How to Add Privacy to Your Backyard Oasis

With warmer weather on the way, it’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy your yard or balcony. Your next-door neighbours may be thinking the same thing, which might not be ideal if you’re hoping to enjoy your own little private staycation. With these 10 tips, you can add more privacy to your backyard and turn your outdoor space into your own lush and stylish oasis.

A balcony with a light wood privacy screen. Plants hang from the screen and sit in front of it.

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A Balcony Privacy Screen

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.

A balcony with many plants around. Hanging from the ceiling are two large ferns.

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Leafy Hanging Plants

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.

A backyard with a small, plant-filled greenhouse with glass panels.

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A Backyard Greenhouse

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.

A backyard patio with a dining set, conversation set and pergola. A hedge fences in the patio area.

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A Classic Hedge

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, like this epic Bryan Baeumler backyard overhaul.

A backyard fence with various tropical plants in front of it.

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Strategically-Placed Leafy Plants

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 backyard fenced in by a classic wood board fence. Gardens line the fence.

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A Tall Privacy Fence

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.

Nighttime shot of a yard with wicker chairs and strings of fairy lights all fenced in by a bamboo screening fence.

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Chic Bamboo Screening

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.

Shot of backyard garden partially fenced in by a lattice trellis with vining plants.

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A Plant-Filled Trellis

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.

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A Plant Wall

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.

Backyard pergola with white curtains hanging from it. A dining set is inside the pergola.

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A Curtained Pergola

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.