Backyard privacy ideas that go way beyond fencing

📥 Want help designing privacy with plants? Grab my FREE Mixed Border Guide & Checklist here:
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Feel like your neighbors are a little too close for comfort?

In this video, I’m sharing creative backyard privacy ideas that go way beyond just planting a tall hedge. Whether you’re working with a small yard, narrow side space, or an open patio, you’ll discover clever ways to block views, create structure, and turn your yard into a peaceful retreat—without enclosing yourself in.

👀 I’ll show you how to:
• Identify your privacy “hot spots”
• Use trees, vines, and panels to block second-story views
• Add instant privacy with movable screens and greenery
• Frame your outdoor rooms for comfort and coziness
• Mix flexible and permanent solutions for the perfect balance

💡 NEXT UP → Don’t miss my video on the biggest privacy design mistakes to avoid. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/-rMRN1WL9gk?si=p8s9ZuKNpHCsdOHV

I also have an entire playlist of privacy solutions that you can check out right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rMRN1WL9gk&list=PLXY-JJidTXYXIL5XepGXzk1AJBzFS6Aho&ab_channel=PrettyPurpleDoorGardenDesign

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👋Hi! I’m Amy and over at PrettyPurpleDoor.com, I help home gardeners design landscapes that are uniquely you.

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today we’ll be talking about creative privacy ideas that go way beyond just planting a hedge at the edge of your property Whether you’re working with a completely open space a tiny patio a narrow sideyard I hope you’ll walk away with fresh design strategies to help you create privacy and structure so you can enjoy your outdoor space all year long My name is Amy and over at Pretty Burpal I help home gardeners design landscapes that are uniquely you Before you buy anything or start planting take a look at your space and ask yourself where do I need the most privacy is it on your patio near your hot tub near the back door who are you actually screening from who do you need the privacy from from upstairs windows of a neighbor from street traffic from a nosy neighbor that’s peeking over your fence designing with privacy in mind starts with identifying those key hot spots on your property You don’t need to block everything So we want to make sure that we’re focusing on the most important areas that are key to you living privately in your space I think it’s safe to assume that most people believe that the only way to create privacy is adding a fence or some sort of evergreen hedge to the edge of your property And while an evergreen hedge or super tall fence are both options there are other options for along that fence line So I’m going to go over those options first and then I’m going to go over some potentially even better solutions for creating privacy that don’t involve surrounding your house with a fortress especially if you don’t need that level of privacy like most of us probably don’t So along the fence line one great option if you need that little bit taller privacy height is to add a structure that isn’t necessarily completely opaque In this example here there’s a beautiful stone wall and then above that there’s a trellis So you can see a little bit through that screen but it does create a really nice sense of privacy This tree is taking up virtually zero space in the lawn but its large canopy extends far above the fence line So when you strategically place things like this it can be a really great option for blocking a neighbor or a second story view Similar to trees rambling vines that grow along a trellis along a fence along an arbor can also create beautiful and functional privacy screens You can also purchase artificial greenery privacy screen panels like this for instant privacy from your neighbors These come in squares of like 20 by 20 in and they snap together and can be purchased in sets This is a really great option if you need privacy like yesterday and you can’t afford a full fencing solution A tall arbor that has a little hat or a roof on the top like this is also a really great solution especially if you’re trying to create privacy from somebody that’s looking in from above So like I said these options at the fence line they’re not the only solution but they definitely are a good solution in some cases Another option and my preferred option in most cases is to create privacy structures that are closer to actually where you need the privacy This is usually more cost-effective than fencing an entire property or purchasing a huge row of those evergreen shrubs or trees when the privacy is closer to you it doesn’t need to be as large or as obstructive to be really really effective So again let’s focus on the key area where you need that privacy and look at some other solutions that may work for you These decorative metal fence panel inserts can give you privacy and also something beautiful to look at while you’re dining outside Another great option here on the right is weaving curtains in and out of the roof of an existing pergola or gazebo This can give you more privacy from above Again those neighbors that might be looking down from a second story while not completely blocking out all the sunshine and the fresh air that you enjoy when you’re outside dining You can also use old windows decorative doors slatted panels as vertical accents Even a bubbling fountain adds privacy by masking sound And it can make your space feel really secluded and nice if you have that noise barrier as well This is another decorative metal panel that’s actually framed by beams and raised to a higher height This can be a really beautiful focal point in your landscape And also it’s strategically placed to hide an ugly view or create that privacy where you need it So privacy screens and fences don’t have to be ugly They can actually be created into a focal point while also creating a functional space for yourself Something as simple as an outdoor movie theater can also create privacy if you place it strategically And it combines that need for privacy with a functional element of your landscape that you can also use and enjoy Here’s another great example It’s just a very large metal galvanized planter filled with a tall grass or even bamboo inside of a container like this would work to create privacy from a neighbor or a deck or something that you’re trying to block I think this one’s really ingenious It’s just a piece of lattice a privacy screen that’s been outfitted with wheels so it can be moved around your yard where your privacy is needed most And if your budget is super limited this is another option You can just make a simple frame out of PVC pipe and attach a curtain or a sheet to it in a pretty color or a pattern You may need to put some rocks on top of the feet to hold this in place but that’s a really small price to pay to regain your privacy I think If you’re looking for something a bit more stylish waddle fencing can be a great option It creates privacy with beautiful and naturalistic material These can be placed along fence lines like in the photo on the right or you can just have one single panel like in the previous examples that creates a privacy nook or even an area that feels a little bit more private from the rest of your yard Obviously you can use plants as well So I like to strategically place layered plantings that help with privacy You could see here in the center there’s a conifer that’s very tall in the center So what I usually do is I will sit on the deck of the person who I’m designing for and actually figure out where exactly that tree needs to be placed and then create a garden bed of beautiful plants around that And just to point out you don’t always need to use evergreens in this situation Although it’s great to have that privacy in winter if you don’t really need it You can just put a really nice focal point tree in that space and that will create privacy for three out of the four seasons and it would be open in the winter Just another example if you don’t need that winter privacy because you’re not outside at that time Here’s some deciduous shrubs and other plants that are creating a nice privacy barrier with a layered look as well This area is surrounded by a lot of different plants and even has a structure over top of where the dining or seating area is So you can layer different types of privacy solutions together to create a look that’s really functional Layering different types of plants like evergreens and deciduous shrubs that have different heights while strategically placing them to block out privacy is really the key here when you’re using a lot of different plants combined with structures But you can create a really unique look with this And if you struggle for what to plant together to get that layered look that I’m talking about I do have a free master the mix border guide that walks you through exactly how to do this This is free It includes a checklist and design tips to help you create layered plantings that look great and offer year-round structure You can grab it at prettypurped door.com/master or click the link in the description below So let’s talk about some solutions for actual outdoor rooms How to create more privacy in an area that you use a lot either for dining or maybe it’s a pool area or a hangout space that you want to feel more private For this you can try framing the area because garden rooms I like to call them rooms just like you would have an indoor room of your house you can have outdoor rooms in the garden Garden rooms So garden rooms consist of floors walls and ceilings And I think most people are okay with the floor part like you put down a stone patio or you have a wooden deck or something like that But I think a lot of people forget that you can also put walls or ceilings up to create that room and frame it in Now the walls don’t have to be the same height as the ones in your house for them to be effective And the same with the ceilings They can be open air or have some spaces in them It doesn’t have to be completely blocked off like you’re inside of a shed or something to be effective And this example of the pergola has both walls which has trellis on it that isn’t 100% opaque So there’s definitely spaces you can see through and then there’s other spaces that are completely open And then it has a structured roof on top I like to say that when you design intentionally privacy becomes a byproduct of good design not something that you throw in later So arbors and pergolas with roofs on them can really create a lot of privacy and would be something I might suggest if you were starting from scratch and just initially planning out your landscape This is especially important if you have houses that are two stories high next to you that can look down from those windows Again that second story privacy can be really difficult to solve So thinking about that when you’re initially designing your space is a really good idea So let’s look at some more options that are permanent structures in your landscape that can help with privacy and also be really beautiful and functional Here there’s a stone fireplace and you could actually build this to block anything that’s behind that fireplace So you can use that fireplace structure to block out an ugly view or a nosy neighbor or something like that and the roof line and having a full finished roof on top really adds more privacy to the space as well You can also create privacy and a sense of enclosure in a space with raised beds like this These would be considered the walls of an outdoor room So this is a really great option especially if you add a trellis to the back of these raised beds or these seating areas and plant some vines up the top of it It can really block out a lot of views and still be really functional and really pretty Another great option and I use this even in my own home is to install blinds on a porch area This is a really easy it’s super cost-effective solution to privacy issues I actually do it on my front porch Plus what I love is that I can raise these blinds and lower them as needed to control how much privacy I need or want at that time I love this option so much on the screen right here It’s a combination of adding some lattice and then also some curtains together This is really really beautiful and a really easy thing to do if you already have an existing wooden deck You can just hire a contractor to come out and install this for you This would be a really quick solution and not super expensive if you already have the deck in place And again I just love this combination I think that it’s sophisticated and it doesn’t feel like you’re just putting up a huge fence to block your neighbors It feels a little bit more welcoming and homey Here’s another great option with curtains and really easy to implement this Choosing an interesting color or a fun texture can really add a lot of personality to a space So I just love how they went all out with hot pink in this space I think it’s really cool And simply placing your furniture in an already private area of your yard can be a great solution So if you’re planning your space right now try to find the most secluded area of your yard and actually plan to put your seating in that space I know it sounds really obvious to do this but sometimes when we’re looking at our own spaces it’s really easy to not think about things like this so I just wanted to throw it out there You don’t have to spend a ton of money to create privacy when you already have private areas in your space You just have to plan around those spaces Maybe you already have it right so whether you’re dealing with close neighbors or you just want a really peaceful retreat in your yard I hope that you found something on this list that was right for you Remember if you want help creating those layered plantings that look great and provide privacy don’t forget to grab my free master the mixed border guide You’ll find a link to that in the description below If you’re ready to take privacy a step further check out my next video It’s all about the biggest privacy design mistakes to avoid so you don’t waste your time or money on things that won’t actually work for your space I’m going to link it right here on the screen and I’ll see you over in the next video [Music]