While the thought of completely revamping your outdoor space may be appealing to you, sometimes it’s the smallest updates that can make the biggest impact. So, whether you want to boost your shed or add the ultimate flourish to something you’ve proudly built yourself, like a cold frame, you can rely on Cuprinol’s Garden Shades paint range to help you change things up with just a little effort.
Specially created to add a sleek, matt finish to all sorts of wooden surfaces – while still allowing the natural grain to shine through – it can brighten up anything from fences and sheds to tables, chairs and even brickwork and stone.
With a minimum of two coats, you’ll enjoy up to six years of weather protection, and whatever you’re painting, you can combine both Nature’s Neutrals – which will beautifully complement surrounding foliage – and Nature’s Brights for a truly eye-catching finish. Cuprinol knows there's more to life outdoors, which is why it wants to empower all types of gardeners to make the most of their space. And with 36 tasteful shades to choose from, you just have to decide what you’re going to paint. Here are some ideas to get you going.
1. Sheds and fences
As two of the largest wooden structures in our gardens, sheds and fences present the perfect opportunity to make a big colour statement. If your shed is in a sunny corner of your garden, you could opt for a Nature’s Neutrals shade, such as Malted Barley, Mellow Moss or Muted Clay, for an elegant, understated finish And if you want your fences to form the perfect frame for bushes or climbing plants, you could go for a dramatic darker shade like Old English Green, Sage or Silver Birch. Just take care not to use Garden Shades on either decking or rough or sawn wood.
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2. Brick barbecue
As DIY brickwork goes, a permanent brick barbecue is one of the simplest yet rewarding projects you can undertake. Not only will it cost you much less than buying one, but it may last you a lot longer as well. Once your structure is fully set and stable, it will be another great chance to add colour. Any of Nature’s Brights, from Beach Blue to Coral Splash, will help liven up the brickwork.
3. Cooking station
Why stop at just the barbecue? You could build yourself a whole food prep station outside, keeping whoever’s cooking closer to the action when you’ve got everyone round on a hot summer’s day. If you’ve built some butcher’s blocks, treat them to a natural shade, such as Wild Thyme or Willow, so it’ll look the part. And if you’ve gone all out with a pergola housing the entire operation, a couple of coats of Old English Green will top it off.
4. Tables and chairs
When your garden’s at its best, you’ll want to show it off by hosting friends and family as much as you can. And now your barbecue’s built, you can focus on the furniture. For a chic matching ensemble, try using a darker neutral shade, such as Cornflower or Sage. But if you want to be a little more adventurous, try contrasting a dark blue like Barleywood on the table with some Terracotta chairs.
5. Bird and bee houses
Keeping a wildlife-friendly garden is one of the best ways you can give back to nature, and because the Cuprinol Garden Shades range is so versatile, you can really have fun with it. If you’re passionate about bees, why not try matching your bee houses to their residents, with a couple of coats of Dazzling Yellow? If you’re looking to attract birds, a bright, warm tone such as Country Cream could do the trick, and if you have a stone bird bath surrounded by flowers and plants, the plinth will really pop in Sweet Sundae.