14 Best Backyard Fence Color Ideas for Stain or Paint

In today’s post, I am sharing 14 of the best color ideas for your backyard, privacy fence- including the actual names and brands of the paints and stains used.

With the warmer months approaching, now is the perfect time to start evaluating your home’s curb appeal.

While a backyard fence might not be the first design element that comes to mind when you are thinking about the front elevation of your home, most fences can be seen (at least to some extent) from the street.

Even if this isn’t necessarily the case for your abode, if you have been neglecting your wooden fence, as a friend and confidant, I urge you to give it a little TLC. You would truly be surprised at just how dramatically a tasteful stain or paint color can work wonders for the exterior of your home- not just the actual fence.

Come to think about it, this topic actually came to the forefront of my attention a few weeks ago when I finally decided to stain a wooden fence I had neglected for an entire freakin year…

It’s not that I am just plain lazy (ok I might be just a tad), but the real cause of my procrastination was a case of design paralysis- I just couldn’t decide if I wanted to paint the wood white or stain it.

After 12 months of indecision, I got a manic whim of energy and decided to stain it.

After I was finished staining the fence, I was taken back with just how much the finish elevated the entire exterior of my white farmhouse (even from the road).

I particularly love how the warm undertones of this stain (Behr “Chocolate”) work beautifully with the brick foundation of my house.

While white paint would have been pretty too, I just wasn’t ready to commit to a “needier” type of finish (think dirt and potential chipping).

Furthermore, I reasoned that stain was the safer route as I have used this particular color several times in the past and know it will fade into a beautiful, albeit lighter wood color. (I have actually included a picture of how it fades in the roundup below).

So now that I have convinced you to stain or paint your freakin’ fence already, I have rounded up some more inspiration for you below.

And because it is frustrating AF to find an inspirational photo you absolutely adore only to discover the actual name of the stain or paint color is nowhere to be found, I was sure to include all the juicy deets for you in this post.

After all, what good is the inspiration going to do you, if you can’t replicate the look for your self? I got your back, boo.

So without further rambling, here are some fabulous privacy fence ideas along with some of the best colors to consider for your outdoor space….

14 of the Best Fence Color Ideas:

1. Semi-Transparent Chocolate Stain-

So back at my 1980’s ranch home, we decided to stain my entire wooden pool deck and privacy fence in a semi-transparent stain as all of the wood was brand-spanking- new and in great condition. As promised earlier in this post, captured in the photo above is what Behr’s Chocolate looks like after it has faded for 2 full years.

2. Charcoal Paint-

I have a thing for dramatic, bold color lately and this wood fence by Life of an Architect is an absolute stunner. The vertical boards , previously painted in a nasty, mauve color, were instantly modernized with a fresh coat of green-tinted charcoal paint ( Black Locust by Behr).

3. Walnut Oil Stain-

Whether your aesthetic is modern or traditional, you really can’t go wrong with a natural walnut stain. This beauty of a fence from Lost and Found is stained with Thompson’s Timber Oil in the color Walnut and pairs very tastefully with her brick house.

4. Solid White Factory Finish-

If you are still in the process of selecting a privacy fence design, vinyl is a great option if low-maintenance is of the upmost importance to you. The DIY Playbook’s white vinyl fence just goes to show that this fencing material is not only practical, but aesthetically appealing…. talk about charm!

5. Dark Walnut-

If your wood fence is growing older but you still long for the look of a neutral, wood color, consider a darker, more forgiving hue. This fence from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia was stained in Dark Walnut by Behr.

6. (Almost) Black Stain-

Craving the modern look of a solid, black fence but, not wanting to commit to the maintenance involved with that of a traditional paint? Dear House, I Love You worked absolute magic in her backyard by staining an old wood fence in this beautiful dark grey/almost black solid stain (Burnt Hickory by Cabot Solid Wood Stain).

What can I say? I am completely obsessed with how the green plants in her garden beds pop against this gorgeously dark backdrop!

7. Clear Coat-

If you love the natural look of your pine boards as is, by all means, don’t feel pressured to change the existing color scheme! Simply take a que from DIY Montreal and apply a colorless, clear coat (this just ensures the longevity of your fence).

8. Shou Sugi Ban-

If you want to preserve your wood fence but don’t feel like messing with the fuss of stain or paint re-applications every few years, you can always burn it , baby! Yes…you heard me right.

Shou Sugi Ban is a Japanese technique of preserving wood by the means of actually burning it. The Faux Martha makes a stunning case for this technique in her modern outdoor sitting area. The black fence creates a captivating focal point when flanked by her white house and white detached garage.

9. Brown Paint-

If you love the warmth of natural wood tones but long for something a bit more polished and elevated, brown paint is a great compromise. This precious garden fence by Anita Yokota looks both modern and inviting painted in Urbane Bronze by Sherwin Williams, which is a greyish brown paint color.

10. Tinted White Paint-

When I was on the fence (trying my best to be cute) about painting my wooden fence white, I was considering a white paint tinted to match the color of my house (Shoji White by Sherwin Williams). This charming living wall by The Boondocks Blog was actually painted in Oyster White by Safe Paint. I love the light and airy feel of this painted lattice which makes the greenery pop more dramatically than typical wood tones.

11. Lighter Tones of Brown-

If you are aiming for a soft, neutral color palette, the orange and red undertones typical of many richer wood stains might feel a bit too jarring. To neutral her once orange-toned, cedar privacy fence, Rain and Pine found a gorgeous, light brown wood stain in Behr’s Tugboat (in semi -transparent finish). The stain works beautifully with the white and grey paint on her home’s exterior.

12. Greyish Brown Solid Stain-

Warm grey stain in a solid finish is a great way to cover up priorly botched fence staining projects all the while elevating and updating the exterior of your home. This fence from Satori Design strikes a nice balance of modern and timeless. The stain color used is Tugboat by Behr in a solid coverage to conceal an old staining project gone wrong.

13. Rich Brown Stain-

If the exterior of your home is comprised of relatively traditional colors but you want to add a bit more of a contemporary feel with your fence, horizontal slats stained in a rich brown stain is the way to go. This stunning fence by Taryn Whiteaker adds such a polished layer to her home’s curb appeal. The stain she used is Cordovan Brown by Behr in a semi-transparent finish.

14. Raw Wood Grain-

Providing little privacy but a whole lotta character, if you live in such beautiful, expansive grounds as Dabbling and Decorating, who would want to cover up their surrounding view anyway? For a rustic look, split rail fencing is attractive enough left raw to expose the texture of the natural wood grain.

Well there you have it , folks..

With 14 different color options, I hope you found a great fence idea for you unique setting.

The next time we meet, I hope to be share some outdoor DIY projects that I have been working on behind the scenes lately.

Until then, thank you so incredibly much for stopping by this week!

It would mean the world to me and this small business if you could share this post with a friend or on social media..

Now get out there and design some good vibes along with a fabulous life!