CHOOSING THE RIGHT PAINT FOR YOUR GARDEN

There’s still time to spruce up your garden with a quick lick of paint. Does your fence need a colour refresh or is your shed weather-beaten beyond recognition? Updating your garden space with a coat of outdoor paint is a cheap and effective way to get it looking great.

Treating your garden like an extra living area, makes it easy to bring interior style outdoors.

If you're not sure where to begin, try sticking to a co-ordinated theme. Pick out an accent colour, such as a pretty pink from your favourite flower in the garden and use it as a starting point for the painting scheme. But avoid using too many paint colours as this can look chaotic and won't create a restful space.

If you'd like to use a bold shade, but are nervous about using it on a large area like a fence, restrict it to smaller surfaces, such as furniture, planters and garden accessories. This way you can enjoy your chosen colour on a scale that suits you. To update a container, use contemporary shades of grey, such as charcoal, slate and graphite, to give simple wooden furniture and plain planters the standout factor in your garden. They also make the perfect background to contrast with colourful flowers.

Create a warm welcome and give your garden gate as much love as the front door. Whether it's wood or metal, sand it down to create a smooth finish. Start with a primer on untreated surfaces, or for those previously painted, an undercoat. For a matt look, choose exterior eggshell, or gloss for a lacquered result. Bring the whole thing up to date by replacing hinges and handles, or giving them a lick or paint too.

Painting garden fences is a great way to embrace exterior paint in a major way. The colour will surround the entire garden and therefore makes maximum impact. Dark shades of black and slate grey are trending right now, the perfect accent for lush greenery.

Contrast dark paint shades with striking planting. Flowers with jewel-like colour abound in summer, but take care not to overindulge and limit your palette to three or four complementary shades.

Rather than throw out the flaking paint, past-it garden furniture set why not make it an upcycling idea for the garden? Because you'd be surprised what a thorough rub down and a fresh coat of specialist paint can do.

Give warmth to brick walls, either exterior walls or those in a brick framed outhouse or sunroom. Adding a splash of colour to brick walls helps to create a solid wall of colour, where you don't notice the pointing – ideal in small garden spaces where you may feel overwhelmed from the 'busy 'look projected from a brick wall.

For added style credentials paint any shelving in a contrasting accent colour, preferably another bright shade to add to the vibrancy.

What paint should you use outdoors?

Buy good quality exterior masonry paint that's easy to clean once it is on the wall and remove dust and dirt from all the surfaces before you start to paint.

Use test pots to trial colours, but not on obvious surfaces as the colour patches can alter the texture of the wall or ground, and may show through even after you've applied the final coats. Also, make a note of the code of special mixes so that you can buy the correct colour when needed, and make a point of repairing any cracks before you start painting as coloured paint will highlight any defects. Finally, never apply masonry paint when the temperature is lower than 10°C or it won't dry.