green shed paint
Renowned for their stunning garden rooms, Marston & Langinger has developed an outdoor paint range as part of their Alitex Collection and this lovely Passiflora 101 shade is part of it.
This beautiful deep green will allow your shed to blend into its surroundings whilst protecting the wood from the rain and wind that will no doubt appear in autumn! There are 14 other colors to inspire your shed paint ideas, all perfectly complement each other.
9. Pick an uplifting sky blue
Okay, so we can't always rely on the weather for eternal 'bluebird skies', but we can learn how to use paint to brighten up your garden. Why not create your own blue beyond, with this gorgeous shed paint idea?
Don’t restrict yourself by thinking that wooden window frames have to stay white – they look stunning painted and we love how this blue has transformed this space.
11. Upcycle a shed with pink and gray
It's not only sheds that can be painted - look at this beautiful Wendy house that Victoria from @brass_bee painted for her daughter. She used Greyhound and Dusky Blush which look great together because they both have the same tone - that’s key to creating a harmonious duo of colors.
12. Create a beach house shed with blue and white
Creates a staycation in your shed with a fab beach hut design! Designer, Pat Crook, decorated it to give her dad, who has dementia, days out at the seaside. She says: 'He loves to sit in it and listen to music from when he was young.'
And Pat even says they pack sandwiches to eat down there for a real day at the beach (despite the fact they're slap bang in the middle of the countryside.)
13. Paint it black to show-off planting
Painting a shed black is a brilliant way to make a modern outbuilding look like it's always been there – perfect for a period property – and it's ideal for highlighting the greenery that sits in front of it. Love this look? Extend it to your fencing too.
These shed paint ideas are sure to inspire a little DIY project and will add a glorious pop of color to your garden