“Obviously, a privacy fence fails if you can clearly see through it, but there’s a gradient with which designers can play,” Lenhart notes. There are also fences that are a little more open and offer breathability in a space. If the goal is to have complete seclusion, something solid without any gaps would likely be the best choice. For this reason, many privacy fences are made from solid wood and designed to be completely opaque. “By necessity, privacy fences must obscure sight lines,” Lenhart says. The best privacy fence will depend on each homeowner’s goals for the fence and their yard. If you opt for a natural privacy hedge, these can be much taller and often go up to 12 feet. If you do need extra height, he suggests adding 12 to 18 inches of lattice on the top of a fence, which will add privacy while minimizing the visual impact of a taller fence. “I’d advise not going any taller than you have to, both to save on expenses and to limit the shrinking, enclosing effect fences can have on a space,” Lenhart says.

How tall can I make my privacy fence?įences that are six feet tall should block most views from the ground level.

For larger yards, he suggests making use of natural greenery, like trees, to keep unwanted eyes from infiltrating your space. In general, he says privacy fences make the most sense on small properties, like town house gardens. “As a rule of thumb, fences should be at least two inches off the ground to let critters the freedom to move between properties,” Fargion explains. Privacy fences cut the land into lots, which can be problematic for the bugs, insects, and other wildlife that live there. This doesn’t mean privacy fences are necessarily a bad idea, just that there are a few considerations to take into account before getting started. “From an ecological and natural point of view, privacy fences are the least desirable element in the landscape,” says Jonathan Fargion, a landscape designer based in New York City. Here, a guide to building backyard landscaping and a privacy fence-whether you use a pergola or a trellis-to keep onlookers out and a peace of mind in. “A privacy fence does all the work of a typical fence-indicating boundaries and keeping people and animals in or out-while also blocking views into the yard,” says Kevin Lenhart, a landscape designer and design director at Yardzen, one of the nation’s largest online landscape platforms. Luckily, clever retaining wall ideas and privacy fence ideas (some are even DIY landscaping designs) can ensure your backyard is the secluded oasis you want it to be. Hidden areas, made with privacy screening, create a sense of mystery, as you do not see all of the garden at once. “A garden should, at its best, connect us to nature, and this is simpler to do when you can relax in a peaceful setting. “Privacy fencing, either along a property line or around a specific area in your garden, creates a sense of sanctuary, seclusion, and peacefulness,” says Janice Parker, a landscape architect based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Your home should be the place where you feel the most relaxed, but without some privacy fence ideas it’s hard to truly unwind if you feel like you’ve got unwanted eyes peeking over your shoulder.

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