50 Fresh Fence Design Ideas

Frame your yard, add privacy and security and enhance your curb appeal with one of these gorgeous fence ideas.

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By: Kamron Sanders, H. Camille Smith, and Maria Conti

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Fall in Love With Fences

A well-designed fence does more than serve the practical purpose of simply keeping people and pets in or out. Choosing the right fence for your property can boost your home's curb appeal or provide privacy. Fences come in many different heights, styles and are made of several types of materials. We’ve gathered a bunch of fence designs so you can find one that is right for your yard, whether you’re looking for a front yard fence that will add to your home’s style such as a picket fence in front of your cottage or a split-rail fence to go with your ranch. Or perhaps you’re looking for a backyard barrier to keep critters out of your garden or a privacy fence to quell the curiosity of nosy neighbors, click on to find one that’s right for your yard.

From: Harry Norman, REALTORS and Luxury Portfolio International®

Go Mad for Mod

If you're a fan of modern or midcentury modern-style homes, a low, sculptural concrete wall pairs perfectly with these architectural styles and lends a clean, sleek look to any landscape. Here the mix of gray and rust-colored concrete pairs well with the gravel walkway, landscape boulders and the home's siding.

See More of This Home: Contemporary Lakeside Home

From: Juxtapose Design Build

Add Style With an Arbor

No matter which fence material you prefer, nothing enhances the look of your yard like adding an arbor. If this quaint garden walkway wasn't picture perfect already, the addition of a stone pillared arbor, topped with an impressive display of vines, gives it extra style cred. Considering an arbor for your yard? Learn how to construct one yourself, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Build a Grapevine Arbor

From: Bill Bocken

Keep Your Style High and Your Fences Low

A low garden wall separates this Spanish-style bungalow from the street, making the home feel secluded, even in Los Angeles. Keeping the solid stucco wall low ensures it doesn't detract from the home's elegant curb appeal, while the intricate laser-cut gate gives it a lot of extra style points.

See More of This Home: Outdoor Oasis: Moroccan-Inspired Swimming Pool

From: Lisa Gimmy Landscape Architecture

Wow With Wrought Iron

This New Orleans residence is nothing short of grand, and, in true NOLA fashion, the front garden is a work of art. Luckily, the green wrought iron fence allows passersby to enjoy the lovely boxwood display while still offering the homeowner a little security. Wrought iron is a tried-and-true fence material, but you can easily kick it up a notch by painting it to match your home.

See More of This Yard: Charming Double Gallery Home in New Orleans

From: Mullin Landscape Associates

Make the Fence a Focal Point

A jaw-dropping home and landscape like this deserve nothing less than an equally jaw-dropping fence. This beautiful installation features a brick border tying into the home’s exterior, but the real eye candy comes in the form of thin horizontal wood slats. The stained wood slats give this fence massive appeal while decoratively hiding things like the unsightly HVAC system yet still allowing light to filter through.

Find More Ideas: Hip Horizontal Fences Expand Your Horizons

From: MESA Design Group

X Marks the Spot

The same X-style fence wraps around the home, making its way to the backyard, where it serves as a visual focal point for the alfresco dining table. The airy-and-open design is reinforced with barely-there chicken wire, lending the owners peace of mind by keeping kids and pets in the confines of the backyard. Use the same X-style fence design in bright white, blue or soft gray to create a dimensional backdrop and chic boundary for your outdoor space.

Get the How-To: How to Reinforce Fence Posts

From: Living Gardens Landscape Design

Harness the Power of Paint

For a cheery pop that's sure to lend a smile to passersby, give a front yard fence a fresh coat of kicky color — no need to just stick to white when painting a picket fence, go with a hue that makes you happy.

Find More Ideas: 25 Ways to Get Instant Curb Appeal for Less Than $100

Add an Arbor Gate

This winning combination of an arbor, an entrance gate and a border fence adorned with flowering vines is constructed from tight knot cedar. Create a similar garden enclosure in your backyard and train climbing vines to blanket the lower partition or grow cascading blooms along the integrated arbor. And while you wait for the lush greenery to fill the gaps, employ robust planters along the perimeter to add a pop of color.

Get the How-To: How to Build a Grapevine Arbor

Go Rough-Hewn With a Split Rail

While we love a nice modern wood look now and then, nothing quite compares to the look of raw cedar, and this rustic post-and-rail fence proves it. The uncut cedar logs give this fence a hardy, weathered look that perfectly complements the modern-meets-rustic ranch home it encircles.

See More of This Home: Rustic Ranch Home With Stone Columns, Wood Beams

From: Cornerstone Architects

Strategically Privatize

Want to add a little privacy to your landscape without completely shutting yourself off from the world? Then, take your cues from this beautiful midcentury home’s brick privacy walls. Instead of opting for a full-on privacy fence, the homeowner installed disconnected, solid brick walls at varying heights. This visually appealing approach adds strategic privacy without completely blocking the gorgeous architecture. Take a tour beyond the privacy walls of this midmod stunner, below.

See More of This Yard: Curb Appeal: Midcentury Home With Courtyard

From: R Design Landscape Architecture

Say Hello to Stucco

A fan of Southwestern style? Then, say hello to stucco! Everything about this landscape and hardscape is gorgeous, but the real showstopper is the stucco wall. By color-matching the wall's material to the home, the property has a cohesive, old-world feel that is only enhanced by the beautifully weathered wood lintel and reclaimed door.

Learn More: Southwestern Style 101

From: Tate Studio Architects

Mix In Some Stone

Nothing lends a sense of timelessness like stacked stone. In this gorgeous Portland, Oregon backyard, the homeowners were inspired by centuries-old Southern-style gardens like those in Charleston, South Carolina. To surround their new garden, a fence anchored by basalt rock piers tied together with black wrought-iron fencing adds a pitch-perfect look and seems as if it's always been here.

Glass Panels: Privacy + Pretty Views

Let's be honest: When buying an oceanfront home in Malibu, California, what you're really splurging on is the view — so why cover it up? This modern home solves that problem with tempered glass panels creating a barrier between the homeowner's private patio and the public beach, beyond. The clear glass panels allow sweeping views of the Pacific and also act as a buffer on windy days.

See More of This Home: Master Retreat: Modern Malibu Beach Getaway

From: Katherine Carter Design

Give Wood Boards a New Look

Wood fences don't have to be boring, outdated or rustic. To lend a more modern style, this homeowner opted to showcase the gorgeous cedar boards on a horizontal rather than the traditional vertical look. The end result creates a visually interesting backdrop to the landscape's layered plantings. Learn how to build your own horizontal fence with the link, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Build a Horizontal-Plank Privacy Fence

From: R Design Landscape Architecture

Pack a Privacy Punch

Instead of putting up those temporary hardware store privacy fence panels, give your yard a timeless feel with a traditional brick wall. Any brick installation on or around your home adds instant beautification, but aged brick like this shines in a courtyard setting and provides maximum privacy. Find more genius ways to makeover your courtyard, below.

See More of This Yard: Gorgeous Gardens: Charming Courtyard Has Natural Landscaping

From: Carolina Landscape

Or, Open Things Up a Bit

If you’re into the brick aesthetic but not into the heavy look of a closed brick wall — good news! Perforated brick fences are a solid alternative. This classic fence style maintains the traditional look of brick while still offering a view beyond your yard. Want a yard this beautiful? Pair this fence with a gorgeous matching walkway and a small boxwood hedge.

See More of This Yard: Charming Double Gallery Home in New Orleans

From: Mullin Landscape Associates

Fences: For Cities, Too

On this Chicago rooftop, a stunning panel made from durable Corten steel is cut out in the shape of a tree to accent the surrounding metal fencing. The panel offers some privacy without completely blocking the surrounding city views.

Take a Notch Out

Want some privacy but don't want to miss out on your property's gorgeous views? We've got the solution. Simply notch a privacy fence or wall to allow yourself access to good views. Trying to keep a pup in? Fill the notch with a tempered glass panel.

See More of This Home: Stunning Structures: Contemporary Desert Retreat Anticipates Every Need

From: BOXHILL

Take a Lesson From This Schoolyard

Take cues from this playful schoolyard fence and gate combination. A traditional wooden privacy fence surrounds the playground to ensure kiddos are secure during outdoor activities. To balance out the solid partitions, a whimsical yet rustic tight-knot cedar fence and gate provide a side entrance for the preschool that creates an imaginative setting for inquisitive minds.

Try a Classic White Picket

Truly, is there any sweeter look than a timeless white picket fence? Surrounded by roses and a mix of blooming perennials and annuals, the cottage garden staple is right at home here. Ready to boost your home's cottage charm with a picket fence? Learn how to properly install the readymade panels, below.

Get the How-To: How to Build a Picket Fence

Plexiglass Panels: Durable + Customizable

One of the newer materials on the scene for fencing is plexiglass. Framed by wood, the durable sections can be clear, like glass, or fully opaque, as they are here, or any variation between. Other decorative options, like reeds, or designs that resemble embedded leaves or feathers are also available.

Find More Ideas: 54 Design Ideas for Privacy Fences

Embrace Geometric Design

This Chippendale-inspired design proves that wooden fence panels needn't consist of just side-by-side boards. Custom-built, these low panels surround both the home's deck and adjacent backyard and their open design allows for unimpaired views of both areas.

Find More Ideas: 31 Deck Railing Design Ideas

Add Decorative Accents

If you heard the words “gray privacy fence” you might think that sounds sort of boring. But if you were talking about this fence, you’d be totally mistaken. These floral-patterned panels take this backyard barrier up a notch with style and elegance.

Make a Grand Statement

At first glance, this stately fence looks like stacked stone but it's actually constructed from concrete pavers installed in a standard brick-run pattern, topped by vertically spaced pavers for a handsome decorative effect. Bullnosed concrete caps lend a rounded finish to the fence's top. Available in a wide variety of colors and textural finishes, concrete pavers are just as durable as natural stone but a bit more affordable.

Paint a Rainbow

Why settle for one fence stain when you can have five? Here’s your sign to take the leap and add a little color to your backyard, a la this whimsical, bohemian privacy fence. Taking a playful folk-art approach to the traditional fence, this stained-board delight is made from recycled tight-knot cedar and boasts a brilliant mix of gold, red, green and purple pickets.

Get the How-To: How to Stain or Paint a Wood Fence

Keep It Easy Breezy

Whether it’s keeping pests out of your garden or simply keeping pets and oh-so-curious children in the backyard, wood frames filled with an open-weave wire, that allows for easy air movement, is the way to go. When properly installed, wood and wire fencing is just as sturdy as a standard wood privacy fence and lends a charming, cottage look to your property. Want to DIY your own? Get all our tips in the video, below.

Watch the Video: How to Install a Custom Hog Wire Fence

From: Odd Job Landscaping

Turn Heads With a Trellis

Who says your fence needs to take the backseat in your backyard design? This dreamy family pool makes a case for having a statement-making fence, and we can’t get enough. Follow their lead and make your fence the focal point for your outdoor space by using trellis-inspired fence panels and several gallons of crisp-white paint. Pro tip: If you are a pet parent, ensure your four-legged family members remain safely in your yard by reinforcing the open trellis-style fence with chicken wire backing.

Shop Our Favorites: 11 Great Garden Trellises for Climbing Vines, Blooms and Vegetables

From: J.Montgomery Designs

Dress It With Grasses

A handsome low fence provides the ideal backdrop for an impressive display of ornamental grasses in this pairing. Employ a similar, low-profile design to embrace surrounding views while maintaining a secure enclosure for kids and pets.

Find More Ideas: 16 Ornamental Grasses You Should Grow

Step Up From Chain-Link

Want the open, airy feel of a chain-link fence without the less-than-beautiful looks? This vertical patinated steel fence is the perfect alternative. The inherently strong steel is still perfect for holding pets in, yet from certain angles, you may even forget the fence is there.

See More of This Home: Peaceful Woodland Retreat

From: Kurt Kraisinger

Get Back to Basics

Here's proof that sometimes, less is more. If privacy isn't a must-have and you aren't worried about adventure-seeking pets, this charming fence offers ample inspiration for your back garden. A combination of grapevine arbor and split-rail fence made of cedar add a rustic touch to the bucolic surroundings in this organic creation.

Find More Ideas: 27 Cheap Fence Ideas

Bring Out a Bamboo Alternative

Achieve unmatched tranquility and curb appeal with the help of this eye-catching fence idea. Instead of traditional bamboo screens, this midcentury ranch uses cedar fence partitions to border a flagstone pathway, culminating in a Zen garden effect.

Find More Ideas: 40 Gorgeous Landscaping Ideas for Small Front Yards

Heat Up Your Metal Fence

Think metal fences are a bit mundane? Think again. A rich, patinaed metal fence mirrors the warm desert hues in this mountaintop garden. Make the aged-to-perfection enclosure your inspiration when designing a fence for your contemporary or Southwestern outdoor space. Bonus points if you pair your coppery posts with red flagstone pavers and vibrant orange desert blooms, as seen here.

See More of This Yard: Mountaintop Escape With Endless Views and Vibrant, Native Plantings

From: CommonGround Landscape Architecture

Make a Charming Entry

Give your fence an other-worldly appeal with a peek-through gate. This white picket fence and welcoming portal invite friends and families to stop by a see-through gate entry. The charming feature lends the otherwise traditional fence design a whimsical, fairytale quality.

Find More Ideas: 20 Garden Gates and Arches We're Obsessing Over

From: Hess Landscape Architects, Inc.

Get Your Grow On

Turn your garden fence into a part of the garden itself. Here, a gray-washed privacy fence disappears behind a blanket of fragrant star jasmine vines. Five cypress trees stand tall and proud, lining the perimeter of the garden wall and lending height to the enclosure.

Learn More: Cypress Trees: Types and Care

From: Christian Douglas Design

Alternate Heights

Add allure to your garden fence by installing pickets at alternating heights. This Asian-inspired front yard offers ample inspiration with a gray-washed wooden fence that features svelte wooden slats installed at two unique heights. This technique brings interest and dimension to an otherwise practical, unassuming feature and adds a touch of whimsy to the tidy façade.

See More of This Home: Gorgeous Gardens: Japanese-Inspired Zen Retreat

From: Zeterre Landscape Architecture

Elevate With Ivy

If classical grandeur is what you’re after, make this ivy-kissed privacy fence your design blueprint. The brick partition boasts a sloped silhouette and features two columns crowned with concrete finial sculptures. Glossy Boston ivy blankets the wall, creating a lush backdrop for the fence’s integrated water fountain.

See More of This Yard: Secret Downtown Garden With Tailored Elegance

From: DabneyCollins

Opt for Trellis Style

This serene courtyard has it all. Circular garden beds, large shade trees and perfectly weathered matching benches. However, the real showstopper is the large arbor and trellis fence bordering the courtyard. Trellis is a great fence material to create an open and airy vibe, even when used on a large scale like this.

Find More Ideas: 20 Garden Gates and Arches We're Obsessing Over

Frame Your Façade

Crank up your curb appeal with a charming front yard fence. A bright-white X-style design pops behind a border garden of lush lavender and ornamental grasses. The darling partition connects to the real show-stopper: a custom cedar arbor enveloped with fluffy climbing hydrangea blooms.

Find More Ideas: 40 Gorgeous Landscaping Ideas for Small Front Yards

From: Living Gardens Landscape Design

Layer On the Materials

Craving privacy from passersby but don’t want to miss out on your backyard views? Take cues from this contemporary backyard design and get the best of both worlds. A stone paver wall provides a cozy backdrop for the outdoor kitchen and much-needed privacy from next-door neighbors. The lower half of the stone wall continues along the perimeter of the space to provide design continuity, then it's topped with an inky iron fence that virtually disappears into the sweeping desert landscape.

Find More Ideas: 60 Gorgeous Fire Pit Ideas and DIYs

From: Zucker Design Associates

Elevate a Privacy Fence

Take a wooden privacy fence from drab to fab by anchoring brick pillars between the panels. This homeowner went one step further by painting the rails a contrasting green for an effortlessly elegant look.

Find More Ideas: 54 Design Ideas for Privacy Fences

From: Aesthetic Gardens

Mix the Materials

If your privacy fence plays a lead role in your home’s curb appeal, it may be worth investing in a custom design that will rise to the occasion. Case in point: This head-turning contemporary design with high contrast materials. A unique combination of stained lumber and painted steel posts defines this Manhattan Beach, California, fence.

Get the How-To: How To Care For a Wood Fence

Try a Living Fence

The clipped privet hedge surrounding this luxurious backyard swimming pool is the ultimate privacy fence for those that don't like traditional fence materials. This living fence look can be achieved with a variety of evergreen shrubs, but we recommend pairing it with an internal or external fence material if you plan to keep pets in.

From: Odd Job Landscaping

Add In DIY Additions

Copper fence post caps are an easy and super budget-friendly way to add an extra flourish to wooden fence posts. And, bonus, they also protect the wood from splitting due to water gathering on the wood's exposed cut end. Pretty and practical? We'll call that a win-win!

Find More Ideas: 25 Ways to Get Instant Curb Appeal for Less Than $100

Make Sneak-a-Peek Windows

A Craftsman-style cedar fence with a bordering garden provides an eye-catching complement to this natural landscape. Peek-a-boo diamond-shaped windows on the gate allow for a little look-see into the yard beyond.

Find More Ideas: 20 Garden Edging Ideas for Lawn Borders

Create Your Own Calm

Use your backyard barrier to anchor an outdoor water feature. Capture the same calming quality of this courtyard by adding a fountain to your existing stone or brick privacy fence. Frame the tranquil, cascading fountain or pond with river stones and the lush blooms of your choosing.

Find More Ideas: 70 Wonderful Water Features for Any Budget

From: Zucker Design Associates

Join the Ivy League

Intentionally covering structures with ivy is nothing new. In fact, ivy-covered walls have been imparting their elegant charm to stone and brick structures for centuries. While the jury is still out on how good or bad ivy is for your home's exterior, the creeper's lush green look has truly never gone out of style. Want to add this kind of charm to your backyard? Learn how to grow beautiful ivy with our helpful tips, below.

learn more: 18 Valuable Vines to Plant in Your Garden

From: Zucker Design Associates

Go With "Weathered" Concrete

Opting for weathered finishes is key to giving your home that lived-in look. Instead of a sleek new privacy fence made of wood or metal, choose a weathered concrete wall like the one pictured here. While clean, smooth concrete or stucco might distract in this setting, this textural treatment plays into the property's natural beachy vibes.

See More of This Home: Waterside Retreats: Stunning Oceanfront Deck & Pool

From: Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

Match Hardware + Accessories

Create continuation in your outdoor design by incorporating the same materials used for your fence throughout your yard via accessories or furniture. Here, two crane sculptures stand out against double gates made of cedar and copper, with a border fence mirroring the same style.

Find More Ideas: Create Garden Art with Recycled Materials

Incorporate Classic Motifs

Looking for a way to boost your new fence's sense of permanence and timelessness? A classic design element, like this fleur de lis border, adds old-world charm and will look just as classic decades from now.

50 Fresh Fence Design Ideas

Related To:

Shop This Look

Fall in Love With Fences

Go Mad for Mod

Add Style With an Arbor

Keep Your Style High and Your Fences Low

Wow With Wrought Iron

Make the Fence a Focal Point

X Marks the Spot

Harness the Power of Paint

Add an Arbor Gate

Go Rough-Hewn With a Split Rail

Strategically Privatize

Say Hello to Stucco

Mix In Some Stone

Glass Panels: Privacy + Pretty Views

Give Wood Boards a New Look

Pack a Privacy Punch

Or, Open Things Up a Bit

Fences: For Cities, Too

Take a Notch Out

Take a Lesson From This Schoolyard

Try a Classic White Picket

Plexiglass Panels: Durable + Customizable

Embrace Geometric Design

Add Decorative Accents

Make a Grand Statement

Paint a Rainbow

Keep It Easy Breezy

Turn Heads With a Trellis

Dress It With Grasses

Step Up From Chain-Link

Get Back to Basics

Bring Out a Bamboo Alternative

Heat Up Your Metal Fence

Make a Charming Entry

Get Your Grow On

Alternate Heights

Elevate With Ivy

Opt for Trellis Style

Frame Your Façade

Layer On the Materials

Elevate a Privacy Fence

Mix the Materials

Try a Living Fence

Add In DIY Additions

Make Sneak-a-Peek Windows

Create Your Own Calm

Join the Ivy League

Go With "Weathered" Concrete

Match Hardware + Accessories

Incorporate Classic Motifs

How to Build a Horizontal-Plank Privacy Fence

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