5 Ways to Brighten Up Your Garden Fence

We've spent a lot of time this past week in the garden, clearing and sorting the shed, preparing the veg patch for planting, sorting out pots and tubs and giving the lawn it's first hair cut of the year.

The thing that really lets our garden down is the boring wooden fence around it.  Yes, it's needed for security and privacy, but looking out onto a huge expanse of 6 foot high fence is very uninspiring.

So here are my favourite ways to brighten your garden fence up.

1. Inject some colour!  

If you have a lot of fence, it's a big job but painting your fence a bright colour can be so worthwhile.  We had a beautiful shade of lavender on our fence at our old house and I loved how it added colour in gloomy winter months, and how it provided a beautiful backdrop for the shrubs and flowers in the summer.

Check out the DIY stores, garden centres and homeware stores for seasonal sales of garden paint.

2. Add some fun!

I love this idea of adding colourful glass marbles to fill knot holes, or drill holes to size and pop some in. You'll still have your privacy but as the sun moves behind it they'll sparkle and glow, giving off colourful reflections.

Grab your drill and raid the kid's marble stash!

Image and Tutorial: DIY Cozy Home

3. Get planting vertically!

Fences provide so much untapped growing space if you give it some thought.  I love this idea of using guttering to plant edible leaves and salads.  Cleverly sloped for drainage you can reduce your amount of watering by starting on the top row and allowing it to drain down.

There's loads of ways to utilise the space to plant - hanging pots, reusing old containers, fixing plastic lined pallets to the fence - use your imagination!

Salad Bar : photo and details from Land8.net

4. Hang some bunting!

Everyone loves bunting and this all weather decoration by Love Chic Living is is both a treat to look at and a clever use of old materials.

Get the kids involved in designing and making and create a truly unique and personalised work of art for your garden.

Slate Bunting by Love Chic Living

5. Frame it!

Adding picture frames to your fence breaks up the monotony; adds interest and colour and draws your eye. Use them to show off plants, or just as a feature in themselves.

Raid the attic, hunt in charity shops or car boots for old unloved frames.  You can re-spray them any colour you like to match your style and either hang them directly on the fence panels, or stand on a shelf like here.

Incidentally, adding shelving to your fence is another great way to liven it up, allowing you to display candles; lanterns; favourite pots; vintage china - whatever you like. If you have horizontal supports on the panels it's really easy to add a shelf made from re-claimed wood, or use brackets to attach them to the panels.

What's your favourite way to add interest to your garden fence?