Outdoor wall decor ideas – 15 ways to give bare walls a new lease of life

Wondering what to do with that bare wall in your garden? Luckily, there are plenty of outdoor wall decor ideas to help you shape it up, from painting inspiration to climbing plants.

Whether you're looking to frame your garden furniture ideas or experiment with living wall ideas, there's lots of room for creativity when it comes to revamping a garden wall.

The best outdoor wall decor ideas make a focal point of your space, or act as a calming backdrop for socialisation and relaxation in the garden. We've rounded up our favourite ideas, with guidance from garden design experts, to give you a little inspiration.

Outdoor wall decor ideas

‘Decorating the exterior not only weatherproofs and protects your home, it’s also the perfect opportunity to add design personality to the outdoor space,' says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene.

‘You don’t need to revamp the whole façade to make an impact. A simple update such as painting an exterior wall to offset patio furniture can make the whole home feel renewed.'

These outdoor wall decor ideas will help you breathe life into your garden walls.

1. Grow climbing plants

Climbing plants are a feature of many outdoor wall decor ideas, and for good reason: they're a great way to decorate a wall or fence for a natural look, and with plenty of fast-growing climbing plants to choose from, your wall will be covered in no time.

'In a garden, the obvious thing to do is to put up horizontal wires and train climbing plants up the wall to green it up,' says garden designer Harriet Worsley. 'I often use a mixture of Trachelospermum jasminoides and Clematis so that you get the lovely summer scent of the Trachelospermum and its evergreen foliage, and then the blasts of colour from the Clematis flowers.'

Harriet Worsley

Garden Designer Harriet Worsley set up Worsley Design & Consultancy after studying Garden Design, Planting Design and studying for her RHS Certificate of Horticulture. She worked as Landscape Designer for a firm in Notting Hill, and as a weekly volunteer at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where she honed her plant knowledge. She has designed everything from small London roof terraces to large country gardens, and enjoys combining minimalist landscaping using natural materials with swathes of relaxed loose planting. Harriet has a first-class degree from Central Saint Martins, where she has taught for twenty years, is a published author and lives in London.

2. Freshen it up with a new colour

Swap safe neutrals for a splash of bolder colour outdoors with imaginative garden paint ideas. Painting one wall a vibrant shade will give an outdoor space focus and makes a lively backdrop for an outdoor dining area or a relaxed seating snug.

'Adding colour to a run-down outdoor wall will transform the space,' says Becky Rackstraw, director and colour expert at Protek. 'On-trend green will bring a calm, restorative feel and transport small urban spaces from unloved, into a natural retreat.'

Lush shades of green like the Protek Royal Exterior Finish in Jungle Green from Amazon or bold blue are a great foil for foliage and flowers and will help highlight and accentuate bright colours.

'Clever and simple planting alongside with hints of metallic, gold or silver, on pots or planters give an edgy highlight and interest,' Becky adds.

Becky Rackstraw

British, bold and brimming with experience, creative energy and passion, Protek is helmed by two women who are not only directors, but sisters, whose skills sets perfectly complement each other.

Becky and Harriet’s mission is to not only transform and elevate outdoor spaces across the country, but to transform the garden woodcare market, too.

3. Tile an outdoor wall

Can you really tile an outdoor wall? Absolutely – and according to Andy Ellis, former professional gardener and founder of Posh.co.uk, it's a brilliant way to decorate an outdoor wall.

'You can tile a garden wall, and it looks great if you do it correctly,' Andy says. 'You need to use porcelain or natural stone as they are weather-resistant and less likely to fade over time (which means you don't need to replace them as much).

'They need a lot less maintenance than other options, such as paint, but you do need to ensure the colours and design match the aesthetic of your garden and landscaping choices.'

According to garden designer Harriet, it's a brilliant way to add colour and texture to a bare wall.

'There is fun metal or porcelain stone cladding available, and I recently did a garden with grey split stone cladding used to cover a very high vertical wall,' Harriet says. 'We then planted three-metre pleached Elaeagnus trees in front of it, and it looked beautiful with the silver bar of leaves at the top.'

4. Consider lighting

When it comes to outdoor wall decor ideas, we can't forget about garden lighting ideas. With so many styles and sizes available, there's bound to be a product that makes your outdoor walls pop while providing cosy ambience in the evenings.

'Outdoor lighting fixtures can breathe new life into the area, and you will likely find that they add a whole new element of warmth in the evenings (especially in summer),' says Andy.

'Pillar lights are a great idea for bare walls,' adds Harriet. 'They have triangular beams that fan up and down to create a Kim Kardashian silhouette of light on a wall.'

5. Cover a plain wall with wooden panels

Featureless outdoor walls can be uninspiring to look at. If brickwork or timber isn’t in great condition, covering it up with wooden panelling or a trellis will help disguise any imperfections.

Use several sections of horizontal fence panelling to create a vertical mini garden where you can display smaller plant pots and baskets. Painting wall panels black creates a bold contrast and will help to make any surrounding greenery pop.

6. Make a garden gallery wall

Elevate planting to the next level by creating an outdoor gallery wall on an empty expanse of brickwork or section of fence panelling. Picture gallery walls are a big trend in interiors right now, so why not follow the same principle and swap pictures and prints for plants?

A garden gallery wall makes a brilliant backdrop for an outdoor seating area. Create variety by using an assortment of different planters, from wall-hung troughs and wire baskets to old loaf tins or cans, arranged at staggered heights. Just drill holes in the bottom for drainage.

And if you have a couple of old picture frames to hand, why not remove the glass and paint a few up, then include them as part of the display by framing a selection of spiky succulents or mini ferns?

7. Create a botanical haven with a living wall

While walls and fences in-between properties are necessary to create privacy, if there’s a lack of greenery the space can sometimes feel quite sparse and empty. Adding a living wall of vertical greenery is a brilliant way of bringing colour to a patio and can help to merge the divide between indoors and out.

A vertical wall planting system like this Self Watering Wall Planting Pot from Amazon makes planting a doddle. A simple framework of battens is attached to the wall as a starting point, with individual plastic planters that clip onto the frame arranged in staggered rows. Watering is provided by a reservoir system, with different plants simply popped into each planter to build up a lush and vibrant planting scheme.

8. Perk up a plain wall with jolly DIY planters

Step up clever upcycling garden ideas to add unique personality to an outdoor wall in a covered patio or courtyard.

Repurpose a couple of old straw hats that are out of shape and no longer worn. Simply cut a hole in the top of the hat (the part that sits on the head) so that you can slip a small plant pot inside. Use garden twine and a nail to secure the hat planter to the wall and then pop a potted plant in, arranging the foliage to cover up the hole. This is a great budget garden idea if you want to keep costs down.

9. Hang an outdoor mirror

Brighten up a bare wall by adding with garden mirror ideas by nestling a mirror in amongst the surrounding foliage. Hanging a mirror is a clever visual trick that can help to make a short garden feel a bit longer.

Position your mirror strategically, so that it reflects foliage rather than brickwork or unsightly drain pipes, and it will help create the illusion that the garden stretches further than it actually does.

Take care not to position outdoor mirrors in direct sunlight or where they might reflect strong sunlight for long periods, as this could cause a hazard. And don’t position mirrors too high where they could impact bird flight paths.

10. Make your potting bench a focal point

Instead of making function its sole purpose, treat a potting bench or outdoor table as an opportunity for a garden display space. Outdoor planting arrangements often lack height, so a bench is a brilliant way of elevating a display and filling wall space.

Get creative with a few taller items or hanging ornaments in your arrangement and include decorative planters, watering cans and general garden bric-a-brac. Positioning a mirror as a backdrop for a display will reflect the items outwards and make the display feel busier and brighter.

11. Paint a wall black to add drama

Dark walls are a fabulous way of creating areas of contrast in a garden. Make a statement by painting an outdoor wall or fence panel in a dramatic shade of black, dark grey or navy. Painting walls or fences a dark colour will make them recede into the background and make the space feel bigger, which is a clever trick to use in small gardens and compact patios.

Flowers and greenery will stand out more against a dark backdrop, making them look and feel more lush and vibrant.

12. Set up an outdoor shelf display

Create an outdoor living area in a sheltered spot outdoors, with a sociable arrangement of seating and occasional furniture to give the space a relaxed, homely feel.

Brighten up an empty wall area by fixing up a long run of shelving that spans the space. Line shelves with a mix of outdoor planters, vases, greenery and garden ornaments arranged in mini groupings along the shelves. Choose colours that complement outdoor rugs and cushions, for a relaxed, co-ordinated look.

'Well-placed furniture is a perfect way to hide an unattractive wall,' says Caron Grant, brand manager at Bridgman. 'By opting for a large modular rattan set, you can help to obscure the wall whilst creating a comfortable and attractive seating area for hosting guests.'

13. Have fun with a colourful wall mural

Go all-out with colour and create a sunny mural as the focal point for an outdoor seating area. Go bold and use hot pinks and oranges for a tropical vibe or opt for soft and soothing greens and blues if you prefer a more restful scheme.

Paint the wall in your background colour first, using masonry paint for a longer-lasting finish. To create a semi-circle, you’ll need a pencil attached to the end of a length of string. Decide on the overall width of your circle and mark the two outer points with the pencil. Then pin the string at a mid-point between the two, holding it taught so that the pencil touches one point and then pencil up and around to create your semi-circle.

'A dash of creative inspiration can bring a disused wall to life with a simple mural design in a complementary palette,' says Becky from Protek. 'Being brave is the key, as it can all easily be changed in years to come with a further lick of paint and a very little effort.'

14. Pretty-up an outdoor space with wall art

For a super-easy way of brightening up a dreary outdoor space, consider buying off-the-peg artwork. Metal plaques, oversized wall clocks, mirrors and outdoor signs make a lovely addition to an exterior wall or fence panel, either alone or in a group arrangement. Outdoor artwork will often have a pre-rusted finish that gives an aged, vintage vibe or come pre-coated to give a weather-resistant finish that can withstand the outdoor elements.

15. Make a mini wall display

Bring a small outdoor space to life with a mini display of greenery. Perfect for outdoor wall space beside the back door, use planters to grow herbs so they are conveniently located and easy to grab when you’re cooking.

Use kitchen utensil rails to create this set-up, with mini hook-on planters to hold greenery. Just position one rail above the other to fill the available space. Ikea’s Hultarp utensil range can be used to create a similar effect to this one.

FAQs

How can I decorate my outside wall?

Aside from transforming outdoor walls with a fresh coat of paint, adding shelves, artwork, trellis or wall-hung planters are all easy ways of brightening up dreary wall space.

Lighter-weight items can be fixed onto a brick wall using brick clips, which simply grip onto the mortar without the need for any drilling. For heavier items, it’s essential to use the correct fixing or bracket for the weight of the item being hung using a masonry drill and fixings. If in doubt, it’s always wise to call in a professional to do the work.

How do you dress up a bare exterior wall?

When it comes to dressing up an outdoor wall, the easiest option is probably paint. It’s essential to use masonry paints rather than standard emulsion, as these are weatherproof and designed to adhere to coarse and difficult surfaces, as well as protect exterior masonry work.

Or, you could level up with cladding.

'I find that outdoor wall cladding tiles are one of the best options for making a bare wall look more interesting,' says Andy from Posh.co.uk. 'It has a very natural look, especially if you go for stone tiles, and it also brings a nice combination of texture and colour to the space.'

Which outdoor wall decor ideas will you be trying?