Having a backyard to relax in is one of the best feelings of all. It’s a sanctuary for you and your family to get away from the busy hustle and bustle that is everyday life. With that being said, what if your backyard isn’t exactly private?
Yes, many of us have yards where neighbors can watch us every second of the day, and of course, that’s not very attractive. We don’t want our neighbors watching us constantly, and even if there aren’t any prying eyes around, sometimes having a bit of privacy is nice either way.
Building some walls or using any of the other methods we’re about to discuss to create a bit of privacy in your backyard helps to produce a more serene feeling, a place where you can really relax and without having to worry about what anyone else thinks. Let’s talk about 18 cheap ways to add some backyard privacy.
1. Use Shrubs and Plants
If you’re into gardening and you like greenery, using some plants and shrubs to create living walls is a great idea. There are plenty of fast growing bushes and shrubs, things like arborvitae, and bamboo, both of which are great for creating living barriers.
They grow fast, stand tall, and effectively provide you with a solid wall for great privacy from your neighbors. Having some plants in your backyard is also great to help prevent soil erosion and other issues.
Check out our related post of 19 Fast-Growing Trees for Privacy from Neighbours here.
2. Build a Privacy Fence
If you want to go with a very simple and classic route, you can always just build a privacy fence. You can use new and high grade lumber to build a privacy fence, especially if you have the funds to afford it.
However, there are also much more cost-effective ways to build a privacy fence, such as by using pre-made panels or bamboo fencing. Not only does this help add some privacy to the mix, but a bit of sophistication as well.
3. Outdoor Curtains
Although outdoor curtains don’t work too well for yards, they are fantastic for patios, decks, and other such areas. You can hang up some weather resistant curtains around the perimeter of your deck or patio to provide you with a bit of seclusion and privacy. It also helps produce a bit of a cozy ambiance, perfect for dinner parties and family gatherings alike.
4. Freestanding Privacy Screens
If you want something that’s super versatile and portable, going with freestanding privacy screens is always a good choice. Freestanding privacy screens come in many different designs, materials, colors, and more. One of my favorite options is the Elevens outdoor privacy screen that creates a nice private area while increasing the look of the space as well.
You can get chic repurposed shutters, lattice panels, and even ones that have fabric. What’s really nice is that you can reposition them as you see fit, move them indoors, and take them with you on the go.
5. Trellises with Climbing Plants
Going back to a greener solution, if you are all about having plants in your backyard, you can install some simple and cheap trellises, and then plant climbing plants below, which over time will create a solid wall.
Things like jasmine, clematis, and ivy are all fantastic for this purpose. They smell sweet, they look great, and they’ll provide you with a great privacy screen. It also helps elevate your backyard a little bit, because it’s a true living tapestry.
6. DIY Pallet Fence
If you’re all about reusing, recycling, and sustainability, then a great option is to use old wooden pallets to create a privacy fence. Old wooden pallets aren’t exactly 100% opaque, as you can see through the slats if you look sideways, but it’s one of the best routes to go if you need something called effective.
Simply attach some pallets to each other in a vertical manner and start building a wall out of them. What’s nice about pallets is that you can find them in many warehouses free of cost. If you want some added privacy, you can always plant some climbing plants below them as well, therefore effectively creating a living wall out of pallets and plants.
7. Plant Tall Grass
If you want something super simple that looks nice and won’t cost a fortune, just plant some tall grass. There are plenty of ornamental grasses out there that are cost effective, don’t require much care, and are resilient to various weather conditions.
Pampas grass and miscanthus are two great options to choose. They grow really fast and tall, therefore providing you with a good deal of privacy, while also adding a natural environment element to your backyard where animals of all sorts can make homes.
8. Construct a Wooden Slat Fence
A wooden slat fence is always a go to option. You can purchase inexpensive lumber, design your own fence, and build a simple design. What’s nice about a wooden slat fence is that they still let a bit of light through, so they won’t darken your yard too much.
However, they are also solid enough so that prying eyes can’t easily see in. A wooden slat fence is something that you can easily build on your own, although some people want to go the professional route.
9. Use Recycled Materials
Going back to the sustainability topic, if you’re about to reusing old materials, you can find old metal sheets, doors, windows, and anything in between to create some truly inspiring and artistic privacy screens.
They might not look overly professional, but it shows that you’re into preserving the world around you and that you’re not against recycling old materials. You can get pretty creative here too, as there are plenty of things that you can use to create a privacy screen.
10. Make a Chain Link Fence with Vines
Whether you already have a chain link fence or not, these are fantastic candidates to create living walls with. Chain link fences allow climbing plants such as clematis and ivy, to spread rapidly, and it gives them solid holding points.
If you already have a chain link fence, then this method won’t cost you very much at all, because all you need to do is plant your climbing plants of choice at the base of the chain link fence, and wait for it to grow. It’s not just about adding some privacy to the equation, but a bit of natural beauty as well.
11. Hang a Sail Shade
If you have a bit of money to spare, and you want something that looks stylish, consider hanging up some sail shades. These are great for blocking out the prying eyes of your neighbors, and they also help add some aesthetic and a modern twist to your backyard.
They’re super easy to install, they can usually be moved around as needed, and they come in all sorts of colors, sizes, shapes, and materials. This allows you to customize your backyard in such a way to match your aesthetic tastes.
12. Repurpose Old Doors
If you’re renovating your house and you have a bunch of old doors laying around that you don’t know what to do with, you could always assemble old doors together to create one long privacy fence. It’s going to look really eclectic, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Not only do you get to create something that is eye-catching and unique, but it also helps you be eco friendly and sustainable, something that our world so direly needs.
13. DIY Bamboo Screen
Speaking of being eco-friendly, one of the most eco-friendly materials that you could possibly use to build with is bamboo. Bamboo is super sustainable, it grows fast, and doesn’t require much maintenance.
You can buy some cheap bamboo poles, cut them to size, and then create a wall out of them. You can choose to use bamboo poles as placeholders and then span fabric or another material in between them, or you can place the poles side by side to create a solid wall. It’s all about adding both elements of architecture and nature to your yard.
14. Artistic Metal Panels
You can always go for some artistic metal panels to create a privacy screen in your backyard. You can buy these in many hardware stores and art stores, with many of them featuring intricate designs and colors.
They can therefore be both privacy screens and art pieces. They’re mounted on frames, and you can then strategically place them to shield your backyard from nosy neighbors and prying eyes.
What’s really cool is that these metal panels can be nature inspired, feature geometric patterns, or anything else in between.
15. Use Old Shutters
If you have an old house with shutters, those wooden slat shutters, then you can use these to create a privacy screen as well. It’s very similar to using old doors, but instead, you’ll have shutters with slats.
What’s nice about these is that you can refinish them to make them look new and modern, or you can just give them a bit of a paint job to help preserve their rustic appeal. It’s a great way to add some privacy to your backyard while also allowing for a bit of ventilation and light penetration.
16. Install a Water Feature
OK, so a water feature might not exactly be the number one most affordable way to create some privacy in your backyard, although it is certainly one of the more beautiful ways. Water features come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and some of them don’t have to be all that expensive.
Many people like water features only for the privacy they offer, but of course also for the visual appeal. Many people also love that soothing sound of flowing water, as it helps create a natural escape from the world around you.
17. Use Large Planters
If you want to just keep things simple, getting some really tall and large planters that you then fill with tall grasses, trees, and shrubs is another great idea for a privacy screen. What’s nice about large planters is that they’re also mobile and portable.
You can arrange them any way you see fit, move them around, and even place them on your decks and patios. In fact, it’s a great option for these kinds of areas, because planters don’t have to be put in the ground, but rather sit on top.
18. Build a Privacy Pergola or Gazebo
While also not one of the cheapest options around, you can always build your own gazebo or pergola, which helps create a shaded spot in your backyard.
This way, you don’t have to build a fence that cordons off your whole yard like a quarantine area, but you can still build a structure that provides you with a bit of privacy.
Not only that, but gazebos and pergolas also look really nice and add a certain amount of sophistication to the mix.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.