With easy-to-please green as your backdrop, be bold and add a dash of color here and a splash of color there to take an outdoor space from dull to dazzling.

Party Atmosphere

Metal furniture is generally affordable and it gives a cool color vibe to your garden or patio. A bar cart is always ready for a party, offering up a handy serving surface. Sangria, anyone?

Perky Personality

Use whimsical summery motifs to dress up new or old wicker chairs. Spray-paint each chair with a vivid hue, and then use stencils and acrylic paint to add fun patterns. Seal with spray varnish for protection.

Sunny Accents

Small basic accessories such as this galvanized container can be brightened with paint for a personal look. To be on the safe side, don’t let food come into contact with the surface unless the paint you used is labeled food-safe.

Citrus Punch

Give your backyard a shot of summer color with accents dressed in fruit-inspired hues. This citrus-color metal bistro table is home to an apple-green hobnail-pattern glass lantern.

Cottage Charms

An unassuming garden shed becomes a festive focal point with bold stripes and scalloped molding. Before you begin, add a coat or two of water-base primer to the facade — it will help your creative expressions last longer.

Fire Flies

Create a twinkling treescape by suspending colored-glass votive holders from low-hanging tree branches with fishing line or wire. Colorful outdoor pillows, now readily available at retail, are a simple way to pop a little color into your backyard.

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