10 Most Versatile Colorbond Colours

As a construction material, Colorbond steel has managed to segue into so many different facets of home design, so much so that here in Australia, the thought of the iconic brand is likely to bring up a collage of products. Roofs, doors, gates, fences, patios, and even walls are made with Colorbond steel. The quality, durability, low-maintenance finish, and even the high UV resistance of Colorbond makes it perfect for Aussie living, which is why Colorbond steel is always considered to be a good investment for your home

Colorbond steel is also just as versatile as it is functional, with over 22 different colours available to Aussie consumers. The unique colour treatment for Colorbond steel also means whatever colour pick will be baked into the fence panels, guaranteeing no scratching or chipping. With this uber-durable finish, Colorbond steel fencing also takes the crown for one of the most durable and low-maintenance fencing options available to Aussie homeowners today. 

So the real question is how do you know which colour is the right fit for your garden design? Colorbond picks their colours to pair perfectly with native Australian plants and home and garden design trends – think the muted greens of Eucalyptus or driftwood, sand dunes and ocean spray. This is also why the most versatile Colorbond colours are always going to be their Australiana-inspired neutrals, these being neutral tones that draw out different aspects of exterior designs. Our team at Outback Fencing has been installing and working with Colorbond fence panels for many years, so we’ve asked them for their feedback on the colours to create this list of the top 10 most versatile Colorbond colours.

• Classic Cream
• Surfmist
• Dune
• Windspray
• Shale Grey
• Woodland Grey
• Basalt
• Monument
• Cottage Green
• Ironstone

1. Classic Cream

Millennials have been criticised for saturating their interiors and exteriors in creams and beiges. But in truth, beiges aren’t boring and it’s not the colour that’s lacking character anyway – people just don’t know what to do with it! Rather than relying on the colour to do all the work, true neutrals like Classic Cream are best used for striking contrast across your other hand-picked design elements.

When Classic Cream is used in exteriors, it has a more modern and vibrant effect, because there is a strong contrast between darker natural elements like trees, leaves, soil and the sky. This makes Classic Cream Colorbond fences a great fencing style for contemporary homes which traditionally use darker colour palettes. 

You can also use the subtlety of Classic Cream to make your garden the highlight of the show, offering a neutral background to admire your curated garden space. The beauty of Classic Cream is that the colour is a timeless and universally flattering backdrop, offering a lighter design palette without the sterility of a simple white.

2. Surfmist

Surfmist is a designer’s dream – not because its soft, silvery-white shade is overly eye-catching, but because it does the opposite: it doesn’t ask for much of your attention. Surfmist is perfect for those who want a busy outdoor space with lots of character because it’s the ultimate subtle canvas against which your functional landscaping can shine. 

Similar to Classic Cream, Surfmist is a modern off-white with pale and cool tones with soft warm greys stirred in. The colour is reminiscent of the sand underneath retreating water after a wave hits the shore – there is a softness yet complexity that provides endless possibilities across different fencing types. 

Given Surfmist’s neutrality, you can go in any direction when choosing how to style your Colorbond fencing. Modern designer pool fencing will perfectly contrast the light neutrality of Surfmist, while the pool fence design matches Surfmist’s contemporary feeling. Surfmist, and other lighter colours, are also far easier to clean than darker colours, so you can save cleaning them for your annual spring clean.

3. Dune

Dune is another versatile Colorbond colour inspired by features of the Australian coast, with competing tones that make it a highly versatile option. Dune’s shade is between cream and grey, and its darker tones emulate the transition between the coastal sand and the light bark of eucalyptus trees. Darker furniture, freshly soiled planter boxes and dark tiling would go wonderfully with Dune because they match the darker tones while bringing out Dune’s lighter essence.

As for lighter furnishings, or even lighter styles like Mediterranean-style homes, these work very well, too, and have the opposite effect, drawing out Dune’s lighter shades and its sense of warmth and relaxation. Dune’s clean and fresh appearance hits the same notes as the tranquil tones of a quiet picnic between two sand dunes on a secluded beach. 

Simply put, Dune is a great choice of fencing for coastal areas. However, as Australia’s terrain and building materials often feature sand, lighter wood and sandstone, rural and suburban homeowners can easily use Dune for effective styling.

4. Windspray

To the undiscerning eye, Windspray is a typical light grey. However, its soft blue undertones lend a more peaceful atmosphere to the grey, so it feels more relaxing and balanced rather than clinical. The soft blue-grey in Windspray is found in various parts of nature across the country, like the silvery trunk of gum trees, making it an excellent choice for all homeowners seeking versatility in their style and low-maintenance fencing through lighter shades.

For example, in a coastal home, it works as a grounding feature against the lighter shades of the shore. More inland, Windspray connects the greys of bushes and trees outside of your property and offers a stylish fence barrier that blends into the scenery behind. There is a serenity in Windspray that can be felt no matter the character of your home or the style of your outdoor space.

5. Shale Grey

While there’s no need for competition between all these versatile Colorbond colours, Shale Grey just might win a beauty pageant because of its style and grace. Shale Grey is another soft and neutral colour, but its silver-blue accents put it in a granite-filled, calm and elegant world of its own. 

But the main reason that Shale Grey belongs on our most versatile Colorbond colours list is because of how many materials it complements. From stone and granite tabletops, dark timber decking or furniture, grey and red brickwork, and light renders to white and grey aluminium pool fencing, this is arguably the perfect grey tone for styling across a range of design styles and colour palettes.

In the inner city, Shale Grey will thread between the greys of urban streets while offering a more calm and serene undertone through the colour’s soft green shades. Many contemporary finishes perfectly suit this neutral tone, or you can even easily highlight your Shale Grey Colorbond fencing alongside darker tones, like black perforated pool fencing. 

Even rural settings work well with Shale Grey where the colour matches the silver tones of trees and has a contrasting effect with paler features like dirt tracks, sandstone walls and lighter brickwork. So if you’re looking for a fence style that will effortlessly boost the appeal of your rural property, Shale Grey Colorbond will not disappoint.

6. Woodland Grey

Deep in the Australian bush, grey and green live together to create a serene forest that oozes peace and harmony. Woodland Grey is the embodiment of this feeling with the grey-green tone of the inland forests, and is known as the ‘chameleon colour’, well and truly earning its place on this list. 

Woodland Grey is earthy and rich and brings strength and sophistication to your back or front yard through Colorbond fence panels. Its charcoal shades make Woodland Grey an excellent choice for many architectural styles, particularly contemporary and industrial-inspired designs. With its sophisticated backdrop, it can elevate just about any landscape and outdoor space. 

And since this colour is so full of character, pairing it with transparent elements like glass pool fencing can further complement Woodland Grey Colorbond panels and really highlight the depth of this colour. 

Even so, a standard white pole pool fence still goes excellently with the depth of Woodland Grey, highlighting the colour's natural versatility – so if you've followed our garden budgeting tips and chosen a more simple pool fence, Woodland Grey has got you covered. 

7. Basalt

If you want to bring in more of a dark and sophisticated style into your landscape without the risk of a dark grey, Basalt is a wonderful choice with lots of versatility to get the colour to work with your design. Basalt is deep and moody with its own sense of character, but it’s  still light enough to complement brighter features in your landscape. For this reason, the colour pairs very well with paler accent colours, like gravel, limestone walls or a post and rail fence that might live in other areas of your property

Basalt is equally beneficial for more modern and sleek outdoor spaces of architecturally designed homes. Contemporary designs with strong and sophisticated fencing colours are also a fantastic way to elevate your home's curbside appeal. Even nature-filled or eccentric designs work well with Basalt, as the fencing colour offers a strong grounding presence for your creativity to run free in your backyard design. 

8. Monument

Monument is inspired by the dark tones of volcanic ash and rock formations we see along Australia’s wild southern coastline. A deeper, sophisticated and empowering grey, this particular Colorbond colour makes for a great fencing design for hot weather conditions, where its volcanic hues are sure to really pop. 

Monument works excellently across many different materials, from rich timbers, crisp whites, silvered greys, rich green grass and limestone pathways to advanced decking, such as Trex composite decking. As Monument is more complex than black, the strength isn’t overpowering but can recede to the background and add depth to your landscaping. For instance, you can pair your Monument Colorbond fence panels with white or black pool blade fencing for a striking monochromatic effect. 

9. Cottage Green

Lush and dark, Cottage Green emulates the emerald ambience of the hinterlands, forests and national parks across Australia. This green transports you to life in the wilderness and offers vibrancy and strength through its connection to nature, yet it is dark enough to offer plenty of styling possibilities. While black is a bold choice that comes with risk, Cottage Green has a natural serenity and calming feeling that provides comfort as well as character.

It’s perfect for just about any property away from the coast. In suburban areas, Cottage Green fence panels will also energise your backyard with a sense of nature – and for inner city properties, this shade can bring a homely atmosphere to a sometimes cluttered or busy part of the country. 

Cottage Green is also an easy choice for traditional, period and post-war home fencing as it perfectly complements the red bricks and green accents often found in these homes. What’s more, nearly every style of vegetative suits Cottage Green, so if designing with garden plants is a priority for you, the colour might be the way to go. 

10.  Ironstone

Our final versatile colour is also our darkest. Ironstone captures the bottom of the sea, with shades of blue so deep that they become complex and yet subtle. We also find this steely blue in our natural landscape here in Australia, across flint rocks and rugged mountain peaks. 

Ironstone’s connection to the deep and rich parts of nature makes it a truly intriguing colour, and it’s neutral enough to offer flexibility when used in your fencing. The deeper blues and greys of this neutral shade also offer strength and warmth in spades, which means you can relax on having to design multiple statement areas in your outdoor space.

From deep green grasses and colourful flowers to Australian native gardens, many types of vegetation will help strengthen the stylish and contemporary design of Ironstone in your fencing. To further build on a contemporary design with Ironstone, choose bluestone features, terrazzo furnishings or glazed brick and tiling. If you want a traditional design, you can go for warm and neutral colours in your landscaping, like red brick steps and limestone or sandstone walls.

Subtlety Shines in Colorbond Colours

Colorbond has been a leading name in residential and commercial steel building materials, including fencing products, for many years. Their popularity can be attributed wholly to the fact that they’ve developed an impeccable product that stands the test of time. Our team at Outback Fencing agree that our Colorbond fence panels are truly one of the most durable fencing styles available for Aussie homeowners today. And given its long lifespan and durable construction, you can expect whatever Colorbond colour you select to look its best season after season and for years to come.

Want to learn more about Colorbond fencing before making your design selections? Then explore more of our advice in our blog like how to install a Colorbond fence panel. You can also browse our Colorbond range today to check out all these colours and more.