Are you tired of being overlooked in your garden and desperate to create more garden privacy?

You’d do anything to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee away from the neighbours, relax alone, play football with the kids without prying eyes, or even host a gathering in your outdoor space without feeling like there’s an extra couple of uninvited guests. It sounds like it’s time to consider some garden privacy ideas to create a secluded private outdoor space to enjoy with friends and family. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of garden privacy screen ideas to help you achieve just that.

We’ve also spent a great deal of time investing in designing affordable solutions to tackle this common and frustrating garden challenge. Read on to discover the best ways to create your perfect private outdoor retreat as we answer some of the most common garden privacy questions.

How can I create more garden privacy and make my garden more private?

There are many ways to make a garden more private, but enhancing privacy begins with identifying the specific reasons why your space feels overlooked.

Is it open and overlooked from ground level, are you overlooked from above with neighbouring first-floor windows looking straight onto your garden, located adjacent to public spaces, or dealing with being on a slope and at a lower level than neighbours? Or maybe you’re in a rental property, with low-level boundary fencing and you’re not about to invest in 6ft fence panels?

There are several effective garden privacy solutions available, including fence screening, natural barriers such as trees and hedges, garden structures such as pergolas, gazebos and shade canopies and free standing garden screens.

What are the rules around privacy screening?

Check your local council regulations, but throughout most of the UK, the rules around screening include:
🌱Fencing must not be higher than 2metres from the ground in the UK. Higher than that and you will need planning permission.
🌱For front gardens, you are looking at a 1 metre fence height to make sure sight from driveways, footpaths and highways is not obscured.
🌱There is no legal height limit for natural hedging, although local councils do have the ability to order a high hedge to be lowered following complaints.

Do double-check the regulations with your local authority.

How can I stop my neighbours overlooking my garden?

Fence screening solutions for privacy

Fencing is the obvious solution to stop neighbours overlooking your garden. Here’s some fencing tips for privacy.

🌱Ensure your boundary is marked by the maximum height fencing allowed.
🌱Consider the style of fencing you choose. Slatted fencing will let more light and noise pass across the boundary. Some decorative fence panels create the same challenge with wave-shaped top edges being lower in places and inbuilt lattice sections, again letting more light and noise pass through.
🌱Overlap, tongue and groove and closeboard fence panels create increased privacy.
🌱Forest Garden also has an award-winning Decibel Noise Reduction Fence Panel to help reduce unwanted noises passing through to your garden, offering up to 30dB reduction. The preferred option of noise is your biggest issue.

Garden structures for overhead privacy

If your garden is overlooked from above, consider a garden structure, such as a pergola.
🌱The pergola structure will add overhead shelter to your patio or decking area, obstructing some views from above. Add climbing foliage to create a lush canopy and you’ll make the area really private.
🌱Alternatively opt for a pergola with a roof, such as the Ultima Pergola, which comes with the option of a canopy fitted to metal runners for easy opening and closing. We also have a two-metre square modular pergola with two slatted roof panels.

High fencing with strategically placed garden structures, will certainly create a more private and peaceful garden space.

How do I make my garden corner private?

Private garden nooks are gold in a garden. A secluded space for relaxing with a book, a sun-drenched spot to soak up the rays or maybe for a hot tub where you want to make sure the whole neighbourhood isn’t looking on.

Simple garden buildings such as an arbour or summerhouse provide very private corners.
Alternatively, to zone off a private deck or patio, consider a wall of garden privacy screens.

We created a whole range of screens for this very reason. Slatted screens in a variety of sizes ensure an uninterrupted view and the slats also mean they are brilliant for supporting climbing plants which add even more privacy as they grow.

We have slatted garden trellis screens, single slatted fence panels in natural timber or grey and a slatted wall planter that can be combined in multiples to create an attractive screen with room for plant pots on the shelves.

What is the cheapest way to screen a garden?

Creating privacy in your garden doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some of the most affordable solutions:
🌱Affordable garden screens: The most affordable solutions when it comes to garden screens include our Slatted Trellis and Pressure-Treated Vertical Slatted Screens. If these are not being fixed to a wall, they will need to be combined with fence posts to create a free standing screen.
🌱Affordable Overhead privacy screens: When blocking views from above, the Ultima Pergola is the most affordable option. It also comes with an option for a roof canopy.
🌱Natural and alternative screens: include growing a hedge (choose a fast-growing variety for quicker results), or installing bamboo or reed screening available via many of our retail partners. Note the lifetime of this style of screening is limited.

What are the options for temporary garden screening?

If you’d prefer something less permanent, especially useful for rented properties, we offer several flexible free standing garden screen options:
🌱Trellis Planter: combines a 75 litre timber planter with an integrated diamond trellis. It’s a brilliant support for climbing plants and with the right selection of planting will provide plenty of privacy, even year-round if you select evergreen plants.
🌱Living Screen Planter: features a 134 litre capacity timber planter with integral slatted trellis that supports plants on both sides. It’s perfect for creating a garden screen and attractive floral display.

Garden privacy is possible

Creating a private outdoor space is essential for enjoying your outdoor area to the fullest. From installing the right type of fencing and using natural barriers like trees and hedges, to incorporating garden structures and affordable temporary solutions, there are options to suit every need, taste and budget.
Explore our comprehensive range of garden privacy screens, structures and accessories to find the perfect fit for your outdoor space. With a little planning and creativity, you will build the private space you and your family or friends will enjoy for years to come.