How to Create Privacy in Your Own Backyard

Whether you live in a wide-open suburb or close-quartered city neighborhood, enjoying your outdoor space while still having a sense of privacy can be a challenge. Creating quiet, cozy spaces that block or obscure views requires a little imagination, but can provide a lot of comforts while allowing you to express some personal style.

The Basics of Privacy in the Garden

Fencing and hedges are the obvious solutions to outdoor privacy. If all you want is to hide an area from view, a simple solid fence or some densely planted shrubbery is all you need.

You don’t have stop there, of course. If you are looking for solitude, you’ll want to use the space. Put a little personal touch on the landscape for you to enjoy.

Hard Fencing

Fencing is available in every conceivable style and can be constructed from an endless choice of materials. Consider something that complements your home, keeping the style consistent with your house’s existing architecture to make for a finished look from the street.

Fencing can be bland and monotonous, existing as a blank wall that detracts from the appearance of your yard instead of enhancing it. Breaking up long stretches with border gardens softens the edges and adds color and texture.

Go up in height with shrubs or dwarf trees which have roots that won’t interfere with the stability of the fence. Climbing vines, whether green varieties like ivies or flowering like roses or hydrangea, can turn a hard surface into an attractive backdrop.

They also won’t interfere when you maintain your lawn. An electric lawn mower will be able to get into the corners of the fence without destroying your hard work.

Fences can have an impact on light and airflow. If total privacy is not what you need, look into fence styles with decorative openings. Some fences have latticework running along the top or are even made completely from the lattice. Open spaces in the fence, like small window gaps or decorative grillwork, allow the breeze to flow, keeping the garden both cool and refreshing.

Since you are creating an outdoor space, treat it as you would the interior of your home. Don’t be shy about hanging decorative items on fences. They help break up the space like the artwork on the inside of your house and can add to the overall attractiveness of your design.

Let your creativity loose and utilize old window frames, mirrored items, random architectural elements like salvaged pillars or decorative trim, or hanging pots. Mount a birdhouse on the face of the fence or atop a post.

Hedges

If a solid barrier is not what you are looking for, plantings are the best bet. You can go with a classic like hollies, boxwoods, or evergreens for a formal look, or get creative by clustering flowering shrubs and bushes.

Mix things up with a variety of different plants that work together to achieve a more natural appearance. When it comes time to trim or saw off wayward branches, use an oscillating multi-tool with a sawing blade to get the job done efficiently and easily.

Think outside the box; don’t just limit yourself to shrubs. Some ornamental grasses can grow quite tall, creating lush, dense borders. Grasses come in a wide number of heights, colors, and textures, giving you even more decorative options. In addition, they move much more freely in the breeze, adding an extra element of mesmerizing sound and movement to your garden.

Obscured Views

It may be that you simply want to reduce the level of visual exposure from the casual observer. Clustering plantings in key lines of sight from the street or a neighbors window can often be enough to accomplish your goal. If your space is overlooked by neighboring buildings, arbors and pergola can shield you from above as well as provide shade for those hot summer days.

Using structural elements that distract the eye can help as well. Even if you don’t have a solid fence, it might help to include a highly decorative gate for passersby to focus on rather than what’s beyond it. Potted plants, statuary, or outdoor artwork can serve the same function.

Let Your Privacy Grow

With thought and planning, you can not only have an outdoor space but privacy, too. Take your time to understand what you truly want, be it complete privacy or distracted viewing, and create spaces where you can relax at any time.

Let nature take its course and enjoy watching your landscape grow and change, tinkering and modifying your approach as the results are revealed.