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Colour your winter garden with these nifty tricks and artisan décor

05 May 2021

Winter is often a time when the more colourful blooms of the garden go into hiding until spring. These outdoor garden ideas are just the thing to help you embrace your winter garden and sprinkle some joy over those dreary days. We’ve got everything from vibrant outdoor art and tips on which winter flowers grow best, to hands on DIY ideas that are sure to chase the dark clouds away.

Gone with the wind

There’s nothing better than looking out the window with a hot drink, watching an impending storm roll across your garden, your colourful whirligig spinning in the wind. Don’t have a whirligig? Whirlwind Designs have got you covered. Michelle and Nick have been busy creating a range of themed wind sculptures that are sure to bring some character to your backyard. Their designs include native birds, such as this Kereru that is painted in Resene White and Resene Pioneer. Read more about Whirlwind Designs here.

Sit back and relax

Pull up a chair and paint it yellow. Yellow is a high-energy colour that is proven to improve your mood and is associated with laughter and sunshine. This garden bench project by Kerryn Dunshea has been painted in Resene Afterglow. Painting your garden bench will give you a fun place to sit and watch the pale evening sunset or create a bright sculpture-like point of interest in your garden. Placing the bench under a wide eave or leafy evergreen tree will give you outdoor seating for all seasons. Paint your wall in Resene FX Blackboard Paint and write fun messages for your family and guests.

Up the garden path

Use seasonal materials to bring some vibrancy to your front porch. Painting pinecones in a range of Resene testpots, such as Resene Poppy, Resene Paris Daisy and Resene Rose Bud will lift your spirits as you walk through the door. Attach the pinecones to lengths of bamboo or green garden stakes and place them in a flowerpot. If you’re after some real floral colour, there are a range of winter flowers to keep your garden looking cheerful. Camellias are at their peak blooming time in July and pansies are the perfect feel-good flower and are also easy to grow in the cooler months.

Feed the birds

Look out for your feathered friends during the colder months with this frame-turned-bird feeder. You can upcycle an old frame into a colourful addition to your garden quickly and easily. All you need is an old frame, Resene Quick Dry primer and a Resene testpot colour of your choice. You can also colour match the frame to your winter flowers. Try pairing Resene Daisy Bush with your purple violas or Resene West Side with your winter citrus trees. Click here to learn more about how to make your own bird feeder frame.

Mend your fences

Spruce up your fence line with an easy colour splash or mural. Designer Tina Stephens of Roomie Interior Design used various testpots to create this pohutukawa mural on a fence. You can read more about her projects here To retain that warm wooden feel, paint your mural directly onto the fence. If you’re after a more uniform look, alternate solid colours on the panels of your fence. For inspiration, check out Kelly Southee’s colourful fence project here.    

Give it both barrels

When it rains, it pours, so it’s best to be prepared. A rain-barrel or tank connected to a downpipe diverter is a simple way of collecting rain from the roof to use on the garden, outdoors, or for your indoor plants. This simple rain barrel is colourful and effective, adding a pop of colour to your garden using easy-to-get concrete blocks. Learn how to make this rain barrel here.

Portable art

Take garden art to a whole new level with these portable murals. Arty Vicky’s creative use of Resene testpots and sheets of wood has resulted in these magnificent and moveable works of art. Create an under the sea theme or extend your garden with a mural of a lush field of sunflowers and poppies. “My outdoor portable murals were inspired by a boring fence outside my kitchen window, and I thought what a great place to hang a painting!” says Vicky. See more of her work here.

Take cover

Take the colour of your garden with you wherever you go and brighten up the streets with this Brolly by Bass. Created by celebrated artist Emma Bass, you can win one of these bright and brilliant umbrellas here. Featuring an 1800s Delft vase, hydrangeas, waterlilies, electric zinnias, a lifecycle of monarchs and a cheery budgie, a Brolly by Bass is sure to put a spring in your step this winter. Click here to read more about Emma Bass’ work and to purchase your own Brolly by Bass

Published: 05 May 2021