Here’s How to Enhance the Privacy of Your Outdoor Spaces

Your backyard is a great place to entertain the neighbours, but sometimes you want a more intimate gathering with family or a few friends. Adding privacy features will let you do both. When done properly, they can also enhance the look and ambience of your yard and outdoor décor. Here’s some options that can make your backyard not only more private, but more beautiful as well.

To view our full selection of fencing options, please select your local Home Building Centre or Home Hardware Building Centre.

Privacy Lattice

A privacy lattice can do wonders for your outdoor privacy. The semi-open, cross-hatched design creates a measure of privacy without entirely blocking off the outside world. You can add it to your deck or patio or install it in your yard as an outdoor privacy panel. A variety of materials are available including wood, composite, and vinyl lattice. Choose what works best for you: it’s all about the look you want to create, and how you want the lattice fencing to blend into your outdoor aesthetic. You can also grow vines on your lattice for a more natural feel and even more privacy.

Privacy Fences

A privacy fence will complete the outline of your house and its outdoor space. It will also enhance the overall security of your home. Depending on your choice, you can pick from a variety of options for backyard fencing. The right choice of fence can even add a personalised aesthetic to your property and help your home stand out from the rest.

Vertical Board Privacy Fences

Vertical board fencing is the most popular choice for backyards. You can choose from three different types vertical fences depending on the style and level of privacy you desire. 

Single-Sided Open Board Fence: This style of privacy fence features a single row of boards with spaces in between the boards. It’s only semi-private, but the spaces allow wind to pass through which reduces the chance of the fence blowing over 

Double-Sided Open Board Fence: This style provides more privacy as it features alternating boards on both sides of the fence rails. The design still allows air to pass through, but sightlines are completely blocked. 

Jasper Fence: This style offers the most privacy of all as there are no spaces between the fence boards. In addition to blocking sightlines, it also provides a sound barrier that helps dampen your conversations while blocking out external noise.

Horizontal Privacy Fences

Backyard fencing also comes in various horizontal designs. As with vertical fencing, horizontal fences are available in different styles and levels of privacy. 

Ranch Rail Fences and Post & Rail Fences: Also known as split rail fencing, these open board styles feature the rustic look of a farm or ranch that will enhance any suburban setting. From a privacy standpoint, they function to delineate your property line to prevent inadvertent trespassing. Ranch Style Fencing and Post & Rail Fences are both easy to install and customize.

Closed Board Horizontal Fences

This style of backyard fencing offers 100% privacy, but with one additional benefit. The closed linear boards of a horizontal fence serve to make your backyard appear larger and more spacious.

Bushes & Hedges

Bushes and hedges can be grown and shaped to provide excellent privacy in your yard. They’re also a great alternative to fencing. Growing flower or fruit bushes can create beautiful visuals as the colours and textures change through the seasons. You can shape your privacy hedge to grow tall or your privacy bushes to fan out with pruning shears, a hedge trimmer, or other garden tools.

Patio Umbrellas

In addition to UV protection, a good patio umbrella can also deliver a measure of privacy to your outdoor dining and seating areas. Strategic tilting can effectively block sightlines as well as dampen conversation. There are a wide variety of colours and patterns to choose from to complement your outdoor furniture.

Sound Dampening Ideas

Whether you’re living in the city or suburbs, a good way to block out external noise is with your favourite music. It’s also a great way to muffle your conversations so they can’t be heard outside of your yard. You don’t have to install an outdoor sound system either. A wireless speaker is easy to control from your mobile device and can be brought outside as needed. A water fountain can have a similar effect, with a few added benefits. It makes for a beautiful accent piece and will attract different bird species to your yard.

Garden Trellis & Arbours

In addition to privacy, a garden trellis or garden arbour can also provide an attractive accent or even centre piece to your backyard landscape. Vines and creepers can scale upwards when planted at the base, and flowers can be hung atop to cascade downwards. Some garden arbours also include a semi-enclosed two-person seating area for cozy chats.

Backyard Gazebos & Pergolas

An outdoor gazebo gives you an ideal spot for dining and entertaining small groups. Easy-to-assemble gazebo kits provide shelter from the sun, and cover from the rain. They can also be customized with shades and curtains to create an intimate private setting. Alternatively, you choose to build your own backyard gazebo. These DIY Gazebo Packages can be customized to suit your specific space and décor requirements. Design choices range from small octagon-style enclosures to full size pavilions. Beautiful Covered Pergola Packages are also available. Here’s how it works: We provide the lumber, materials, and step-by-step instructions, and you do the cutting and assembly. If time won’t allow for DIY, our Home Installs service can complete your project. DIY Gazebo Packages are available at all Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Building Centre locations.

Build a Raised Backyard Deck

DIY Backyard Deck Packages are also available. A raised backyard deck creates a convenient entertaining area away from ground level eyes. It also gives you the opportunity to create a unique living space underneath. The decking above provides shelter from sun and rain, and the space can be enclosed with lattice for privacy. DIY Deck Packages are available at all Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Building Centre locations.

The right features can help make your backyard more private, and also enhance the appearance of your outdoor living space. Consider where you spend most of your time. Is it only your deck or patio that needs privacy, or should you shore up your entire yard? Factor in your outdoor décor and you’ll soon see which privacy options will work best for you.