10 Best Ways to Add More Privacy to Your Backyard Oasis

If you live in an apartment or condo and are lucky enough to have an outdoor balcony, you probably know that privacy can be a challenge. A chic balcony privacy screen on one or both sides can not only create your own private retreat, but can also present a great styling opportunity. Add instant jungle vibes to your space by clustering some easy to care for plants alongside them.

If you’re living the apartment balcony life but a privacy screen isn’t quite your style, why not create your own tropical retreat with leafy hanging plants? Bushy plants like the ferns on the porch of this Victorian Montreal home can create shade and privacy.

If you’re a greenthumb with a larger backyard space to work with, adding a greenhouse to your yard can help to break up the space. Filling your greenhouse with plants can then create shade and privacy in your yard. For the DIY lover, you can even build your own greenhouse to suit your yard dimensions perfectly.

When it comes to creating backyard privacy, hedges are classic for a reason. A cedar or boxwood hedge defines backyard borders and turns your yard into a private retreat,

Some strategically-placed leafy plants – like monsteras, birds of paradise, or ficuses – can create shade and privacy. If you’re bringing your indoor plants outside for the summer, be sure to acclimate them to the direct sunlight by gradually introducing them to their new outdoor spot to avoid potential leaf burn.

A tall, traditional privacy fence definitely creates shade and privacy in a yard, but can be a challenge when it comes to styling. Instead of leaving your fence unfinished or painting it white, consider painting your fence a trendy colour, or adding gardens or potted plants alongside them to give your yard a more organic feel.

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Bamboo can grow quite close together, which makes it a pretty great living fence. If you’d prefer a lower maintenance option, bamboo screening can be purchased in sheets and is easy to install.

Although they’re not traditional fences, a lattice trellis makes for great garden screening. Planting vining plants like clematis at the foot of the trellis can give additional privacy and shade.

If you’re on the hunt for privacy fence ideas, a living plant wall is a versatile option. You can build a plant wall with recessed, built-in planters, or add planters to your existing privacy fence to grow your own herb garden.

A cute pergola is another creative solution to the backyard privacy problem. Add curtains to create a private dining or lounging space with a breezy, perpetual vacation feel.