Re-energize exterior home areas with custom features that can be as simple or as elaborate as your imagination and finances allow.

Perky painted planters using this seasons hottest tropical hues lend bold charm to a deck, porch or patio fashioned from any fabrication that highlights a neutral or monochromatic color scheme. Select one hue from your planter's color palette and fill the container generously with overflowing blooms using colors that mimic the hue that is identical to the planter! For greater impact, consider creating one or more vignettes of planters that sport differing sizes and shapes. Paint and pattern inexpensively and creatively unifies the entire grouping! For a more intricate twist featuring up-to-the-minute design, the introduction of a newly purchased or recently refurbished gate can work wonders in terms of updating the entire appearance of your exterior living space. Depending upon your home's facade, explore the possibilty of implementing a custom gate that enhances the home's architectural style. Select an appropriate motif, then tie into the current exterior paint color scheme by utilizing existing door, window and trim colors. Gates that spotlight vividly contrasting colors with the current deck space create a vibrant and eye-catching focal point that uniquely personalizes the outdoor ’living space.

Mixing and matching materials adds visual interest by displaying differing textures as part of the exterior living area.

Materials may differ in texture and fabrication, but they still provide colors bearing a definite resemblance to each other. For example, a homeowner may opt to combine stone colored poured concrete asymetrical pavers with sand colored rectangular brick pavers to produce a unique flooring pattern. The exterior flooring can be customized further by painting the concrete with a quality paint product that mimics the appearance of brick pavers that appear weathered by age. By applying a paint application that lends a distressed flavor to the concrete flooring, the entire surface becomes stylishly and harmoniously unified. Wood, metal and synthetic materials can be attractively painted, then partnered with interesting flooring patterns and fabrications to produce dynamic outdoor styles that enhance both the color scheme and architectural style of the entire house.

Before beginning any paint project, view our Exterior Prep, Prime and Paint section to help with proper outdoor surface preparation. Be sure to consult a paint professional for advice on procedures, and also when selecting paint, primers, and sealers. Top quality products will result in the most attractive, long lasting paint application for your impending exterior project.

Read more about this month's topic: "Decking Out" Your Outdoor Areas