Blocking Your Neighbor’s View: 16 Creative and Affordable Solutions
Fencing
Fencing is a classic solution for backyard privacy. Choose a fence that complements your home’s style and the surrounding landscape. Contemporary homes may opt for sleek, black horizontal beam fences, while traditional homes may prefer white vinyl fences. It’s important to check municipal laws to ensure the fence meets height restrictions and doesn’t hinder airflow.
Breeze Blocks
Breeze blocks add a touch of midcentury modern style while providing privacy and ventilation. Strategically place cement or terracotta blocks to create a mini-wall or use them to create a pathway and add greenery with low-laying plants like succulents.
Hedge Fences
A well-maintained hedge can add beauty and natural charm to your backyard. Boxwoods, arborvitae, and hollies are popular hedge options. For a four-season hedge, consider Hick’s Yew, which provides dense, verdant coverage year-round.
Shrubs
Shrubs offer a more natural and varied alternative to hedge fences. Western Serviceberry, for instance, is a deciduous shrub that changes with the seasons. Arrowwood Viburnum is a popular choice in the eastern US, attracting pollinators and songbirds while resisting deer.
Outdoor Curtains
If you’re not a fan of plants but still crave privacy, consider outdoor curtains made from weather-resistant fabric. Style them on a pergola or canopy, or create a laidback setup with gauzy drapes that keep out mosquitoes and curious neighbors.
Trellis
A trellis is a more affordable and creative way to add greenery that blocks a neighbor’s view. Allow climbing plants like clematis, star jasmine, or trumpet vine to flourish, creating a natural privacy screen.
Trees
Investing in a tree, especially a flowering tree like a magnolia or cherry blossom, can transform your outdoor space into a secret garden. Trees add overhead privacy, character, and shade to your backyard.
Pergola
A pergola adds a room-within-a-room setup to your backyard and provides shade from the sun. The slats on the pergola also block the view overhead, giving you privacy from curious neighbors.
Shade Sails
Shade sails are a modern and affordable option for creating a private and shaded area in your backyard. They can be installed over a picnic table, patio, or any other outdoor space.
Bamboo
Bamboo fencing is a natural and eco-friendly way to create a privacy screen. Choose clumping bamboo, like Fargesia, for smaller spaces or dense privacy. Running bamboo, like Golden Grove, is ideal for larger backyards, but requires more maintenance.
Container Garden
A container garden can serve as both a decorative element and a privacy partition. Select tall, lush plants with distinct forms and bright flowers, such as Elephant Ears, Provence Lavender, or hydrangea shrubs.
Tall Outdoor Planters
Artfully arrange tall planters around your outdoor space to create a wall of greenery. Fill them with a mix of thriller, filler, and spiller plants to create a dynamic and visually appealing privacy screen.
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are a fast-growing and affordable option for creating a natural privacy barrier in your backyard. Different varieties offer varying textures and silhouettes, adding interest and variety to your landscape.
Privacy Screen
Retailers offer a wide range of movable privacy screens made from materials like acacia wood or weather-resistant fabric. These screens are easy to transport and can be used to create temporary or permanent privacy solutions.
Outdoor Furniture
If you don’t want to invest in permanent structures, consider outdoor furniture with built-in privacy features. Look for cabanas, day beds with canopies, or large cantilevered sun umbrellas that provide ample shade and privacy.
Vines
For homeowners with a knack for landscaping, install a metal fence and plant a colorful climbing vine, such as Bougainvillea, to create a vibrant and privacy-enhancing wall of greenery.