As suburban gardens become smaller, outdoor areas have tended to become much more of an extension to the interior living spaces. Consequently a lot more thought needs to be given to decorating exterior spaces so they become a totally integrated area. And in this context, color plays a very important role as it greatly affects our moods and changes the feeling of the space in which we spend time. So let’s take a look at how to work with colors when redecoration or remodeling.
If you already have a dominant architectural or color theme indoors that you like, try to extend this to the outdoor area so it becomes a natural extension of the indoors by using the same theme with cushions, pots, furniture or other decorative features.
If you have a natural wood floor adjacent to the outdoor patio or courtyard, you could extend the natural wood look to the outdoors by building a wood deck using a similar color wood species. Alternatively if you have just a concrete patio, one simple way to resurface the area without ripping up the concrete is to cover the area with interlocking wood deck tiles. These tiles simply snap in place over the existing concrete or wood surface and lock into place with inbuilt connecting tabs. Tiles are available in a number of wood species so you should be able to find a wood species that looks similar to your existing flooring. And if you have porcelain or stone tiles indoors, you can also get interlocking tiles in slate, granite and porcelain. The beauty of these tiles is that they can be laid by almost anyone, even without any carpentry or tile laying skills , typically in just an hour or so for a normal size patio or deck.
On walls or fences, experiment with neutral colors, then change your decorative accessories and any plantings creating a different look for each season until you’ve found what works best and gives the most satisfying result.
In addition to color, don’t overlook using different textures since contrasting textures also play an important role in developing a pleasing landscape design. Opportunities for experimenting with texture effects could include tables, chairs, pots, wall hangings, cushions, paving, plants – in fact almost any decorative accessories. Foliage in particular offers a multitude of textures and interesting shapes. Choose plants with a theme in mind: are you creating a tropical “jungle”, a place to relax in the sun and dream of holidays in Tuscany, or a stark modernist approach with grasses and succulents? But before rushing out and spending a fortune at the nursery, remember that each plant has specific requirements in terms of soil, sun, humidity, temperature and rainfall. If you can’t provide these, your plants simply won’t flourish and develop their full potential. You need to be aware of how each plant will look in each season, especially the main season when you will be enjoying your exterior spaces the most.
But remember, too much of anything, whether it’s patterns, textures or colors, is not a good idea . Too much variety and especially in small spaces can look excessively “busy”. And with plants, large groupings of just one or two species will usually create a much greater impact and look more balanced in a small area than a host of different plants with a riot of multicolored flowers.
