Olivia Bowen has transformed her pergola and garden dining area into a stunning Mediterranean-inspired oasis, and I caught up with her to get the low-down on how she did – including the exact paint shade she used.
If you’re short on garden paint ideas, let Olivia’s gorgeous garden be an example of how to make bold colour work in an outdoor space. Whether it is gloomy or grey, or bright shine, using paint to add colour to your garden is an excellent way to ensure it is filled with colour all year round.
Having shot to fame after appearing on series two of Love Island, Olivia has since become renowned for her incredible interiors style, which she shows off on her home’s Instagram account @thebowenhome.
As part of her recent collaboration with Valspar Paint, which includes 7 paint shades, I was able to catch up with her to explore how she’s used her latest outdoor paint palette in her own garden. It was her stunning white pergola and striking blue dining table that caught my eye.
Considering Greek gardens and Mediterranean-style planting are huge trends this year (and have been for the past couple of years), Olivia’s garden dining set-up is a brilliant example to anyone who wants to get the look – especially when you consider it’s an upcycle, too!
‘We wanted to just create a really fun, bold garden, and to try and encourage people to sort of try new things and express themselves in their garden as much as they do in their home,’ Said Olivia, speaking about how she selected colours for her latest Valspar palette.
‘So, the selection process was really trying to choose a couple of more neutral shades that are a perfect base for the garden, but also some really fun, bold shades. There’s one in there that’s like this, really bold blue. It’s called Moroccan Resort, and I upcycled a table, and it just, honestly, looks amazing.
‘And I was even a little bit scared to do it, because I was like, this is really bold for me. But it really pays off!
Moroccan Resort is the shade used to paint Olivia’s dining table under her pergola. This bold, striking hue instantly draws you to the table and makes the white of the pergola look brighter.
‘We also have the White Moss colour, we’ve painted the whole fence, and I’ve also got a pergola, which we’ve painted, and the blue table is underneath that, next to our barbecue, which has some, I’d say, European Italian tiles on the back,’ said Olivia.
‘The blue is the colour I picked out of the tile, so it’s in front of the barbecue, and we’ve just created this kind of, like, rustic, alfresco Italian vibe area, and it is lovely. We sat under there when we had the first bit of sun, which was amazing with all the family, and it was so nice.’
The stunning blue and white combo is not the only colour from Olivia’s palette that she’s used in her garden. She’s also used the summery ‘Be My Sunshine’ yellow to create a mini beach hut for her children.
‘I’ve made a little sand area, and then I bought a little Wendy house that was just plain on Amazon and then painted it like a beach hut. You know, when you go to Frinton or similar, you have all the little beach huts in a row. That was the inspiration, so we created this nautical theme in pink and yellow for the kids, and they absolutely love it,’ she said.
Olivia is on to something. With colourful garden furniture becoming increasingly popular, as well as the fence colours that can boost a home’s value, containing brighter shades, there is a real desire for colour in our gardens. However, if you’re feeling a little unsure about picking up a paintbrush, Olivia has some advice.
‘I would say, definitely, like, look at inspiration, and I think the main thing is think about how you want to feel in a garden. Do you want to be calm, or do you want to be excited, and then that will kind of tell you what colour to use,’ she said.
‘You know, neutral tones are really calming, greens are quite calming, so think about that first. And if in doubt, just go to my palette, obviously!
‘But that’s why I did include the White Moss, and also there’s charcoal in there, which is called Thundercloud, because those are colours that I feel like people may be more comfortable in using. But they can create that backdrop for you to then maybe experiment, like we said, on a table, or something that you’re not worried about getting wrong.’
Complete the look
Dunelm
Sophie Robinson Harp Plant Pot
If you want vibrancy, without picking up a paintbrush, this Dunelm planter is both colourful and stylish.
Fired Earth
Kelmscott Emery Blue Patterned Tile
Adding statement tiles to your kitchen area is a great way to give it a luxe-look upgrade. This blue pattern is perfect for a Mediterranean look.
Crocus
Siena Ribbed Italian Terracotta Pot
Terracotta is a key colour and material for Med-inspired gardens and these Crocus pots are absolutely stunning.
The Olivia Bowen x Valspar Paint outdoor paint palette is availble to shop online now. Which colour has caught your eye?
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