Forget blue skies and green grass, grey was the key colour for gardens in 2022 according to new data* from eco wood paint specialists Thorndown.

Sales data shows that grey shades dominated the year with 35% of their exterior wood paint best sellers being variations on the shade. Up 5% on 2021.

Greens were a close second – accounting for 25% - with natural wood tones, including a clear UV finish, in third (15%).

Caroline Thornborough, Thorndown’s Design Director, said: “Colours influence our moods and everyday lives, uplifting our spirits, increasing creativity, or helping to create a sense of calm and spaces to relax in. Cool and contemporary tones definitely lead the way in the 2.5l chart where timber buildings tend to be painted to sit in with and compliment the natural palette of the garden.

“Grey is a gorgeous neutral that will act as a stunning backdrop, allowing all the natural shades of the garden to shine, so it’s no surprise that it continues to perform well.

“The rise in greens and natural wood tones show there is a drive towards more biophilic influenced colours. Even in the garden, people are opting for natural colours to create relaxing retreats to unwind and recharge.”

Thorndown’s Top 20 Best-Selling Shades:

  1.  UV Clear
  2. Bishop Blue
  3. Cavepool Grey
  4. Old Sage Green
  5. Blackdown
  6. Mercury Grey
  7. Cow Parsley White
  8. Sedge Green
  9. Yew Green
  10. Dulcote Stone
  11. Zinc Grey
  12. Dormouse Grey
  13. Swan White
  14. Ebbor Stone
  15. Whispy Willow
  16. Ash
  17. Hawthorn
  18. Bergamot Grey
  19. Goddess Green
  20. Grey Heron

*Based on analysis of sales of 2.5-litre tins of exterior wood paint. Click here to see the full results. 

Thorndown's collection of eco wood paint is available now for £50 for a 2.5-litre tin from thorndown.co.uk

THE THORNDOWN STORY

Thorndown is an award-winning specialist paint manufacturer that creates technically excellent, eco-friendly water-based wood paints and innovative peelable glass paint, perfect for shading and arts and crafts.

Inspired by the beautiful countryside and heritage of the West Country where the factory is based, the husband-and-wife team behind Thorndown, Ben and Caroline Thornborough, blend their passions for art, design, science and the natural world in their ecologically advanced paints.

Founded on the principles of creating the best possible products with leading ingredients that both respect and work with the natural environment, Thorndown has taken time to source the best raw materials to create cutting-edge water-based eco paints with virtually no VOCs. 

Thorndown’s Wood Paint is available in 72 colours and a UV Clear, while the Peelable Glass Paint is available in 24 opaque colours and 14 translucents.

Colour matching is also available along with over 1800 RAL Classic and Design colours.

Thorndown is represented by homes & interiors specialists jwc