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Is Colour Important to Garden Design? Here is Our Top 7 Ideas

Adding colour to a garden is a great way to create visual interest, draw attention to specific areas, and express personal style. Whether you’re aiming for a lush, natural look or a more modern, vibrant feel, here are seven impactful ways to infuse colour into your garden.

1. Play with Plant Varieties and Foliage Colours

By far the most natural way to bring colour into your garden is through the plants themselves. Choosing a variety of plant types with different foliage colours will add depth and contrast. Look for plants like:

Purple-leafed shrubs such as Heuchera or Cotinus
Golden foliage like that of Spiraea 'Goldflame' or Carex 'Everillo'
Silver-grey foliage plants such as lavender, sage, or artemis

For flowering plants, think about the bloom cycle and what will be in bloom at each season, ensuring that there’s always some fresh colour popping up. Mixing annuals with perennials provides an ongoing rotation of vibrant colours throughout the year.

2. Use Decorative Stones and Gravel

Decorative stones, gravel, or glass mulch can also be a source of colour in the garden. Opt for gravels in shades of red, black, or blue, or add glass mulch in areas where you want an eye-catching splash of colour. In addition to providing a low-maintenance ground cover, these materials can reflect sunlight, adding a shimmering effect to the garden that enhances the colour intensity.

Choose tones that contrast with your plants to make each area stand out, or match hues to maintain a cohesive palette. Stones are especially good for areas around cacti or succulents, as they provide excellent drainage.

3. Incorporate Outdoor Furniture with Bold Colours

Outdoor furniture is an often-overlooked opportunity to add colour. Opt for tables, chairs, and benches in vivid colours that complement the existing greenery. Outdoor cushions and throws in bright shades can also be used to bring seasonal colours into your garden space without a permanent commitment.

Consider durable fabrics and finishes that can withstand the elements without fading. The benefit of colourful furniture is that it can be rearranged, allowing you to update the garden's look without planting or moving heavy fixtures.

4. Install Lighting with Colour Effects

Garden lighting doesn’t have to be purely functional; it’s also an opportunity to add evening colour and atmosphere. You can use coloured LEDs or RGB lighting to highlight trees, sculptures, or walls. Soft yellow lighting warms up the garden, while coloured lights can create a unique ambience. Think blue for a serene effect or green to blend seamlessly with foliage.

Consider solar-powered lights or those that can be controlled via remote to easily switch between colours, allowing you to adjust the mood as needed. This is an ideal way to add colour that’s especially effective in the evening or during gatherings.

5. Introduce Colourful Pots and Planters

Choosing colourful planters allows you to brighten up areas without relying solely on planting. Opt for bold-hued pots or consider painted finishes, glazes, or steel planters with powder coatings. These come in a wide range of colours and offer long-lasting durability.

With our Contain range of large, premade plant pots, you can also achieve striking impact while benefiting from the strength of steel. Powder-coated planters are ideal as they require minimal maintenance, resist rust, and are available in vibrant shades to suit any garden style.

6. Add Garden Edging with a Pop

Coloured edging is an effective way to outline spaces and add a design statement. Our Contour and Groundline edging ranges are available in natural steel or could be custom-painted to match the aesthetic of your garden. The steel edges provide a clean, defined border that withstands pressure from soil, making it both a practical and aesthetic choice.

Edging with bold colours creates visual separation between flowerbeds, pathways, and lawns, adding both function and vibrancy to your design.

7. Include Art and Decorative Features

Garden art like painted sculptures, mosaics, or metal art installations can provide both colour and a focal point. This can be anything from a ceramic birdbath to a custom-painted trellis or even vibrant metal sculptures that withstand outdoor conditions.

When choosing art, opt for pieces that reflect the palette you’re working with. Art and decorative features in bold hues help draw the eye and provide pops of colour that you can place strategically around the garden. Try placing these in spots that need a bit of attention or where you want to make a statement.

A Few Final Tips

When adding colour, think about balance and harmony within the space. Too many bold contrastscan be overwhelming, so use neutral backdrops like steel, wood, or gravel for balance. Colour placement matters, too; consider layering colours at different heights to create a more dimensional feel.

Steel accents, like those from our Groundline or Contour edging ranges, can provide a sleek, modern aesthetic while also supporting bold colour choices elsewhere. By integrating a few of these strategies, you’ll create a dynamic, colourful garden that feels balanced and welcoming.

These seven approaches offer a variety of ways to add personality to your garden and keep it lively year-round. Whether you’re choosing to focus on plants, hardscape features, or even lighting, thoughtful use of colour is sure to make your garden a more enjoyable and visually appealing space.