Brie Larson might be best known for her Marvel roles, but when she's not preoccupied playing the superhero, she's busy being the super-host. The actress loves to gather with friends and family at her LA villa, and after sharing some shots from her annual hot dog festival in her backyard (yes, you read that right), we were won over by her elegant greige siding idea.
The Avengers star's back terrace is no doubt the perfect setting for sharing good memories and food with friends, but it makes a great visual impression. Rather than settling for plain gray or white siding, the chic greige exterior choice makes the perfect foundation for her tasteful terrace idea, not only complementing her patio paving but allowing her potted plants to pop.
With spring just around the corner, you might be looking to upgrade your outdoor space in time for summer barbecues and garden soirees like Brie's. If so, designers and landscapers agree that this classic neutral shade should be on your agenda.
Designing a beautiful backyard should be as much a priority as a stylish interior, and yet, it's a space most of us overlook. The same can't be said for Brie, however. The actress's terrace is so simple yet so chic, and it's all thanks to her clever choice of siding color.
Far from boring, a natural, warm greige tone can make the perfect foundation for an outdoor space. 'This greige color choice may seem to designers like a boring beige or worse, a "builder’s grade color", but I think it’s a chic choice to use as a neutral background palette on which to add layers of visual interest to complete the design when the season permits,' says designer, Isy Jackson of Cheltenham Interiors.
Kat Aul Cervoni, founder and principal of Staghorn NYC Landscape Design, agrees, noting that neutral tones like Brie's warm greige are always a safe bet for landscaping. 'I'm a big fan of using neutral tones throughout a backyard space, especially when it comes to patio stone, brick, or paver colors,' she says. 'Opting for gray, beige, or greige for the larger built portions of your outdoor space allows things like plantings, planters, and furniture to be the centerpiece or focal point of the space.'
That's exactly what Brie's terrace achieves, albeit subtle. Despite the minimal styling, the addition of a potted Bird of Paradise plant brings a much-needed splash of green to the space, and when she's not busy hosting her annual hot dog celebrations, we're certain Brie would have a stylish array of patio furniture lining the terrace, too. 'Things like gorgeous potted plants in interesting ceramic planters or hanging interesting art above the sliding French doors could enhance the somewhat empty look,' suggests Isy.
Whether you have a wall, fence, or garden shed that's in need of a lick of paint, consider choosing a soft greige to invigorate your space for the season ahead. In fact, as Kat notes, any neutral will do. 'Gray, in particular, offers one of the best background colors for green, and the color combo works beautifully in both contemporary and traditional spaces,' she says. 'The bonus is that these light neutral colors are the best at masking dirt and weathering, making them a practical choice for patios, pathways, and garden structures.'
Shop the look
This greige paint from Behr makes a beautiful neutral backdrop for a lush green lawn or a bed of plants.
Take inspiration from Brie's backyard and add a potted Bird of Paradise to your patio (weather permitting, of course!)
A loveseat is a must-have addition to a porch or patio, and the classic form of this option from Target makes a particularly stylish addition.
Ready to give your backyard a revamp? The perfect paint color can work wonders – you just need to take the plunge.
