Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has shared a simple tip to make gardens feel bigger: painting fences in a light colour, particularly grey. He says this creates the illusion of more space by drawing the eye away from boundaries and towards plants and features.
Light Shades for a Spacious Feel
In a video for Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh, he explained that paint is essential for timber fences to promote their longevity and prevent rot. With more shades available than ever, choosing the right one can be tricky.
He advised: "If you have a medium-sized garden, painting your fences a light colour gives the impression that your garden is bigger. The eye is drawn from the boundaries to the plants and features that contrast with it."
Recommended Colours
Titchmarsh suggested: "The safest option is medium or light grey. If you have a lot of foliage in your garden, these plants will really pop against the grey backdrop."
For those wanting fences to disappear, he added: "If you want your fence to disappear behind shrubs or trees, the darker grey or black will turn it into a shadow."
Walls and Brickwork
For garden walls, Titchmarsh recommends a different approach. He said: "Old-fashioned mellow brick walls make great backdrops for plants, and given the choice, I wouldn't paint those."
However, for newer brick walls that can feel "oppressive", he suggests painting them in lighter, neutral colours. He also recommends adding a trellis for climbing plants, as they are "often much prettier" than a bare wall.
For small or courtyard walls, he suggests being bolder, treating them as feature walls with bright colours or murals. He cautioned: "Be careful, and if you get it wrong, remember you can always add another coat of a more subtle colour."
