How to Incorporate Color into Your Landscaping

By Joe Raboine, Director of Residential Hardscapes, Belgard
Photographs courtesy of Belgard

Though we’re still deep in the winter months, it’s never too soon to start thinking about how to refresh your outdoor living spaces when spring comes around. In addition to routine maintenance, it may be time for a bit of a style upgrade.

Adding new pops of color can give your outdoor living areas an instant improvement. Incorporating more color into various elements within your space can make things feel lighter and brighter or add more depth, depending on your overall style.

Each year, we see various companies and industry leaders select their colors of the year, which can serve as an inspiration and fuel your creativity. At Belgard, our 2023 Colors of the Year – Tidepool and Seagrass – were directly influenced by nature. Tidepool is a deep, rich teal, while Seagrass is a calming sage tone.

Whatever your style, you can incorporate these colors – or any tones you like – into your landscapes and hardscapes to create a welcoming environment.

Here are a few ideas for incorporating more color into your outdoor style this year.

In Bloom: Plants in all Shades

Adding more colorful plants to your landscaping is a great way to liven up your backyard. The first and most important step is to research what types of plants thrive best in your climate. If you have certain types of plant life in mind, make sure they can survive whatever weather conditions are experienced in your area.

If you want to incorporate teal and sage tones in your landscaping, you have several options. Sage itself comes in many varieties, including annuals and perennials, as well as blooming and non-blooming options. You can plant garden sage if you want edible plants in your garden, or a blooming sage, like silver sage, which has a mix of both teal and sage-toned leaves and blooms with white clusters. Succulents also come in an array of these tones, however, these plants are not suited for outdoor gardens in colder climates so be sure to avoid those if your yard is exposed to colder temperatures.

If you want to ensure your plants last through any season, look for perennials that will bloom in any color you choose. Options include geranium, coneflower, and sedum, among others. Still, do your research before planting perennials to ensure proper care.

Pillows, Blankets + Planters: Decorative Accents

A great and easy way to bring more color to your outdoor space is through decorative accents. With all the trending colors of the year, you’ll be able to find accessories in any shade you desire.

If you like to mix up your décor every year or every season, you can easily swap out throw pillows, furniture cushions and blankets in different hues. Pairing a Tidepool-colored blanket with Seagrass throws and cushions makes for a tranquil setting around a fire pit.

For something a bit more permanent, you can opt for planters in complementary (or contrasting) colors. You can mix and match them with the plants you choose to create a stunning garden space on your patio or porch; a teal shade planter would look beautiful with creeping greenery or flowering plants in neutral colors.

Coordinating your Paver Palettes

Another consideration as you think through your tones and design schemes is how they will pair with any hardscape elements in your space. Hardscape products today come in a variety of different color palettes, as well as visually interesting textures. If you’re planning to remodel or upgrade your hardscapes, there is room to get creative, using texture and color to add depth and dimension.

With our 2023 Colors of the Year, these were natural choices given that they pair well with warm or cool tones. If your style leans more modern and you favor cool tones, like grays, you can add Tidepool and Seagrass to create a moody or calming effect. With warmer tones, they can create a very organic look and feel.

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