Garden bar paint colours: outside, inside and the counter

Paint is the fastest way to change a garden bar's character, and the cheapest. The right colour makes a basic shed look intentional; the wrong one makes an expensive building look like a fairground stall.

Look at the garden first

The bar sits in a garden, so start there. Look at the fence, the house, the planting and the light. A colour that looks great on a sample card can look very different in the shade under a hedge.

Exterior colours that work

• Deep greens and blue-greens sit back into planting and feel classic.
• Charcoal and near-black look modern and make planting glow in front.
• Muted blues and greys suit seaside and modern themes.
• Warm creams and stone suit cottage gardens but show dirt.
• Heritage reds and burgundy give a pub feel; use them sparingly.

Bright primaries are fun but can be overpowering in a small garden.

Interior colours

• Dark, rich colours feel cosy and pub-like at night. See pub-style bars.
• Light colours suit gin sheds and small, daytime bars.
• Two-tone walls with darker panelling below a dado rail are a pub classic.

Paint for the conditions

Use paints designed for exterior timber, and check they are compatible with the timber treatment. Inside a cold, damp building, choose paint suited to the conditions; ordinary interior emulsion may struggle. See treating timber.

Test before you commit

Paint large sample boards, not small patches, and look at them in morning, afternoon and evening light. Put them where the bar will be, and look at them under the lights you plan to use.

Details

• Pick out door and window frames in a contrasting colour.
• Paint the counter front darker to hide scuffs.
• Keep the counter top in a durable finish, not decorative paint. See bar top materials.

Neighbours and covenants

A very bright building near a boundary may not delight next door. Some estates and covenants restrict colours. See covenants and leasehold.

Buy three sample pots, paint three boards and live with them for a week. The colour you still like on day seven is the one.