Summertime is the perfect season to bask in your garden's glory, whether you're unwinding solo or throwing a fabulous outdoor bash.

Savvy choices in fence paint can visually expand your space, ensuring you never feel hemmed in.

Gardens come in all shapes and sizes, which means what works for one might not suit another.

A colour that gives the illusion of space in one garden may not have the same effect in a snug courtyard setting.

For those with an average-sized plot, gardening guru Angela Slater from Hayes Garden World, recommends going dark, reports the Mirror.

Angela advises: "Generally, a fence painted in dark colours makes an average sized garden appear larger as it shifts the eye from the fence to the plants.

"If you have a lot of plants packed into your garden space, you can get away with a black or dark graphite fence as it will provide a foil to the colours of your plants and make any light coloured flowers stand out; it will also give the illusion of depth to your plants.

"If you have a lot of green in your borders, paint your fence in dark olive or French navy to tone in with your plants."

However, bear in mind that darker hues can highlight dirt and debris more readily than their lighter counterparts, potentially upping the ante on cleaning.

But for those who take pride in their garden's upkeep, this shouldn't pose a problem.

For those with a petite courtyard rather than a vast garden, embracing lighter hues is the way to go.

Cream, soft blue, light olive, or a light dusky pink are ideal choices that can make your small outdoor space appear larger.

It's essential to select a pastel shade that complements any existing greenery or blooms.

Coordinating your fence paint with your garden furniture can also create a more expansive feel.

The expert advised: "Painting your tiny courtyard in dark colours can make it look oppressive.

"However, if you are trying to achieve a jungle look to the space, then a dark olive or graphite colour would give the illusion of depth and really make the tropical flowers stand out."

If you're after a more vibrant aesthetic for your courtyard, consider going bold.

For themed spaces like a Mexican courtyard, Angela recommends a punchy orange or deep yellow to bring the area to life.

Should you opt for this route, it's wise to limit plant life to avoid overcrowding the space.

Conversely, these vivid shades are not suggested for average or larger gardens.

Gardening guru Pol Bishop spoke to Ideal Home, cautioning against the use of bright colours in more spacious gardens.

He warned: "Bright and bold colours can be overwhelming and will likely clash with the natural landscape of your yard.

"These colours typically also tend to fade quickly under direct sunlight and require more frequent touch-ups."

The specialist further cautioned that eye-catching hues could overshadow garden greenery.

Mark Gregory, MD of Landform Consultants and creator of The Savills Garden, added that vivid shades have a tendency to 'draw attention to your boundaries' as they 'catch the eye and will create the impression that they are closer than they are, minimising the space.

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