Trending Colors in 2023

Important aspect is that trends in the color design of fences and barriers tend to change. Of course, the popularity of certain shades is not as fashion-dependent as in clothing or interior design, but one cannot ignore the dining trends.

Which colors will be the most popular in 2023? Experts almost unanimously assert that the direction will shift towards darker shades:

  • Black — despite its starkness, is becoming increasingly popular. Black matte and glossy fences nicely balance the light walls of houses built in a classic, European, or Scandinavian style.

  • Graphite — an even more intriguing shade. Essentially, it possesses the advantages of black (intensity, expressiveness) while being free of its drawbacks. Graphite fence finishes are offered by only a few companies today, but this is a case where it’s worth seeking out a manufacturer to achieve the desired outcome.

  • Classic brown — a shade that never grows old. Ideal for typical houses and more unique structures in the Scandinavian style. Furthermore, there’s virtually a 100% guarantee that a brown fence will still look just as relevant in 5-10 years.

It’s worth mentioning a trend that has already taken shape — fences in the colors and textures of natural wood. In 2023, the popularity of PRINTECH technology will only grow, so the demand for wood imitation will also increase. This applies to both dark and light shades: for a fence, the contrast of the pattern and harmonious combination of the base tone with the color of the walls and other landscaping elements are important. PRINTECH textures blend perfectly with fences whose construction imitates plank or log fences — “Brus,” “Rancho,” etc.

The main function of any fence and enclosure is to demarcate the area and prevent unauthorized access to private property. However, beyond the functional aspect, any object also has an aesthetic one, which is why the choice of a fence should be made to harmonize with the overall design. And here, everything matters – the material from which the fence is made, its shape, and, of course, the color.

Choosing the color for a fence is not as straightforward as it might seem at first glance. Ideally, entrusting this task to a landscape design specialist is recommended. But if you enjoy doing everything yourself, you should carefully study.

Choosing the color of your fence: tips from landscape designers

General principles of choice

Before selecting the color of the fence, you need to decide which option is more suitable for you:

  • A fence that blends in with the surrounding environment, making your property discreet.
  • A fence that stands out from the surroundings, acting as a distinctive “color accent.”

Both options have their merits, but combining them is not feasible. So, at the first stage, we determine whether we will be looking for vibrant or more natural tones.

Designers provide several basic recommendations to consider:

  • The fence or enclosure should be in a unified color palette with the building itself. This does not mean that the fence should be painted in the same colors as the walls/roof – but strong contrast is undesirable.
  • Ideally, fences within the same street or cottage community should follow a similar color scheme. This is easiest to achieve with centralized development. However, if you are building fences separately, there is nothing stopping you from coordinating with your neighbors – this way, adjacent fences will look much neater. Tip! If you decide to coordinate, choose colors from the RAL color catalog. Each color corresponds to a specific number, making it easier to find a paint shade that harmonizes perfectly with neighboring fences.

Overly bright, “acid” colors are acceptable only for low fences or specific elements of the fence. If the height of the enclosure exceeds 1–1.5 m, it’s advisable to opt for a more subdued shade for painting.

What to consider?

When choosing a color for your fence, you need to consider its compatibility with other landscape elements first:

11 1
  • The main element is the house roof (visible from a distance). Often, the color of the fence is chosen to match the roof, as well as the color of other elements (window sills, gutters, etc.).
  • In most cases, the roof is made darker compared to the facade. In this case, the fence should also be dark, so the house facade stands out as a bright spot in the landscape.
  • The reverse option is also possible: a light fence, light roof, and dark facade. If the house faces west or northwest, such coloring won’t be harsh on the eyes. On the contrary, the fence and roof will lose their gloominess.
  • Creating a fence in the same color as the facade is a debated option. On one hand, the property looks more tidy. On the other hand, the absence of a color transition makes the landscape appear “flat,” which might not enhance the architectural ensemble as favorably.
  • If you have expanding green plantings, the fence color should be chosen considering that trees and bushes will eventually mostly conceal it. By opting for a green or brown shade, we camouflage the fence, making it blend in as much as possible.

Changing color over time

Another factor to consider is the change in color over time. While a wooden fence can be periodically repainted, refreshing a brick or metal fence will be more challenging. So, when choosing a color, it’s important to take potential changes into account:

  • Vibrant colors fade in the sun. Different materials fade to varying degrees, but even the highest-quality coating reacts to ultraviolet light to some extent.
  • Dark shades such as bottle green, blue, and brown become lighter.
  • Light tones, on the other hand, tend to darken. This is primarily due to dust settling on any surface. You can certainly clean the fence periodically, but this task is labor-intensive, and over time, the light surface will still become darker.

It’s also important to consider the location of your property. If the fence faces a busy street, making it too light might not be advisable, as such shades are suitable for applying various inscriptions. Therefore, “vandal-resistant” dark tones are usually chosen for such cases.

Ready solutions

The most popular colors in fence design

With the general recommendations becoming clearer, it’s time to get specific. Let’s start by characterizing the features of the most commonly used colors:

  • Brown – a universal option for fences and barriers in private areas. This practical, unobtrusive color harmonizes excellently with most natural materials. The palette of brown shades is quite broad, so you can find a material that looks good both in combination with brickwork and against a wooden log cabin backdrop. Moreover, brick fences are often produced in shades of brown as well.

  • Green – alongside brown, it’s a sales leader (this includes both green paint and green profiled sheeting). This pair of colors harmonizes wonderfully. Additionally, green fences are popular in private areas – where the presence of greenery needs to be taken into account when choosing the palette. For fences, it’s advisable to choose dark green colors as they are less conspicuous.

  • Cherry/Burgundy – more vibrant compared to brown, they offer the same advantages. Furthermore, cherry and burgundy fences complement stucco facades in creamy and pink tones splendidly.

  • Blue – it looks unconventional and is suitable for owners who want to distinguish their property from others. Similar to green fences, it’s preferable to opt for darker blue shades due to their practicality.

  • Gray/Black – an option used relatively infrequently. There are two reasons: such a fence will look too somber, and its surface will be very conspicuous. However, on the sunny side, a dark gray fence can be quite fitting.

1 2 1
3 7
4 2
5 7
6 5
6 8

Speaking of colors and shades, don’t forget about textures. When facing a fence with decorative tiles or installing profiled sheeting, you can opt for finishes that mimic natural wood or stone. Typically, the most popular shades here are gray and brown, but the actual coating makes the fence nearly ideal from a maintenance perspective. The textured surface is less prone to marks and requires minimal care.

Which color is easier to maintain?

We’ve touched upon surface maintenance questions several times before, but this aspect is worth addressing separately. There’s a notion that dark fences don’t require maintenance at all, but that’s not entirely accurate:

  • Fences painted in light shades do indeed get dirty more quickly – any small stain is noticeable on them.
  • Contrary to common belief, dirt is equally visible on dark blue or black surfaces. Especially after it dries and becomes light.
  • The least conspicuous will be green and brown shades, but even such fences require maintenance.

So, avoiding periodic fence washing entirely is not possible. Therefore, it’s advisable to choose structures with coatings that are easily cleaned with a hose water jet.

Color combinations

Naturally, it’s not necessary to have the entire fence in a single color. Almost always, shades are combined. Here, too, there are several typical solutions:

  • Light supports – dark sections. This scheme is usually implemented when the fence is anchored to brick pillars. The supports and the base (plinth) are made from brickwork using a light material, while wooden or metal sections, painted in a darker shade, are installed between them.

  • Dark sections – light supports. This option is optimal for installing a fence on a metal frame. The supporting elements are usually made darker – they serve as a contrasting frame for the lighter sections.

  • Contrasting gates and gateways. For both convenience and creating a more complete look, gates or gateways can be made contrasting. Typically, they stand out against the background of the main fence – either being brighter or lighter.

Conclusion

The right choice of fence color is the key to ensuring that your property looks harmonious. However, in the planning of the design, utilitarian aspects should not be overlooked – therefore, selecting a color for the fence should take into account both its long-term use and its harmonious blend with other elements.