Stylish backyard privacy ideas to try at home

by Judy Szablak 02/19/2023

If you're in need of backyard privacy ideas, it's time to think beyond the fence. There are plenty of creative ways to make your backyard more private, from hanging curtains to living walls and everything in between. To help you create privacy in your outdoor space, here are some tips to guide you:

Add greenery to a trellis

One thing to keep in mind is that you don't need a solid surface to create privacy. As long as you provide enough of a barrier for comfort, you can use a wide variety of lattice or openwork surfaces.

Try a trellis with your favorite climbing plants. Some excellent options include honeysuckle, clematis and jasmine. You'll have more privacy, and the sweet scent of flowers as a bonus.

Work with your yard's boundaries

You can enhance the existing boundaries of your yard with the right foliage. Choose the best tree varieties for the amount of sun and type of soil in your backyard. 

Opt for plants that create a light, protective layer along the borders but still allow some sunlight will help the rest of your garden thrive.

Elevate your style

A multi-level backyard is a bold yet functional style choice with plenty of potential for creating privacy. Combine raised beds, tall shrubs and hanging baskets to keep the neighbor's view at the top of your shrubbery and out of your yard. Finish your private retreat with a sunken living room-style sitting area complete with luxurious lounge chairs.

Go modern

Corrugated metal is an innovative fencing option that adds a modern, industrial vibe to any yard. Not only can a metal privacy fence provide protection, it also adds bold texture to common yard palettes of stones, gravel or cement.

Simple to install, corrugated metal fences are a budget-friendly privacy solution and can be customized to your desired height. When combined with a minimalist landscape, this type of fence can enhance your entire yard design.

DIY a free-standing screen

Consider building your own free-standing screen for double duty privacy and flexibility. With a free-standing screen, you can adjust the angle to meet your needs or provide perfect sun protection.

You can craft a privacy screen from a variety of materials including old doors, window frames, palettes and other recycled wood. With a little DIY ingenuity, you can create a custom privacy screen that doubles as a living wall or even a projection surface for an outdoor movie night.

Whether you opt for a simple trellis or an entire outdoor room-style sanctuary, these ideas should help you get started on creating more privacy in your backyard. 

About the Author
Author

Judy Szablak

With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.

She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.

 Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”

 Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com