Colorful Backyard Decorating Ideas

By BH&G Editors
Updated April 18, 2019
With easy-to-please green as your backdrop, be bold and add a dash of color here and a splash of color there to take an outdoor space from dull to dazzling.
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Light & Bright

A verdant backyard can feel heavy with dark greens and wood tones. Brighten your outdoor entertaining area with a light outdoor rug, white table, and colorful throw pillows. Colorful pots and ceramic side tables boost the patio’s light and bright vibe.

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Sunny Day Umbrellas

Provide sun protection with style. Upgrade your patio or deck with an umbrella that sports a fun color or pattern. Or keep it neutral and let your table decor be the main attraction.

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Dine in Color

When dining alfresco, drape a colorful tablecloth over your table to add a special touch to your dining space. Colorful placemats also come in handy when entertaining outdoors. For a layered look, place a natural style rattan or bamboo runner over a more vibrant tablecloth.

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Color Overhead

Add depth to your covered porch or patio by painting the ceiling or rafters. The color addition brings a unique and unexpected twist to the space and makes an outdoor room feel cozy and inviting. For balance, opt for lighter furnishings and bright accessories.

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Jaunty Stripes

Unify furnishings in a spectrum of colors with the accessories you choose. An assortment of furniture pulls together as a seating area when they share stripe pillows. An outdoor rug unifies the arrangement.

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Easy Solution

Colorful containers are a simple way to brighten an outdoor space. Choose pots in various colors, sizes, and textures to add dimension to your patio. Large containers offer plenty of space to fill them with a wide range of plant types, adding even more color to the area.

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Opposites Attract

Complementary colors, such as blue and orange, sit on opposite sides of the color wheel, but they are happiest when they are together. Pick one of the colors to play a more dominate role. Here, blue creates a comforting base for the outdoor seating area. Orange throw pillows contrast nicely. The look invites guests to stay and enjoy themselves.

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Stripes Underfoot

Turn a scrap of vinyl flooring into a colorful rug for an outdoor space. Flip the piece upside down and paint the backside in a colorful pattern that suits your tastes. Be sure to use paint formulated for exterior applications.

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Front Door Style

Set a colorful tone to your home with a front door decked in a fresh hue. Choose a color that works with your home's existing exterior palette. Here, a juicy red door pairs with pale seafoam green siding, creating a complementary duo.

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Coordinate Color

Look to the flowers and plants in your yard for color inspiration. Use the hues you find to accessorize your outdoor spaces. Purple pillows on this patio match the flowers blooming in the nearby containers.

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Pattern Play

A decorative screen helps delineate outdoor spaces, but it should also add style. Find an interesting pattern or give it a fresh coat of paint to keep your patio looking great. Look to your outdoor furniture for color inspiration.

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Hues You Can Use

Paint dining chairs in bright colors and arrange them around a neutral tabletop. Distressed finishes and bold accessories give this open-air dining space even more personality. Consider adding an outdoor rug for a pulled-together look.

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Gaze Into Color

Bring your outdoor spaces to life with vibrant decorative accessories. Look to garden sculptures, gazing balls, and accent furniture as go-to objects to display. This is a great way to add whimsical color to the backyard.

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Color Upfront

While outdoor living spaces in the backyard are prime for color infusions, don't forget your front stoop or porch. Use colorful pots for plants, or even add a piece of furniture or two. Paint the front door an eye-catching shade for a quick way to boost curb appeal.

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Cut a Rug

Explore outdoor rug options to make outdoor living spaces feel more like rooms. Available in myriad colors, patterns, and sizes, these outdoor rugs often closely resemble their indoor counterparts in looks but are fabricated to brave moisture, sunlight, and the other weather elements.

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Pretty Fabrics

Create an outdoor room with fabric. This deck's setup is similar to an indoor living room arrangement: Outdoor fabrics in pretty patterns cover the plush seat cushions, the arbor serves as a wall and ceiling, and panels hang from the arbor to mimic window treatments. Accents such as lanterns and throw pillows complete the look.

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Outdoor Wall Art

Add color to your outdoor decorating with a fence covered with suspended flowerpots. It's wall art for your outdoor room. Start with nine terra-cotta pots and coat the bases with spray paint. Next, plot the grid arrangement and secure pot hangers to the fence. Finish by suspending pots from hangers and filling each container with brightly colored annuals or herbs.

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Pops of Color

Add a splash of color to an outdoor seating area with bright chairs. In this space, green, pink, and orange metal chairs pop against the neutral deck. A colorful hammock rounds out the cute and comfortable space.

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Patio Dining

The home's bluish-purple French doors provide plenty of bright color for this patio. Because the patio is adjacent to the home's kitchen, the simple picnic table is great for taking meals outside. Dress up the table top with a series of low-maintenance succulents in colorful ceramic pots.

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Garden Shed

An unassuming garden shed becomes a festive focal point with a new door color. Before you begin, add a coat or two of water-based primer to the façade. It will help your creative expressions last longer. Place tall planters nearby for more color.

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Quaint Details

Hand-painted stencils, such as the botanical motif on the surface of this pillow, are an easy way to punch up outdoor fabric. Pick paint colors that match cushion colors or outdoor furniture. If your patio furnishings are neutral, go for outdoor fabrics a sunny shade that will brighten your day.

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Pretty Posts

Separate a garden from the rest of the backyard with a colorful fence. The bright green and blue hues pop against the grass and plants. The fence provides a colorful view from any angle.

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Party Atmosphere

Metal furniture is generally affordable and it gives a cool color vibe to your garden or patio. A bar cart is always ready for a party, offering up a handy serving surface. Can’t find the color you crave? Shop flea markets and vintage sales for pieces you can transform with a fresh coat of paint.

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Colorful Starting Point

The home’s exterior creates the perfect starting point for this patio’s color scheme. White trim and millwork inspire the white bench and fire surround. The bench cushion color pulls from the gray siding. Turquoise accent chairs influence the watery blues and lively green throw pillows for a coordinated finish.

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By BH&G Editors