When summer arrives, the call of the garden is hard to resist - and when it’s warm and dry, that’s your invitation to take the paints outside. Breathe new life and new colour into your outdoor spaces with Al Fresco paint and a splash of creative inspiration with our garden transformation ideas. From herb planters to wildflower fence murals, we've got it covered.
Shed transformation
Frenchic Expert Kayleigh has transformed her drab garden shed with the warm, mesmerising dark purple of Boho Berry, and it looks perfect in an al fresco setting. Don't forget to add some stylish hardware, like Kayleigh's curved, brass door handle for a finishing touch.
Garage door makeover
With Fennec, Abi wanted to introduce a calming, warm neutral into the Al Fresco range (it's one of her two handpicked colours for Frenchic's 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Al Fresco collection.) Here she's used it to completely transform the look of her black garage door.
Wall planter
To create a stylish wall planter Kayleigh got creative with treated wood planks, heavy-duty brackets, landscape membrane, and of course, a fresh tin of Frenchic paint! The magic shade? Smoke Signal from our Al Fresco Inside/Outside Range - a soft, smoky beige-brown that’s weatherproof, UV resistant, and seriously chic.
Bistro set makeover
First, Kirsty tackled the flaky paint on her old bistro set with a metal brush on the drill, then gave everything a deep clean using sugar soap. She went for Frenchic's Colour of the Year Boho Berry and sprayed the paint, for a smooth, even finish.
Wildflower fence mural
To create this wildflower mural, Kirsty followed Frenchic's fence painting guide for prep, before painting in Al Fresco Blackjack. To create the mural, she used Black Forest, Citrine, Crème de la Crème, Olivia, Riad Red, Dusky Blush and Jitterbug, all in the Al Fresco range.
Herb planter
Abi created this brilliant herb planter using Boho Berry -a firm favourite shade for Abi, which she says is "rich, warm, and so dreamy against all that greenery". Don't forget that exterior wood needs to be coated well to ensure moisture doesn’t seep in, so make sure to give outside projects a minimum of three coats.
Your outdoor painting toolkit
Our specialist outdoor paint brings professional colour to gardens and exteriors, with no cracking, bubbling or fading. But there are still a few steps to follow to make sure you get the best results for your garden makeover.
Check the forecast It’s summer, but in Britain you can never trust the seasons! Take a peek at the forecast, as you'll need 48 hours of dry weather following painting.
Prepare your surface Anything porous will absorb moisture, so if you’re planning to paint wood, terracotta or stone - make sure it’s thoroughly dried out before you start.
Head for shade Sunlight might seem perfect for outdoor painting, but too much can be a problem. Paint can dry too fast in direct sun, affecting the finish. Pop up a parasol to protect your project (and yourself!)
Paint with care Outdoor painting might feel like you can skip the dust sheets, but it’s still worth protecting the area. Al Fresco paint is tough, so spills and drips won’t wash away easily.
Looking for more garden inspiration? Follow these easy, breezy tips to using neutral colours outside and shop all our fabulous al fresco shades.
