How to Add Some Blue to Your Garden
True blue flowers may be rare, but that's no reason not to include this popular shade in your outdoor space
Kate Burt
10 August 2017
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
Blues and greens have been in favour for a while – both propelled by winning ‘Colour of the Year’ statuses (Greenery – a love-it-hate-it acid green – was Pantone’s and Denim Drift – a soft blue – came via Dulux). And yet adding the latter shade to our gardens to combine these favoured colours isn’t as common as you might expect. Perhaps it reflects the rarity of a true blue hue occurring in nature (it was big news recently when the RHS recently verified the first ever ‘true blue’ chrysanthemum, and fewer than 10% of flower species produce blue blooms and what we often call blue is, in fact, closer to purple). But to celebrate this new blue bloom, and a general love of the shade generally right now, here are nine gardens to inspire you to take the colour outside.
Favour your floor
The patterned tile revolution is showing no signs of slowing down, and the trend is now heading outside in UK and Irish gardens. While vibrantly tiled courtyards are two a penny in certain hotter countries – Morocco and Spain spring to mind – we’re only just catching on to the possibilities here. Let this inspire you: It’s a major step towards making our outdoor spaces feel like another room in our homes. And just as you’d coordinate colours inside, take a careful look outside, too – this strong blue-and-white floor needs complementary woodwork. The homeowners have chosen anchoring black, which they’ve partnered with black chair legs and lanterns, but picking up on the white or blue in the tiles could work equally well.
The patterned tile revolution is showing no signs of slowing down, and the trend is now heading outside in UK and Irish gardens. While vibrantly tiled courtyards are two a penny in certain hotter countries – Morocco and Spain spring to mind – we’re only just catching on to the possibilities here. Let this inspire you: It’s a major step towards making our outdoor spaces feel like another room in our homes. And just as you’d coordinate colours inside, take a careful look outside, too – this strong blue-and-white floor needs complementary woodwork. The homeowners have chosen anchoring black, which they’ve partnered with black chair legs and lanterns, but picking up on the white or blue in the tiles could work equally well.
Be aware that if your tiles are encaustic (rather than glazed), you may need to seal them to prevent stains. Enquire about the required products and treatment from your supplier so you know what’s in store – and don’t scrimp on this step, you’ll regret it!
Find a garden designer in your area on Houzz
Find a garden designer in your area on Houzz
Spruce up your shed
If painting your fence (which we’ll come to shortly) feels too much of a commitment, but you’re toying with painting some wood, choosing a garden structure might feel a safer choice. And your shed is a good option as paint has the power to transform it from simply a practical storage or pottering place into a positively homely feature.
Consider your surrounding plantings carefully. Whereas bare wood or simpler hues such as white, black or grey are endlessly versatile, you could find that your new blue paint job clashes with your flowers. Paint testers onto sheets of paper and introduce them to various petals until you find the shade that’s friends with them all.
If painting your fence (which we’ll come to shortly) feels too much of a commitment, but you’re toying with painting some wood, choosing a garden structure might feel a safer choice. And your shed is a good option as paint has the power to transform it from simply a practical storage or pottering place into a positively homely feature.
Consider your surrounding plantings carefully. Whereas bare wood or simpler hues such as white, black or grey are endlessly versatile, you could find that your new blue paint job clashes with your flowers. Paint testers onto sheets of paper and introduce them to various petals until you find the shade that’s friends with them all.
Go the full Frida Kahlo
While a rendered wall in a British or Irish garden isn’t so rare, painting it a vibrant, sunshine-country colour is. This needs to change as it can really transform the feel of a not-so-sunny space into something bright and warming.
This strong cerulean is a shade holidaymakers to the Greek islands have long admired. But combining this vibrant blue with rich, vibrant yellow, rusty brown and dark green takes the whole look in a distinctly Frida Kahlo direction (this London garden is a proud homage to the garden at Kahlo’s Mexico City home Casa Azul, or the Blue House).
While a rendered wall in a British or Irish garden isn’t so rare, painting it a vibrant, sunshine-country colour is. This needs to change as it can really transform the feel of a not-so-sunny space into something bright and warming.
This strong cerulean is a shade holidaymakers to the Greek islands have long admired. But combining this vibrant blue with rich, vibrant yellow, rusty brown and dark green takes the whole look in a distinctly Frida Kahlo direction (this London garden is a proud homage to the garden at Kahlo’s Mexico City home Casa Azul, or the Blue House).
Grow delphiniums!
Introduce some classic-country garden colour with one of nature’s few true blue blooms.
The trick to making them look as classy as these is to adhere to a limited colour palette by teaming them with shades from the same segment of the colour wheel. Forget competing yellows, oranges, reds or whites; for understated rustic style, pale pink petals and bursts of purple are enough to gently complement these bold blue delphiniums.
Introduce some classic-country garden colour with one of nature’s few true blue blooms.
The trick to making them look as classy as these is to adhere to a limited colour palette by teaming them with shades from the same segment of the colour wheel. Forget competing yellows, oranges, reds or whites; for understated rustic style, pale pink petals and bursts of purple are enough to gently complement these bold blue delphiniums.
Look inside
As we increasingly strive to merge our indoor and outdoor spaces, even blue accents inside (ones which border your garden or terrace, of course) are something that can potentially imbue your exterior space with the hue. This cool feature wall and floor combo is quite the statement and would be good to enjoy from the inside, doors open, looking out or vice versa (surround it with lush potted plants!).
This example happens to be an unusual and wonderfully luxurious use of space. If you can’t have a whole area just to be pretty to look at with one or two artful chairs, you can still take this idea and use it in the dining or lounging part of your kitchen extension, if you have one. Turn one of the walls (or wall and floor) into a feature like this one or, as a quick-fix tryout, hang a huge blue artwork on the back wall (if it’s not filled with appliances). Such things don’t come cheap; you might want instead to get a large piece of fabric and have it stretched around a canvas. An adventurous blue-tiled splashback if your kitchen is more visible from the outside also has the potential for garden impact.
5 covetable kitchen extensions that work the indoor/outdoor trend
As we increasingly strive to merge our indoor and outdoor spaces, even blue accents inside (ones which border your garden or terrace, of course) are something that can potentially imbue your exterior space with the hue. This cool feature wall and floor combo is quite the statement and would be good to enjoy from the inside, doors open, looking out or vice versa (surround it with lush potted plants!).
This example happens to be an unusual and wonderfully luxurious use of space. If you can’t have a whole area just to be pretty to look at with one or two artful chairs, you can still take this idea and use it in the dining or lounging part of your kitchen extension, if you have one. Turn one of the walls (or wall and floor) into a feature like this one or, as a quick-fix tryout, hang a huge blue artwork on the back wall (if it’s not filled with appliances). Such things don’t come cheap; you might want instead to get a large piece of fabric and have it stretched around a canvas. An adventurous blue-tiled splashback if your kitchen is more visible from the outside also has the potential for garden impact.
5 covetable kitchen extensions that work the indoor/outdoor trend
Brighten up a trellis
This unusual garden uses trellis as a zoning device – defining the path and enclosing the central area – rather than positioning it against fences and walls, as most of us probably do. This means it is centre stage in the design of the space – as is the bright blue it’s been painted.
Consider what will surround your new feature: blue and pale grey is a classic combination. Here, surrounding fencing has been painted in this gentle secondary colour, but even the gravel blends in. Get a sample of a few potential stones before you commit, and soak them with water to ensure the colour won’t change and clash when it rains.
This unusual garden uses trellis as a zoning device – defining the path and enclosing the central area – rather than positioning it against fences and walls, as most of us probably do. This means it is centre stage in the design of the space – as is the bright blue it’s been painted.
Consider what will surround your new feature: blue and pale grey is a classic combination. Here, surrounding fencing has been painted in this gentle secondary colour, but even the gravel blends in. Get a sample of a few potential stones before you commit, and soak them with water to ensure the colour won’t change and clash when it rains.
Freshen up a fence
The bright cobalt in the last idea will not be for everyone, nor for every garden. Here, instead, a more refined Oxford blue makes for a subtle backdrop. There are lots of specialist exterior wood paints out there to choose from. Pair with hot pinks and oranges, as here, or go New England nautical and accessorise with crisp-blue striped cushions, bright-white render and an outdoor jute rug.
The bright cobalt in the last idea will not be for everyone, nor for every garden. Here, instead, a more refined Oxford blue makes for a subtle backdrop. There are lots of specialist exterior wood paints out there to choose from. Pair with hot pinks and oranges, as here, or go New England nautical and accessorise with crisp-blue striped cushions, bright-white render and an outdoor jute rug.
Lay it down
Cheaper and without the great commitment of tiles, a blue-tinged outdoor rug – in this case one that’s heavy on the aqua – is the quickest way to add this shade to your garden. Try it out for the rest of the season and contemplate whether you might consider a more permanent version next spring.
How to decorate with aqua
Cheaper and without the great commitment of tiles, a blue-tinged outdoor rug – in this case one that’s heavy on the aqua – is the quickest way to add this shade to your garden. Try it out for the rest of the season and contemplate whether you might consider a more permanent version next spring.
How to decorate with aqua
Enrich a rendered wall
A rich blue will come into its own as the sun goes down on a clear evening such as the one captured in this photograph.
Painting a wall is one of the simplest architectural tricks to try if you are keen to add a slice of blue to your exterior. You could, of course, paint over bare bricks, but the smooth finish of render will give your outdoor space a contemporary boost. Be sure to prep the wall before painting, since any lumps, bumps and chips are likely to be magnified by the addition of paint.
Do you have a colour scheme in your garden? Tell us how you decided on it and implemented it in the Comments section.
A rich blue will come into its own as the sun goes down on a clear evening such as the one captured in this photograph.
Painting a wall is one of the simplest architectural tricks to try if you are keen to add a slice of blue to your exterior. You could, of course, paint over bare bricks, but the smooth finish of render will give your outdoor space a contemporary boost. Be sure to prep the wall before painting, since any lumps, bumps and chips are likely to be magnified by the addition of paint.
Do you have a colour scheme in your garden? Tell us how you decided on it and implemented it in the Comments section.
Related Stories
Gardening
How Do I Create a Drought-tolerant Garden?
By Kate Burt
As summers heat up, plants that need less water are increasingly desirable. Luckily, there are lots of beautiful options
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
5 Inspiring Before and After Garden Transformations
Check out what a difference designers have made to these once dull plots, visually expanding spaces and creating privacy
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
How to Disguise Rubbish and Recycling Bins Outside Your Home
Need to hide unsightly bins in your garden or driveway? Take a look at these clever ideas for inspiration
Full Story
Garden Tours
Garden Tour: A Bare Roof Terrace Becomes a Pretty, Sociable Space
By Kate Burt
A retired couple got help transforming their large rooftop into a gorgeous, welcoming, multi-functional retreat
Full Story
Garden Planning
Can I Have a Lawn-free Garden That’s Kind to the Environment?
Try these tips to help you plan a garden without grass that’s still leafy and eco-friendly
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
7 Things People Don’t Tell You About Designing a Garden
Uncover some of the more surprising elements of planning a garden redesign
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
9 Ways to Create a More Sustainable Garden
Simple, effective ideas for reducing your environmental footprint and creating a beautiful garden
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
18 Soul-soothing Green Roofs
By Kate Burt
Whether you choose sedum, wildflowers, or a mix, a living roof can be a beautiful and biodiverse addition to your home
Full Story
Garden Inspiration
9 Ways to Enjoy Colour in Your Garden All Year Round
By Kate Burt
However your garden grows, you can add colour with hardscaping, furniture and accessories
Full Story
Garden Planning
How to Identify Your Garden Design Style
Before starting an outdoor renovation, take the time to determine which garden style suits your taste and site
Full Story
Some nice ideas here. Our bespoke marjorelle blue water feature was very popular at Gardeners' World Live and would blend really well with some of the accessories in this article.
All very well showing the trend of outdoor Moroccan style tiles, why don't you show suppliers?
Hi barbara jordan - we do list suppliers in our Houzz and Room Tour stories, but if you see something you like in a photo in other types of stories on Houzz you can easily click on the photo and locate the designer, whose name appears top right on every photo. Often, if you click onto and then post a question on the photo they will get back to you with information. Studio Hus (first tile photo) are in California and Foreign Bear (later tile photo) are in London. Meanwhile, you might find something in the Houzz Shop - here are the patterned, encaustic and encaustic-look tiles available >> https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/products/query/encaustic-tiles/nqrwns Hope that helps!