Paint Your Backyard Privacy Fence For A Gorgeous Pop Of Color Outside

If you're excited for warmer temperatures and more time outside, you might also be looking for ways to improve the appearance of your property. If you are ready to get bold and creative, you can embrace an added pop of color outside by tackling an unconventional weekend project: painting your backyard privacy fence.

Backyard privacy fences are meant to provide security and solace from outside eyes, but there's no societal rule stating that they have to be plain, natural wood or traditional colors. In fact, painting your privacy fence can bring a new degree of whimsy and visual appeal to your property. You can find a plethora of inspiration online, depending on what effect you're after. If you desire a simple aesthetic, you can paint a panel of your fence to create an accent wall that upgrades your outdoor seating area. Another idea is to paint the fence posts — either in the same color, or in an alternating pattern — and leave the panels plain; this approach will provide bursts of color without saturating the fence in too much color. For the super talented artist, try creating and painting a mural — you could paint a butterfly, wildflowers, or paisleys for a cheery look. Another option is to purchase large stencils, like these sunflower stencils, to get that perfect look you're going for. If you want to improve the look of your landscaping, there are some colors you can paint your fence that will make your garden feel bigger.

While painting your privacy fence is an easy project to get excited about, there are a few considerations to address before jumping headlong into it. Firstly, if your neighborhood has an HOA, you'll want to look over any restrictions before painting your privacy fence. Some neighborhoods might have rules regarding the color that your fence can be — even if it is only visible to your eyes — so double check with your HOA to avoid having to repaint your fence or pay any fees.

Another important aspect of this project is to choose the right type of paint. Beyond selecting a color that will work well with your home's exterior hue, you'll want to select a paint that is designed to be applied to fences and that will last for a significant amount of time. You might not be sure if it's possible to change the color of a vinyl fence, but you absolutely can. That being said, you'll want to choose an epoxy-based acrylic paint to ensure that it adheres properly to the surface. For a wooden fence, you'll get the best results if you paint it with an exterior latex or oil-based paint. Prior to painting your fence, take the necessary steps to prepare the surface, including cleaning the fence. Remember that the conditions outside can and will impact your results, so choose a day on which the humidity levels are not too high and rain isn't in the near-future forecast.