The Best Paint Colors for Outdoor Furniture, According to Real Estate Agents

Your outdoor furniture is so much more than just a place to sit down after a long day. Like the modern leather sofa or the stylish bar cart in your living room, outdoor furniture is the home decor workhorse that helps set the tone for your patio, porch, balcony, patch of grass, or whatever outdoor space you’ve got.

The best part? You can often spruce up existing outdoor furniture with a fresh coat of paint, which is especially helpful if you’re preparing to sell your home. It’s easy to update outdoor furniture as your own style changes, or to make your outdoor living space more appealing to potential buyers.

Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to outdoor furniture. But if you’re looking for some inspiration, consider these go-to paint colors for outdoor furniture from real estate agents across the country.

You can never go wrong with black, that sleek and stylish standby color that goes with everything. Pair black metal outdoor furniture with taupe cushions and you’ve instantly upgraded your outdoor living space — and no matter their personal taste, prospective buyers will be impressed.

“It looks high-end even when it is not,” says Patrick Lilly, a real estate agent in New York City.

When it comes to outdoor furniture, go ahead and use a super trendy paint color — there’s a reason why these hues are so popular, after all. Leanne Bonter, a real estate agent in Maryland and Washington, D.C., recommends the Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year, “Urban Bronze.” 

Bonter suggests painting your older Adirondack chairs or refreshing outdoor coffee and end tables with this deep, moody color.

“It is a dark, neutral, yet dramatic hue,” she says. “It pairs beautifully with garden greens, stonework, and wood finishes. It looks great with neutral beige furniture cushions as well as brighter, bolder accents.”

If you love bold hues but you don’t want to go totally overboard on your deck or patio, consider sticking mostly to neutrals but adding little pops of color here and there. If you’re unsure what color to go with, pick one from inside your home, then carry it through to the outside living area.

“A neutral color is still going to be key as the main color, especially in the luxury market, but there is always room for a statement color to add a little more definition to your property,” says Rogers Healy, a real estate agent in Dallas. “As for what color to choose for a little pop of color, we are seeing more yellow, turquoise, and red palettes.”

Another pro tip: Make sure you’re investing in the right type of paint for outdoor use. You’ll want to ensure your paint can withstand the elements, Healy says.

If you’re not planning to sell your home anytime soon, go big and bold — neon green, turquoise, purple, or whatever your favorite color is, says Betsy Ronel, a real estate agent in New York.

But when you’re trying to sell, revert back to colors that will appeal to the widest array of buyers. 

Ronel recommends whites, grays, blacks, and natural wood stains. The reason? If you paint every square inch of your patio furniture fire-engine red, for example, you may turn off some buyers. Even though it’s just furniture and you’ll be taking it with you when you move out, there are some buyers who just can’t get past their gut reaction of, “Yuck, I hate red!”

“They aren’t buying your taste, they are buying your home, which is now a product for public consumption, so we must dress accordingly,” Ronel says.