Unique Backyard Privacy Ideas to Transform Your Space

Picture this: it’s a beautiful evening. You’re out on your patio, drinking an ice-cold beverage after a long day. Finally, you have a moment of peace and quiet… until you hear a shout from your neighbors and realize they can see right into your yard. Not so peaceful anymore. That’s why backyard privacy ideas are so important. Everyone deserves a fortress of solitude, especially in your own home.

Today we’re going to outline the best ideas to keep your patio cozy, secluded, and perfect for a quiet night. Let’s dive in.

Backyard Privacy Ideas: Plants

Plants are the perfect privacy landscaping partner. They’re beautiful and functional, creating a natural barrier between your bPlants are the perfect privacy landscaping partner. They’re beautiful and functional, creating a natural barrier between your backyard and the outside world. Just line your space to create a dense wall of green. Some of the best plants for privacy include: 

• Arborvitae: Its thick evergreen and low-maintenance foliage makes these trees perfect to form a green “fence” around your yard or patio.

• Skip Laurel: Beautiful in the Spring, these shrubs create a dense, green hedge that can grow up to ten feet.

• Bamboo: As one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, bamboo provides a lush patio privacy screen while diversifying the look of your yard.

• Euonymus: With a variety of sizes and colors, this shrub is tall, sturdy, and takes well to all types of soil.

Vines are another great backyard privacy idea for adding some greenery and flowers to your outdoor structures. But they’re not just decorative. They also help blanket your fence or structure, filling in any holes that would be easy to see through. Some of our favorite options are: 

• Climbing Hydrangeas: With their large white flowers that bloom in late Spring and Summer, these massive vines add privacy and beauty to your backyard.

• Wisteria: This high-climbing vine features purple flowers that look great hanging from a pergola or archway.

• Climbing Roses: This flowering vine comes in several varieties and produces fragrant flowers that look gorgeous, especially if you’re going for a cottage garden design.

• Clematis: Known as the “queen of climbers,” this vine can grow up to 20 feet, but there are also varieties that are better suited for smaller gardens.

• Honeysuckle: This plant is an understated but attractive choice that grows in almost every state in America. They’ll do well on a sturdy fence, post, or trellis.

• Jasmine: Native to more tropical climates, this plant still takes well to moderately fertile soil. Just be sure to grow it in a sunny or partially-shaded area.

• Bougainvillea: If you want a near-year-round floral display, this is the vine for you! It can grow up to 30 feet tall, but if that’s too much to handle, don’t stress. Some dwarf varieties are ideal for a smaller space.

Pair your favorite vine with a garden arbor for an enchanting backyard display (that adds a bit of privacy). This can be a staple in your yard to create a picturesque landscape.

For additional privacy landscaping ideas, consider adding large planters or container gardens on raised platforms. Container gardens aren’t just potted plants. They are carefully-designed and can sprout from any sort of container—like an old wagon, a metal bucket, or an antique vase. Place them on a pedestal to give them the moment they deserve, and to help block the view.

Another option is to add a row of hanging plants to form a visual barrier to any onlookers. These can hang from your pergola or pavilion, off a fence, or even from the edge of your roof. With the right baskets, they can effectively add some privacy to your space.

Backyard Privacy Ideas: Walls

Plants and shrubs aren’t the only way to create a secluded area. With this second tip, you can seamlessly blend manmade design with natural elements using privacy walls. You may be outside, but you can make your patio feel as private as your bathroom.

Start with a patio privacy screen or wall. These panels can be strategically placed to block your neighbor’s view or close off areas of your property where regular fencing would look out of place. There are so many styles of privacy walls, so you don’t have to worry about it disrupting the design of your space. You can choose wood or even repurpose old shutters for a DIY alternative.

Want something a little more rustic? Build a stone wall instead! These add an elevated touch to your landscaping, while maintaining privacy. If you think that’s too permanent, you can install curtain rods around your patio and hang “keep out” curtains, which can be easily pulled back whenever you need.

Lastly, you can build a patio privacy fence or upgrade an old one. However, be sure to check your HOA rules on acceptable sizes. Wood fencing adds an artistic boost and helps shelter you from the outside world. If your yard is surrounded by a chain-link fence that’s cramping your style, try covering it with old signage or artificial hedge panels. These can attach to any existing fence to give it new life.

Backyard Privacy Ideas: Structures

If you’re looking for an elegant solution to backyard privacy, our outdoor structures are the answer. With a pergola, pavilion, or gazebo, you can create a dedicated space in your yard to hang out, eat, and enjoy the peace and quiet. Combine this with twisting plants that fit around the posts, you can build a cozy and secluded area perfect for nights around a fire.
To make it even better, we offer retractable EZ Shade curtains and canopies for our structures. Pick your favorite color or pattern so you can create that perfect place of retreat (and enjoy a bit of shade).

Our last structure idea is a water feature. Installing a tall fountain or water wall does more than add a stunning focal point to your space. It also helps mask your view and your noise. The gentle sound of flowing water can cover nearby street noise, neighbor chatter, or even your own conversations. This sound barrier will make your backyard feel like a true escape while adding a touch of tranquility.

With these backyard privacy ideas, you’ll be able to build a private retreat that looks and sounds like paradise. Pair that with some new patio furniture (or restore your old set) and you’ll be ready for Summer in no time.