54 Design Ideas for Privacy Fences

Privacy fences are the catch-all solution to elevate your curb appeal, keep your dogs from their endless charades of barking and create an intimate outdoor oasis. While traditional picket fences usually have 3.5+ inches between each slat, privacy fences are solid and block out all the hustle and bustle beyond your backyard. The opaque fence creates a boundary between your outdoor space and surrounding properties, making it an ideal choice for parents, pool owners and anyone who prefers an added sense of security outdoors.

Ready to invest in a privacy fence for your backyard? The first step is contacting your local assessor's office or hiring a property surveyor to determine your exact property lines. Read up on your local building codes and height regulations before beginning construction. And finally, contact your neighbors to inform them of your plans. Good fences make good neighbors, as they say.

Click ahead and check out the best privacy fence ideas to recreate in your backyard.

The stylish entrance to this San Francisco residence includes an elegant ipe wood fence with a stain of Missmers UV Plus to guard against harsh sunlight. The streamlined fence provides owners valuable privacy from passersby and mirrors the home’s architecture, lending luxurious and intentional results.

Transform your traditional privacy fence into a statement-making garden feature by installing a pergola ledge across the top, as seen here. This crowning feature adds a custom look to otherwise simple wood fences. Better still, it provides the perfect spot to grow a blanket of climbing vines or posies like jasmine, bougainvillea or dreamy, draping wisteria blooms.

Break up the monotony of your wooden privacy fence by switching up the plank directions. This contemporary Los Angeles home shows how with mod, horizontal fence panels lining the paved courtyard paired with a vertical-plank fence gate. The contrasting planks break up the horizontal line, adding dimension to the space for instant visual interest and a fresh, of-the-moment feel.