Hello! We are renting this house. My husband loves the dark moody feel, but I would love to spruce it up with some color. What would you recommend adding? Our house faces the west.
Since you are renting, containers are your best friend here. That gravel strip along the foundation is actually perfect for staging a container garden because you don’t have to worry about drainage ruining a deck or mud splashing up on the siding. Do not try to plant directly into that gravel; the soil underneath is likely compacted construction fill that will drown roots, and you can’t take the plants with you when you move. Get oversized pots—bigger than you think you need to hold moisture better in that West-facing sun—and cluster them in groups of three near the entryway to create a focal point rather than lining them up like soldiers.
For the color palette, you need high contrast against that dark brown siding. Deep reds or purples will vanish into the shadow of the house. You want bright lime greens, whites, and yellows to pop. Sweet potato vine or bright Coleus work great for foliage color that lasts longer than blooms. Since that West exposure gets the harsh afternoon heat, you need tough plants like Lantana or ornamental grasses that won’t crisp up by August. Before you start buying heavy ceramic pots, snap a photo and load it into GardenDream to test out how different pot sizes and plant colors look against that dark wood. It helps to see if a color clash is “bold” or just messy before you spend the money.
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Since you are renting, containers are your best friend here. That gravel strip along the foundation is actually perfect for staging a container garden because you don’t have to worry about drainage ruining a deck or mud splashing up on the siding. Do not try to plant directly into that gravel; the soil underneath is likely compacted construction fill that will drown roots, and you can’t take the plants with you when you move. Get oversized pots—bigger than you think you need to hold moisture better in that West-facing sun—and cluster them in groups of three near the entryway to create a focal point rather than lining them up like soldiers.
For the color palette, you need high contrast against that dark brown siding. Deep reds or purples will vanish into the shadow of the house. You want bright lime greens, whites, and yellows to pop. Sweet potato vine or bright Coleus work great for foliage color that lasts longer than blooms. Since that West exposure gets the harsh afternoon heat, you need tough plants like Lantana or ornamental grasses that won’t crisp up by August. Before you start buying heavy ceramic pots, snap a photo and load it into GardenDream to test out how different pot sizes and plant colors look against that dark wood. It helps to see if a color clash is “bold” or just messy before you spend the money.