45 Creative Ways to Add Backyard Privacy

Create a low-profile moment of intimacy in a larger outdoor area by planting ornamental grasses, as in the space surrounding this cozy fire pit and Adirondack chairs. This little idyll demonstrates that just a bit of gardening can go a long way: because these seats are so close to the ground, cultivating a bit of privacy is as easy as choosing plants that grow waist-high.

A beautiful accent to any shady outdoor space (direct sun might burn them), potted palms add tropical flair while the sculptural leaves create a lush, living screen for added privacy. But, as tropical natives, these heat-loving plants are prone to damage in areas with harsh winters. Container gardening makes it easier to overwinter them indoors for year after year of frilly fronds.

Add designer-grade privacy to any over-exposed outdoor area using basic hardware store staples. Our step-by-step instructions, below, will walk you through the build.

Hung on a nearly invisible cable, these floor-to-ceiling panels can move around the room to block out glaring light — or a nosy neighbor — with just a flick of the wrist. Image courtesy of HGTV Magazine; get more screened porch inspo, below.

Whether it’s a faux-tique you crafted yourself or the real deal, antique signs are a sure way to add character to your outdoor space while also blocking out a less-than-desirable view or any prying eyes. Check local thrift stores, estate sales and auctions for legitimate trade signs or craft your own with our tips for a similar kitchen sign, below.

Diana Wearing of DIY Den & Treasure Showcase created an unabashedly unique installation by zip-tying old shutters to an existing wire fence. The one-of-a-kind structure couldn’t be easier to create — and it can be removed or rearranged at any time.

Even if your fence has seen better days, it's still serving the purpose of providing privacy. Freshen it up with a powerwash and our tips, below, to put paint and our free printable template to work to create a graphic outdoor focal point.

Truly, is there any prettier sight than a classic white picket fence covered in climbing roses? When selecting varieties, try pretty-in-pink 'Eden' or the stunning, multicolored 'Joseph's Coat'. Learn more about planting for privacy, below.

Urban living often means cramped quarters both indoors and out so make the most of the space you have by thinking vertically. Designer Dan Faires repurposed wood beams from a New York City building that was slated for demolition to create this privacy wall with shelves he filled with potted plants.

Emerald Green Arborvitae, also known as Thuja, is a fast-growing, vigorous conifer that will eventually reach 12' to 15' tall. With typical growth rates of 3' to 5' of new growth per year, Thuja is an excellent choice as a living privacy fence or for mixing in with a structural fence. Learn more about this popular evergreen, below.

Compact climbers, like jasmine and clematis, are great container plants. All they need to thrive is a pot with good drainage, a trellis or post for support and regular watering and feeding. Line several up around a patio or deck for total privacy or just place a single pot where needed.

With a neighboring home this close, this deck needed a dose of privacy. Long window box planters, potted with ferns, hung from an overhead pergola, did the trick while adding a lush green backdrop that can easily be swapped out for the seasons. See more of this deck makeover, below.

Have an outdoor room at the ready for your next barbecue with the help of a grill screen composed of 4x4 posts and privacy lattice. This structure can certainly support climbing plants, but it also functions admirably as a space divider that simply stands behind the two topiaries pictured here.

With just a few feet separating these two homes, privacy was a necessary consideration for the back deck that serves as both an outdoor dining space and living room. A slatted wall creates total privacy and provides additional lighting thanks to a trio of red gooseneck barn fixtures. Take a tour of this backyard, below.

Make the most of architectural salvage pieces like these once-unloved windows with a colorful coat of paint, sheer waterproofed fabric in lieu of glass and a sturdy wooden frame. Place containers with climbing plants below those windows, then congratulate yourself on creating a feature wall that just happens to keep your neighbors out of your business.

For privacy with a breeze, consider installing decorative laser-cut panels along just one wall, as the designers at Mom's Design Build have here. Definitely a more high-end approach, this permanent fix not only blocks an unattractive view, it also boosts the charm factor of your home's architecture.

Turn an over-exposed patio or deck into a shady hangout with a billowing shade sail that, bonus, will also add privacy from any neighboring two-story homes or apartments. Our tutorial, below, shows you how to set up the supports sturdily and customize the shade to better fit your outdoor decor.

Beat the heat and turn a too-sunny (or too-visible) patio, deck or balcony into a shady oasis with this DIY project that uses lightweight PVC pipe and weather-resistant sailcloth. Get the deets (and get crafting), below.

Fashion graphic outdoor curtains from humble drop cloths by spray-painting the fabric with a simple, bold pattern, then hanging it from DIY curtain rods — all for less than $20. See the tutorial from Corey Willis of Hey There Home.

Hang outdoor draperies the right way with these designer tricks, below, for installing galvanized pipes and fittings as a weather-proof drapery hardware solution that won't sag or deteriorate over time.

If you fancy the perks of privacy plants without the hassle of maintaining them, line your patio with faux boxwood hedges. Strategically placed creations like these provide privacy in a pinch for anyone who likes green spaces but lacks green thumbs.

Greenery is an attractive solution for over-exposed decks and patios, but many varieties take their sweet time to reach for the sky. Design firm Eco Minded Solutions recommends planting fast-growing trees like the Emerald Green Thuja, pictured at far left here: this overachieving arborvitae can grow up to 5 feet per year.

In a single weekend, you can create your backyard’s newest MVP — a freestanding privacy screen composed of PVC tubing and inexpensive bedsheets, that is — with time to spare. Use spray paint and colored or patterned sheets of your choice to complement the rest of your outdoor decor.

If you’re looking to create a cozily private area in a smaller space, try upcycling just a few shutters into a folding partition. In this case, screwing in simple hinges makes the piece easy to arrange and fold away as needed.

Mobile (with locking casters), self-watering, all-weather and UV-resistant, these backyard heroes are so futuristically user-friendly they’re almost a little frightening. Thank goodness they’re on our side.

Readymade railing planters are a great solution for softening the edges of your deck with a living wall of color. Fill them with an assortment of seasonal blooms, as we have here, or edibles, like herbs, lettuces, tomatoes and berries so a fresh nibble is always within easy reach.

If you're handy with masonry or ready to splash the cash for a pro to tackle this lovely backyard addition, an outdoor fireplace is the perfect anchor for an alfresco living room that you can enjoy year-round.

Consider how craftily this architectural series of waterfalls divides the pool from the gate and walkway in this yard. Why create a bare-bones barrier when you can create privacy and make your outdoor space feel like an art museum’s courtyard? (Smaller, more cost-conscious water features can perform the same function, of course, but this one’s awfully easy on the eyes.)

Interrupt sight lines without enshrouding your space in shadow by creating a minimalistic, midcentury-inspired fence by the pros at MESA Design Group. The distance between each of these stained slats screens the space beyond it and stops short of creating a clunky, fully opaque barrier.

Draw inspiration from this playful Arizona property and create a geometric, peek-a-boo wall with concrete blocks that have a vintage feel.

What’s even better than a vertical container garden that provides you with fresh-picked herbs and salad greens all summer long? A vertical container garden that provides you with fresh-picked herbs and salad greens all summer long and just happens to stand right between you and your nosy neighbors.

Combining wood and mesh rebar to make your own freestanding living wall is a cost-conscious DIY well worth undertaking. Create a versatile vertical display by hanging potted plants using S-hooks, and they’ll provide privacy for your space as they grow. Learn how to make your own, below.

If you can get your hands on tempered glass and are prepared to contribute some serious elbow grease, Marie Blackburn of The Interior Frugalista will walk you through building an atmospheric privacy screen like this one for about $300.

When partial privacy is what you need, these airy panels block out an unattractive view while adding a structural element to your landscape. Dust off your power tools and construct your own with our instructions, below.

Living walls have been gaining in popularity over the past few years and for a good reason: they look fab and do a great job of creating privacy. If you don't have a green thumb, check in with a local nursery or landscaper to do the dirty work for you. Here, Guido Keller of Lotus Gardenscapes installed a custom-made wall planter by Ore to add a vertical garden to this sunny patio.

The landscaping pros at Eco Minded Solutions used bamboo to build a tropical wall of greenery around this party-ready back patio. Like Emerald Green Thuja, bamboo grows high — and it brings exotic charm to any outdoor space. Be sure to look for non-invasive clumping varieties like sympodial or pachymorph bamboo; “running” bamboo is a fast grower, but it’ll take over your yard (and then your neighbors’ properties).

Lifestyle blogger Anna Osgoodby brought much-needed (and budget-friendly) privacy to her New York City patio by attaching a mesh windscreen to her chain-link fence with a bit of twine. Could $50 for outdoor space of one’s own be the biggest bargain in the Big Apple?

Take a creative cue from Jenny Johannsen of Anything Pretty, who wove 4’ x 15’ drop cloths through the slats of her already-existing pergola. Double down on the accessorizing by draping string lights to add atmosphere once the sun goes down.

Erica Lugbill of Lugbill Designs could have paid to have a pro remove and dispose of the unsightly metal fence on her Chicago apartment’s patio. Instead, she used it as the now blissfully invisible support system for a new series of panels created with stained and pressure-treated lumber.

Nothing says “I appreciate your willingness to water my plants when I go on vacation but enjoy having the option of not sharing every alfresco glass of wine with you” like retractable shades, which are ideal for apartment-dwellers in buildings with closely spaced balconies. They offer privacy when needed, then retract to open up your space when it’s time for a block party. Pick a color that pops, such as this orange shade from Craft-Bilt Manufacturing Company.

Real talk: Living walls are both absolutely gorgeous and incredibly difficult to maintain if you’re not a master gardener (or in the position to pay a master gardener to keep your living wall alive). Living walls created by pocket gardens like these, on the other hand, create vibrant, intimate spaces without the sneaking suspicion that your dinner table is surrounded by slow-motion plant death. Get your own start in no-drama vertical gardening here.

Graphic, textural panels like these pair beautifully with the cheerfully eclectic accessories in this modern yard, and they just so happen to be less expensive than the lumber you’d need to build an entirely wooden fence with the same dimensions.

Portable partitions like this wicker offering from Versare are just as easy to plunk into place as they are to remove. They’re the perfect solution for renters in search of a non-permanent privacy fix.

This ultra-contemporary wall creates privacy for a sloped sitting area and provides showstopping settings for both diminutive container plants and large-scale art like a resin Buddha. The lesson here? Treat outdoor walls like the ones inside your home, and customize (and accessorize) accordingly.