How to paint a fence in sports team colours

First, decide on your design. Simple stripes work really well on picket fences, while wider colour blocks can suit paling fences or larger fence panels. Take a look at your team's official colours for inspiration, then choose exterior paint colours that closely match the look you're after. If you're having trouble finding the right shade, speak to a Team Member in store about colour matching or tinting options to help achieve a closer match. 

Sketch out your design or use masking tape to visualise the stripe widths so you're happy with the layout. If you're using multiple colours, it's also worth testing them on a piece of cardboard to see how they look together in natural light before you start painting. 

To help the paint adhere well, brush away dirt, cobwebs and loose debris, then pressure wash the fence if needed. Once it's completely dry, lightly sand any rough areas or flaking paint and remove the sanding dust with a brush or cloth. If you're painting bare timber or making a dramatic colour change, you might need to apply primer before applying your top coats. 

Use masking tape to mark out your colour pattern and protect any areas you don't want to paint. If you're painting alternating pickets, it's also a good idea to tape the back of the fence behind the gaps to help catch any roller or brush marks and minimise paint transfer. Before opening the paint, step back and check the overall layout to make sure you're happy with the design, then press the tape down firmly along the edges to help create clean, crisp paint lines. 

Stir the paint thoroughly before pouring it into a paint tray. Use a paint roller to paint the larger sections of each stripe using smooth, even strokes, then use a paint brush to cut in around the edges, pickets and any areas the roller can't easily reach. If you're painting multiple colours side by side, allow each colour to dry before applying masking tape and painting the next stripe to help keep the lines crisp. Applying two light coats will usually give a smoother, more even finish than one heavy coat. 

Once the final coat has started to dry but before it's fully hardened, carefully peel away the masking tape at a 45-degree angle to reveal clean, sharp lines. If needed, touch up any small imperfections with a fine paint brush once the paint has dried for a professional finish.  

Complete your game day preparations with streamers, flags or other decorations in your team's colours to bring the space to life and create the ultimate backyard setup. Once the season is over or you're ready for a new look, simply repaint the fence in a different colour using the same preparation and painting process. 

Now your fence is ready for game day, check out our guide on how to set up your backyard for game day to create the ultimate space.