Britain’s green gardens are turning multiple shades of grey as householders increasingly treat outdoor space as an extension of the home.
Vintage style soft greys have become the colour of choice for furniture, fences, sheds and even pot plants, a study for JD Williams has found.
Just as grey has replaced magnolia inside the home as the top colour, the colour is also sweeping through the garden as consumers seek a matching look.
The online retailer says it has seen a shift from darker browns and black tones of garden furniture to lighter palettes which designers say makes patio living areas appear more modern and sophisticated.
Sales of grey rattan seats, tables and sofas now account for over half of outdoor furniture purchases with the popularity of brown dropping from 70% to 40% in the past 12 months, reports JD Williams.
Suzi Burns from JD Williams said: “We have seen customers increasingly opting for grey. It provides a neutral background and also better shows up the bolder colours of scatter cushions, tableware and other accessories, such as parasols, as people opt for a more Mediterranean feel to their garden and we become braver in our outdoor choice.”
Paint manufacturers have upped the range of grey paints and there are now 35 different tones on the market to cater with its popularity while garden centres report increased sales of grey and silver foliage plants which blend in with outdoor furniture.
Two thirds of Britons (65%) asked in a survey carried out for JD Williams regarded the look of the outside of the house as important as the inside.
Nearly eight out of ten (78%) said they had changed the appearance of their gardens, patios and flat balconies in the past two years to make them “more relaxing” for alfresco dining and entertaining.
The trend for outdoor entertaining is shown by increased demand for six and eight seater garden sets, while BBQ sales are up 45%.
“People are looking for comfort, luxury and variety in their garden furniture and they want the outdoor space to be somewhere to be proud of. This summer, with its soaring temperatures, has definitely seen families spend more time outdoors than in, and the patio and garden is perfect for those who lack space in the kitchen and dining rooms as we entertain friends and family more often”, added Suzi Burns.
