The Artful Backyard: Infusing Personality and Style into Your Outdoor Space
Interior designer Julia Green shares 5 tips for using texture and scale to craft a joyful, thoughtfully designed backyard that is effortlessly stylish.
If your backyard is feeling a little… beige, consider this your permission slip to turn up the colour. Outdoor spaces are no longer just an afterthought - they’re an extension of how we live, relax and escape, especially when styled with intention (and a healthy dose of personality).
To help you reimagine your own slice of outdoors, we asked our friend, interior designer Julia Green of Greenhouse Interiors for some tips. Julia's Barwon Heads backyard is a masterclass in joyful, holiday-inspired living. Featuring our Jardin patio umbrella in Sage and our Beppi sling chair in Ombre Forest, her space blends lush greenery, retro colour and clever styling into a private oasis that feels equal parts calm and escapist.
From fearless colour tips to small-space styling secrets, Julia shares five expert insights to help you create an outdoor space that feels considered, uplifting and unmistakably you.
Julia! Your backyard is a beautiful example of vibrant, personality-filled outdoor living. What was your starting point or initial inspiration for creating this space?
It all started with a humble vertical garden and a glorious green-tiled pool, the kind of pool that makes you feel cooler just looking at it. From there, it snowballed (in the best way) with punchy accents: sunny yellow drinks carts, stripy deck chairs that scream summer, and then the pièce de résistance - a Basil Bangs sage and white striped umbrella with fringing, no less. That umbrella alone could transport you to the Amalfi Coast without ever leaving your postcode. The space is now a private sanctuary, lush greenery cloaks the walls, cocooning you in calm. It’s an oasis. It’s escapism. It’s what happens when outdoor styling meets a slight obsession with holidays and colour therapy. And let’s be honest, every pool deserves its moment and its umbrella.
The green and yellow colour palette feels both retro and incredibly fresh. What is your process for developing a colour palette for an outdoor space, and how does it differ from choosing colours for indoors?
When it comes to colour outside, I always start with nature because honestly, she’s already done half the work. You’ve got green grass, leafy surrounds, blue skies… it’s a free palette that pretty much guarantees whatever you throw at it won’t clash. That’s the joy of styling outdoors, you’ve got this lush green base, so everything else can be bold, joyful, or even a little cheeky. I leaned into the greens, all the tones, textures and shades and then gave it a zing of sunny yellow. It’s the pop of happy. It adds that instant holiday feeling and, dare I say, a slight Euro twist, even though I’m surrounded by Aussie natives and coastal vibes. Indoors, you’re more contained. The colours have to work a bit harder. But outside, you’ve got freedom. The light changes, the shadows play, and colours sing in a way they just can’t inside four walls.
For people who are 'afraid' to use bright colours but would like to brighten up their space with colour, what's a good "entry-level" way to start introducing pops of colour into their backyard or patio?
Go slow, be gentle… but fair warning: once you dip a toe into the world of outdoor colour, it’s wildly addictive. One pop turns into two, and suddenly you’re rethinking the fence colour. My advice? Start with an umbrella. It’s the perfect gateway - a bold hit of colour and pattern that instantly gives your space personality. From there, you can start echoing that colour in small ways, maybe it’s a few beach towels, some cheerful outdoor pots, or a deck chair or two, depending on how brave you’re feeling. I like to repeat the same colour scheme in a few spots across the space, it makes the eye travel and keeps things feeling layered and intentional, without being too matchy-matchy. Think of it like outdoor accessorising. Start with the statement earring (umbrella) and build from there.
What are some common mistakes you see people make when styling their outdoor areas, and how can they be avoided?
One of the biggest mistakes I see is forgetting that outdoor spaces need just as much love (and thought) as indoors - just with hardier materials and a bit more sunscreen!
People often go a bit wild with colour outside, thinking more is more, but if it’s not tied into what’s happening inside, it can look a bit disconnected; like the backyard’s had too many cocktails while the house is still sipping tea. I say pick one hero colour (or three at most) and play with different tones and textures of it. Speaking of texture, layering materiality is key - think decking meets tile meets lush grass meets a vertical garden that’s alive, not just a blank wall doing nothing for anyone. Another trap? Plants that don’t suit the environment. I’ve learned the hard way: choose greenery that thrives in your conditions, or you’ll end up playing nursemaid to a revolving door of very expensive, very dead plants. And above all invest in proper furniture. Outdoor settings cop the full brunt of the elements, especially if you’re beachside like me. If it’s not built to last, it’s built to fail. You don’t want to be replacing the lot in two years with a sigh and a second mortgage!
For those with smaller outdoor spaces like a balcony or a small courtyard, what are your key principles for making the most of the area with colour and clever styling so that it does not feel small?
The golden rule for small outdoor spaces? Scale is everything. People often think small space = small furniture, small pots, small everything and suddenly it looks more like a clearance section than a considered garden. In reality, fewer, larger pieces create more impact and actually make the space feel bigger, not busier. And don’t forget: you’re not limited to the footprint. Go vertical! I’m a huge fan of climbing the walls (stylistically, not emotionally… although, both are valid). A vertical garden adds instant lushness, draws the eye up, and makes use of space that usually gets ignored. Keep the colour palette tight. One hero colour can be plenty in a compact area. Too much going on can make it feel hectic… unless that’s your vibe. But otherwise, edit it down. Less clutter, more cohesion, and a little garden that feels considered, not chaotic.
If there’s one thing Julia’s approach reminds us, it’s that outdoor styling doesn’t need to be safe, it just needs to be thoughtful. Whether it’s starting with one statement umbrella, leaning into nature’s built-in colour palette, or choosing fewer, bolder pieces for maximum impact, great outdoor spaces are about balance, confidence and a little bit of joy.
So take the plunge - play with colour! Choose pieces that bring instant joy and work hard outdoors. Because great backyards aren’t about size, they’re about personality. Don't forget, if you need advice or have questions about the best umbrella for your backyard please get in touch. We'd love to help.
