How To Choose Your Fence Colour

Think fencing is functional rather than fashionable? At Modern Garden, we believe there’s no reason it can’t be both.

Composite fencing is safe, secure and hardwearing. It also provides the backdrop to your outside space – which is why picking the right fence colour is a pretty important decision.

Want to make sure you get it right? Read on to discover how.

Popular fence panel colours

Fencing might fundamentally be about securing boundaries, but it also plays a significant role in the overall look and feel of your garden.

The bottom line is, whatever look you what to achieve, you can, but the ‘best’ colour is largely down to personal preference.

If you’re keen to embrace a modern vibe, then it’s striking black and greys that should be top of your list. Guaranteed to make a style statement you can use these shades to dramatic effect offsetting colourful planting and borders.

Other favourites include soft greens and blue hues, which can be used to create a country cottage or vintage vibe.

White is frequently the go-to for front gardens and picket fences, but of all shades, this is the one that is going to show signs of weathering quickly, so proceed with caution.

One colour that never goes out of fashion for garden fencing – brown!

A classic colourway, using brown shades creates a more natural look, blending with the natural surroundings.  

Dos and don’ts of picking the right colour

With seemingly limitless options for garden fence colours, how do you settle on the right one?

The best place to start is by reading our dos and don’ts.

Do:

Pick your type of fencing first

This is essential, as deciding on the type of fencing you want will affect the colour choices on offer.

With wooden fencing you will have virtually free reign – but you need to be prepared to put the effort in! With constant repainting and treatments required it’s important to be honest with yourself about how much time and money you’re prepared to invest into keeping your fence look the part.

If you’d prefer a great looking fence for minimal effort (and who wouldn’t?!), then opting for composite fencing that comes pre-coloured and doesn’t require painting is a great decision.

It also makes picking your fence colour easier, as composite fencing is typically only available in more standard colourways such as grey, black and brown.

Decided on your look

Before you jump straight in you need to think about the look you’re trying to achieve. Contemporary or traditional? Subtle or statement? 

Do you want a cohesive space that feels natural and flowing or are you after something more dramatic? Your choice of colour will influence the look and feel of your space so it’s crucial to know exactly what kind of aesthetic you want to achieve.  

If you want to get really creative, you can also experiment with patterns by using decorative panels.

Consider mix and matching

Remember you don’t have to stick to one fence colour – you can mix things up by using a variety of shades.

Create contrast or use complimenting tones such as black and grey. Not only can this help to draw the eye to different areas of your garden, but it can also define zones and personalise space.

Take into account existing features

To do this properly, you need to think big and small by considering everything from the garden shed and outside furniture to the plant in your border.

All these elements can help to inform your choice and identify the best fencing colour based on whether your focus is to create a harmonious environment or one of striking contrasts.   

Don’t:

Be ruled by current trends

When it comes to fencing it’s important not to be a slave to the fashions.  

Fencing is designed to last – it’s not the sort of feature you regularly chop and change. And whilst we all want our garden to look the part, worrying too much about what’s popular right now may cause problems further down the line when trends change.

Instead, try to find a happy balance. Black and grey may be the current fencing faves but they are also classic colourways, making them a pretty safe bet…unlike more risqué dabbles such as experimenting with pink!

Forget to consider your surroundings

Again, this is driven by whether you’re looking to create a cohesive environment or want to establish clear distinctions. Either way, it’s important to take into account the external walls of your property and its surroundings – things such as brick colour, rendering, window frames, exiting patio or decking areas etc.

Presume wood guarantees a natural look

If you’re drawn towards brown fencing for a more subtle, authentic look, don’t make the mistake of assuming wood is the best choice. 

Wood will quickly weather and lose its colour. To protect the timber, it will be necessary to apply frequent treatments and stains – but over time this can result in an unnatural shade of brown.

For lasting colour, and brown fencing that stays true to your original choice, the safest bet is composite fencing.

What’s the best fence colour for a small garden?

If outside space is in short supply, it’s even more important to pick your fence colour wisely.

Dark panelling can become overpowering in confined spaces, making already restricted areas feel more cramped.

Going for lighter greys or soft browns and combining them with decorative panels to extend the line of vision and allow light to flow will help to make a small garden appear bigger.

Order composite fencing

At Modern Garden, we offer a great range of high-quality composite fencing in classic and contemporary colourways or brown, black, and grey.

Shop fencing now, or to find out more and receive expert help choosing the right fence colour for your setting, get in touch.