We’re not claiming green camouflage will be the next big trend in pillows and bedding, but when it comes to curb appeal, a little visual trickery can make a big difference. After removing overgrown, overcrowded hedges during a recent landscaping refresh, our house looked much more exposed — and that revealed an unsightly propane tank by the chimney that the bushes had previously hidden.
With our new, simpler landscape plan (more on that project can be found here), we planted two dwarf Alberta spruces — one planted in front of the tank and a matching one on the opposite side of the house for balance. Those will eventually grow to about six feet tall and roughly 30 inches wide, which should screen the tank over time. But we’re not patient people, and paint felt like a fast, effective solution.
Our idea was simple: paint the propane tank a deep brick-red to blend it with the house exterior. Because the tank belongs to the propane company, the first step was calling them for permission. Happily, they approved — with the amusing caveat, “don’t paint it anything crazy like black, but red is okay.” Red seemed less “crazy” to us when matched carefully to the brick, so we chose a quart of exterior paint and tested chips next to the house until we found the best match. Two brushed-on coats later, the tank fit the facade much more naturally. Here’s an early stage of the project:
Once painted, the tank transformed from an awkward gray object into a low-key element of the exterior. It’s far from invisible up close, but from the street the painted finish softens the contrast and helps the house read as a cohesive whole.
Viewed from the street, the difference is striking for the small investment — roughly $14 in paint. The painted tank blends into the overall exterior palette and no longer draws the eye the way the plain gray had.
I didn’t stop at the propane tank. After checking with the power company to confirm that exterior-mounted equipment we own could be painted, I set to work on the gray utility boxes at the back of the house. I was so eager to start that I forgot to photograph the true “before” state, but here’s a halfway shot during the painting process.
A single coat of the same brick-red paint made the meter boxes far less jarring. They’re still visible up close, as they should be for access and safety, but from a distance they recede into the background and support a more polished look.
The paint I used was Sherwin-Williams Red Barn — a warm brick tone that complements our exterior brickwork. In a few cases, a small amount of paint and some careful color matching can dramatically improve curb appeal without altering structural elements or creating ongoing maintenance headaches.
An Additional Disguise Trick
If painting isn’t the right approach for every site, there are other ways to disguise exterior utilities. One favorite is a simple outdoor plant shelf that uses potted and vining plants to obscure electrical boxes while still allowing access. We built one of these and found it to be an attractive, low-effort solution that adds greenery while camouflaging necessary but unattractive equipment. Read more about that project here.
Small, thoughtful updates like painting utility boxes or adding plantings can greatly enhance the overall look of a home with minimal cost and effort. If you have similar eyesores, test a paint match or consider softening them with plants — both are quick ways to boost curb appeal.