Ideas for a garden fence: 35 Best Garden Fence Ideas

35 Best Garden Fence Ideas

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1

Handrail Succulent Wall

Sugar & Cloth

Who knew you could use a handrail decoratively? Lean it against any plain old garden fence or wall and add a little color by hanging low-maintenance succulents.

Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth.

SHOP WOOD STAIN

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2

Living Cactus Wall Garden

Garden Therapy

Living wall gardens are a gorgeous way to spruce up any fence or garden wall. Here, you’ll learn how to build one with a collection of colorful cacti that are as pretty as a Western painting.

Get the tutorial at Garden Therapy.

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3

Leaf Stepping Stones

DIY in PDX

Have your fence area double as a cute walkway. To spruce up the typically plain area, lay down leaf stepping stones to stand on and admire the garden.

Get the tutorial at DIY in PDX.

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4

Woven Bamboo Trellis Fence

Garden Therapy

Tall bamboo poles are pliable enough to weave together into a fence yet strong enough to support tomatoes, cucumbers, and other vine vegetables! Who doesn’t love something practical and stylish?

See more at Garden Therapy.

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5

DIY Wood Slat Planter Wall

Remodelaholic

This simple DIY project gives a boring concrete garden wall a chic upgrade. The warm-toned wood pairs perfectly with the verdant greenery spilling from planters. Plus, you get a bit more verticle garden space.

See more at Remodaloholic.

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6

Mesh Fence with Summer Roses

Centsational Style

Any gardener knows that mesh wire fencing is just the thing some vines and flowers need to grow to their full potential. Use this as the base to grow pretty summer roses or pea vines. The dense greenery can provide a sense of privacy without disrupting the landscape as a solid border might.

See more at Centsational Style.

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7

DIY Espalier Privacy Screen

Garden Therapy

We love the simple, streamlined design of this tall, freestanding cedar trellis. Spruce it up with some flowering vines or woven reeds and use it to divide different sections of your yard or garden.

See more at Garden Therapy.

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8

Horizontal Slatted Wood Fence

Vintage Revivals

It may seem rudimentary, but a horizontal slatted wood fence can give any garden a sweet, homespun feel. Light cedar fence posts like the ones used in this one are also perfect for painting or dying, so you could also add a personalized mural.

See more at Vintage Revivals.

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9

Lattice Privacy Wall with Hanging Flowers

Woodshop Diaries

Want a sense of privacy without cutting yourself off from the world? The lattice-screened top half of this fence is both decorative and creates a sense of openness. Tack on a few little plant pot hangers with flowers to add pops of color and a bit of visual layering.

See more at Woodshop Diaries.

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10

DIY Bug Hotel Fence Art

Garden Therapy

Add an unexpected touch with this DIY fence art featuring natural and found elements such as branches, seed heads, bamboo, and moss set in a wooden frame. It doubles as a home for beneficial insects that you actually want to have in your garden, like bees and ladybugs.

See more at Garden Therapy.

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11

DIY Tin Can Garden Fence

I Should Be Mopping the Floors

A chain link fence doesn’t have to be an eyesore. Dress it up with colorful tin can flower pots in a cheerful polka dot print.

See more at I Should Be Mopping the Floors.

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12

DIY Coastal Rope Garden Border

h30 Bungalow

Give your garden a coastal feel with this easy DIY rope fence. Add a shell border and a decorative anchor for added flair.

See more at h30 Bungalow.

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13

Wood Fence with Picture Frame Planters

Garden Therapy

A simple wood fence is the backdrop for these unique picture frame planters. You can make them with cedar, metal fencing wire, and ornate plastic frames.

See more at Garden Therapy.

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14

DIY Suspended Vertical Garden

Remodelaholic

This simple vertical garden was made with 4×4 posts, some pipe, and galvanized wire. When you’re done, hang metal planter buckets with different herbs in them and feast on the fruits of your labor!

See more at Remodelaholic.

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15

Pallet Planter Fence

Garden Therapy

A tall pallet planter can make a unique and colorful fence for your garden. This one features a stunning array of coleus, succulents, pansies, and begonias.

See more at Garden Therapy.

SHOP PLANTING SOIL MIX

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16

Raised Bed Fence

Kitchen Garten

A roll of inexpensive wire fencing is dressed up with 1′ x 4′ wood trim to create this attractive fence around a raised bed garden. It’s perfect for keeping those cute-but-pesky bunnies out of your veggies! This fence can be adapted to various heights.

Get the tutorial at The Kitchen Garten.

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17

Privacy Fence Planter

Sand Dollar Lane

Is your backyard or deck wide open to everyone’s view? Provide some much-needed privacy with this beautiful fence and planter combo.

Get the tutorial at Sand Dollar Lane.

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18

Boho-Style Fence

Hey Wanderer

Update an old fence by attaching rolls of whitewashed bamboo for a beautiful, serene boho-style fence. Add lighting and other white accessories, and it’s heaven! If you can’t find bamboo, willow twig fence rolls will also work.

Get the tutorial at Hey Wanderer.

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19

Living Fence

Gert Tabak The Netherlands//Getty Images

Why not use live plantings as a fence? Here, boxwoods are trimmed to create an aesthetically-pleasing border along a walkway. It’s only about a foot tall, but the design naturally keeps traffic out of the planting beds. Plantings can be trimmed to a formal hedge or left to naturalize.

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20

Pallet Fence

Camelot Art Creations

This little painted fence, built from an old pallet, is more of a divider than a privacy screen. However, it provides an attractive transition from walk to garden. The planter, also made from scrap pallet wood, finishes the look.

Get the tutorial at Camelot Art Creations.

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23 ways to define your boundaries |

Demarcating the boundaries of our properties, best garden fence ideas are an essential part of homes.  

With a wide range of garden fence ideas on offer, there is so much a well-chosen garden fence can do for your outdoor space. Style is just as important as the quality, so choosing the right material to fit with your other backyard ideas is essential. 

• See our pick of the best Amazon Prime Day deals for your home

‘Large features like fences also underpin or can dictate a particular design style or theme, so it’s important to get them right,’ says gardening expert Matt James. Once you’ve chosen the right design for your space, learning how to build a fence for your backyard will enable you to bring your favorite garden fence ideas to life.

Inspiring garden fence ideas

Picket or rustic post and rail garden fence ideas suit more traditional country schemes, a woven willow fence has a natural, rustic look, whereas crisp horizontal louvered fencing complements more modern or urban designs. However, there is much more to choosing garden fence ideas than simply selecting a design you like.

Installing a fence is a great garden privacy idea, but also, according to experts, one of the best home security tips.  ‘Before you build a new fence, there are a number of key things to consider. Why are you installing it? Is it for privacy, security, to restrict children, pets or livestock, or simply to demarcate your space from your neighbors?’ explains gardening expert Matt James. ‘Being clear on this will determine the height, material, construction, required degree of privacy of any boundary and, of course, the price.’

Fences also offer a more practical and cost-effective alternative to both garden wall ideas and the best privacy hedges and will require minimal maintenance for a number of years. 

1. Go classic with a picket fence

(Image credit: Future/Clive Nichols)

Given their low height, picket fences are the classic choice for front gardens. Not only do they add to the curb appeal of your front yard landscaping ideas, but they also offer protection as they enable you to see beyond your home’s border. Furthermore, they won’t block the sightlines of pedestrians and drivers – often a requirement of the law. Complete the look by pairing your picket fence with garden gate ideas.

Picket fences are traditionally made from wood – typically painted white – though there has recently been a rise in low-maintenance vinyl designs. Installing a vinyl fence is also much easier than the wooden or metal equivalents and requires very little maintenance. 

2. Choose hit and miss fence to avoid having a best side

(Image credit: Jacksons Fencing)

One of the primary motivations for installing garden fence ideas is to improve your garden privacy. Traditional fences have a good side and a bad side and it is common courtesy that the ‘good’ finished side faces your neighbor’s garden, with the ‘bad side’ facing your own. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll want the ‘bad’ side impacting on your carefully curated flower bed ideas – especially when you paid for the fence – and this can cause disputes between neighbors.  

Avoid potential conflict by opting for hit-and-miss fencing. Designed to look great from both sides, the fence’s slatted design allows air to pass through the gaps, making it more durable during windy weather.

3. Consider wildlife when opting for your fences

(Image credit: Tamsyn Morgans)

Consider wildlife when choosing your garden boundaries. Hedges are the ultimate boundary for wildlife garden ideas and suit a cottage-style garden. Opt for plants like hawthorn and box and you’ll see them buzzing with wildlife come spring. However, hedges can be expensive to plant and will require maintenance. 

Wooden fences offer another natural choice. ‘One of the most important aspects is to ensure that wildlife can move freely between gardens, so leaving a gap under fences or cutting a hole around the side of a CD in the base of the fence is really important,’ explains Stuart Edmunds, mammal expert at Shropshire Wildlife Trust. 

4. Replace your fence with a work of art

(Image credit: Stark & Greensmith)

Fences don’t have to be made of wood, in fact, there are lots of alternative materials that let you get a little more creative with your garden boundaries.

One of our favorite garden fence ideas is Corten steel, which is available in a range of styles and colors. Designed to naturally weather, the finished look of a Corten steel fence will look unique to your garden and the climate in which you live – giving a textured and natural look that is sure to complement your garden decorating ideas.

5. Add a fence around your pool

(Image credit: Aquaview)

If you have a pool, then pool fence ideas are a must. In some parts of the country, they are a legal requirement, but even if they are optional where you live they are a great way to ensure your home is safe. We love the idea of adding a glass fence to your pool patio ideas, not only does it make the space safer but it also helps to zone your garden without compromising the aesthetics of your space.

6. Use fencing as a backdrop for built-in seating

(Image credit: Future)

Horizontal fencing makes a sleek modern backdrop to this built-in outdoor seating area.  

Positioned in the corner of the garden, it has an enclosed feel due to the addition of a pergola.

One of our favorite fence decorating ideas, there are so many stylish pergola ideas that can provide shade and vertical interest in the garden, while this scheme gives a sense of a room outdoors.

Integral raised beds filled with low-maintenance evergreens, and climbing plants give the cozy corner a lush, relaxing feel.

Finish off with hanging lighting and an outdoor fire, to keep the atmosphere going into the evening.

7. Add low trellis fencing for a cottage garden look

(Image credit: Joe Wainwright)

If you are adding fencing but want to retain the view, then a low-level trellis ideas are one of the best garden fence ideas for a traditional scheme.

Allowing you to define an area, while supporting and displaying beautiful plants, a trellis design is also the perfect complement to your cottage garden ideas.

‘There are lots of different styles, colors and finishes available; just carefully note the size of the holes before you buy,’ says James.  

‘The wider the gaps are, the more you can see behind, unless you allow climbers to scramble up through, which for many is exactly the point of using them.’

8. Integrate a water feature into your fence

(Image credit: Malcolm Menzies)

Add a unique design feature to the garden with a statement water feature, integrated into the fence.

Water feature ideas are a fantastic way of introducing water to a yard that isn’t large enough for a pond.

With its minimalist horizontal panels, this louver fence feels sleek and modern, making it a calming backdrop for the sight and sound of trickling water. It’s reminiscent of zen Japanese garden ideas.

All of the plumbing is hidden behind the fence, so it’s also a very neat solution.

9. Build a ranch-style post and rail fence

(Image credit: Polly Eltes)

The classic post and rail fence is an easy, cost-effective solution to adding a boundary to your yard.

Traditionally used for containing livestock, this style of fence has all the charm of a country ranch. But, crucially, it doesn’t impede on views, making it perfect if your property borders an attractive area, such as a woodland.

It’s also a great solution if you have a particularly large yard to fence off.

10. Break up your fence with a living panel

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

You may have seen living wall ideas in the past, but did you know the solution can also be applied to garden fences?

‘Living green walls are a common sight in towns these days, with plants growing to cover expanses of concrete and stretching to the sky in the urban environment. They are also increasingly being used in the home garden to transform walls and fences,’ says gardening expert Leigh Clapp.

‘Greening up the vertical plane is especially useful in small gardens, courtyards and balconies to use every perspective.’

To replicate this idea, you will need to need to attach a green wall pocket system to your fence – these are available at Amazon. This can then be densely planted with long-living evergreens. Bear in mind they need to be plants with shallow roots, as space will be limited.

11. Enclose an outdoor dining area with a low fence

(Image credit: Polly Eltes)

As well as defining the borders of your yard, a garden fence can also be used to demarcate a patio or give your outdoor dining ideas a boost.

Designing your garden in this way makes seating areas feel more secluded and gives a visual break on the landscape.

A low, open fence is ideal for maintaining views while also helping to support tall plants, although a louvered or close-panel fence allows for denser planting or even the addition of raised beds.

12. Make a plant theater display for your fence

(Image credit: Future)

Fences don’t have to be plain, unimaginative expanses. Bring them to life with climbing plants or, as in this design, a plant theater.

Painted to match the fence, the theater can be used to display small potted plants, such as traditional primula auriculas – popular in the Victorian era – succulents or herbs.

Using terracotta pots adds a warm, rustic feel to the display.

13. Set up horizontal louvered fencing

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

Make a statement with horizontal louvered screening, instead of a traditional fence. It creates a designer look commonplace in show gardens, and the timbers are ideal for supporting plants. 

‘If a solid fence would block out too much sun or you just want to create a little shade and privacy for a garden dining space, contemporary louvres are ideal,’ says James. 

‘They let in light and offer privacy while still blocking views, but unlike trellis they’re visually more substantial.’

Horizontal screens often go to the ground, but they can also be used to add height to an existing wall.   

If budgets are tight, there’s no need to install this type of fencing on every boundary; you could incorporate it into your patio ideas, or only use it close to the house.  

Use fencing like this to disguise untidy or unloved areas of the garden – it’s ideal for hiding recycling bins, compost heaps and the like.  

14. Install vertical fencing

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton )

A sturdy, mid-budget option, individual vertical timbers are attached one at a time to cross-supports. It eliminates gaps, and is one of the best garden ideas for privacy. It also allows you to custom build to fill whatever space you have.   

Cut down on labor costs by buying pre-made panels. Attach them to timber posts in the same was as any other fence panel.  

If you want to add an element of greenery to your garden fence ideas, then you can attach wire or mesh to the fence as a support for climbing plants or trees to espalier to give a distinctly modern feel. 

15. Consider trellis options

(Image credit: Future / Polly Wreford)

Panels with integrated trellis ideas might offer slightly less privacy initially, but the open, airy feel is undeniably elegant and perfect in small gardens, and if you can borrow a view from beyond your space will feel larger, too.  

They also present an ideal opportunity for climbers to interweave and create a more natural, green screen from neighbors. 

You could, of course, simply top a standard-height fence panel or wall with trellis. This adds height without compromising too much on light. 

Either way, once climbers are established and growing, they will break up the look of the solid wood and help the fence to merge with the rest of the garden.

16. Think about windier days

(Image credit: Future / Colin Poole)

Unless you have a sheltered garden, a solid fence will suffer more than those with open trelliswork. 

The wind can blow through the holes of trellis, rather than battering it – which will ultimately weaken the fence.

If the wind has already wreaked havoc on your garden fence ideas, then discover how to fix a leaning fence with our expert guide.

17. Add a coat of paint

(Image credit: Little Greene)

Outdoor paint will not only make your garden fence ideas look good, but it will also give the timber added protection, too.

There are plenty of colors to choose from when it comes to painting a fence, but wood generally looks better in more natural shades. Pale colors will lighten a dark garden, while darker colors allow the fence to fade into the background and make a great backdrop to planting.  When choosing your garden color schemes be sure that you know which fence colors to avoid.

18. Go for an entirely natural garden fence

(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby)

Create a rustic, cottage look with willow fencing. It has the feel of traditional wattle but the strength of a modern panel, and makes a beautiful backdrop for most plants.

Willow hurdles, framed willow or hazel screens offer a more natural look and suit informal garden settings, but they may not be as strong (or last as long) as a pressure-treated timber panel. 

However, these natural woven fences are made from cuttings which encourage growth, making this an environmentally sustainable choice.

(Image credit: Jenniy Reimold)

Shiplap is the most popular type of ready-made fence panel, offering good value and plenty of sizes. It is usually supported by concrete or timber posts, and needs to be treated with wood preserver regularly.   

If your current shiplap design is looking a little tired, give it a makeover by painting it in a distinctive color, with themed planting.

20. Create a boundary with an evergreen hedge

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

Evergreens are perfect for creating a boundary for your property and make the best privacy hedges; the permanent leaf cover of evergreen hedges can do a great job of keeping humans and animals out (or in), if you’re not partial to a traditional fence or wall. 

Evergreens come in all shapes and sizes – from the tiniest alpines to the tallest trees, so you’ll have no trouble finding one (or many) to suit your plot. 

21. Reinvent the picket fence

(Image credit: Future / Alun Callender)

Breathe new life into your picket fences by painting each post a different color. ‘Usually painted white, garden fence ideas look great painted in a range of pastel shades to complement your front door color,’ says Rachel Crow, Gardens Editor, Homes & Gardens.

(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)

A favorite in the design world right now, horizontal slatted fencing is having something of a moment. 

This garden, designed by Lucy Wilcox, uses boundaries as art to create a garden that beautifully blends modernity with family-friendly functionality. 

‘I couldn’t just create a show garden, because it had to work as a practical family space, but I didn’t want it to look like a playground either,’ she says. 

She solved the conundrum with a design that embraced strong lines. Here, the fence is connected to the playroom for an element fluidity. It is a simple yet clever design.

23. Match fencing to furniture

(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)

‘I love the echo of the garden fence in the bench in front of it in the backyard above,’ says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief, Homes & Gardens. ‘Just as you would indoors, create moments of repetition like this in a backyard for a harmonious balanced feel. You can do it with anything from fencing materials to planting.’

What is the best fence for a garden? 

The best fence for a garden is one that will suit your surroundings, but also fits in with your chosen design aesthetic.

Privacy is a key consideration when considering garden fence ideas, as are aesthetics – is there a neighbouring building or shed that you want to screen off? How high can you go? 

While there are many things to consider, it is worth starting out with the right materials.

We suggest using fencing materials best suited to the style of garden you have. For example, use stone, concrete and sleek wood panels for urban gardens, and willow, timber and hedges for traditional or cottage-style gardens.

How can I make a garden fence look good? 

It is incredibly easy to make garden fence ideas look good, no matter what your budget may be.

If you inherit fences that you don’t like the look of, but don’t have the budget to replace, do not despair. Instead, think of it as a planting opportunity and look to flower bed ideas. 

Chain link fences make great trellises; plant a vigorous ramping rose with honeysuckle and evergreen clematis, and your unattractive fence will soon disappear under a fragrant wild boundary that wildlife and birds will enjoy.

Maintenance is another important factor to consider if you want to keep your fence looking good many years from now. Give fences an annual check for loose boards, panels or posts that need repairing. 

While most fencing material is pressure-treated wood, it can help to prolong the life of your fences if you apply a good timber care treatment. 

What can I use instead of a fence?

If a traditional garden fence ideas are not on your bucket list, fret not. There are many other options you might want to consider if you want to create a boundary.

A living screen and archway in the form of scented climbers makes for an informal border in a country-style garden.  

‘Wirework trellis panels offer the best support for plants to grow, creating an evergreen boundary that doubles as a habitat for birds, butterflied and bees,’ says Hilary Thurman of Garden Requisites.

Wildlife-friendly varieties include dog roses, honeysuckles and wisteria.

What is the cheapest fencing option?

‘For those on a budget, traditional horizontal waney edge (lap) or vertical feather edge or close board panels, available at your local DIY store, are the cheapest option – certainly for long runs in the back yard,’ says James.

‘However, only choose these if you plan to partially obscure them with planting in front or train evergreen climbing plants up and over the top as they aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing designs.’

If yours is a garden design where you are likely to see a lot of the boundary, it’s essential to choose something that won’t be an eyesore. 

Another great option is to install a chain and link fence which is both affordable and easy to achieve.

https://www.homesandgardens.com/gardens/how-to-install-a-chain-link-fence

50 ideas for building and decorating a beautiful fence in the country house

Mamulin’s supplies (mamylin)

Country fences are not a luxury, but a first necessity.

Nowadays, high solid metal and stone fences are in vogue. Even in summer cottages, a neighbor often strives to isolate himself from his neighbor with a “fortified wall.”

Another extreme is “budgetary” fences made of chain-link, which may protect against freely grazing living creatures, but they rarely add beauty and grace to the country house.

Meanwhile, there are many options for building a new fence or decorating an existing one.

I want to bring to your attention some, in my opinion, interesting design ideas for fences that will not look trite. Starting from the most simple, but cute and original, to luxurious (neighbors will be jealous!).

Even a novice craftsman can build the most ordinary wooden fence if he knows how to handle a hammer and a hacksaw. Add a little bit of imagination (or use one of the suggested ideas), and you get a real decoration for a summer residence, and not just a fence around the site.

For those who love bright colors, have an extraordinary sense of humor and want to create something completely unusual from available materials, a multi-colored fence is a real find. You can make it from almost anything.

And if the territory of your site is large and you already have a monolithic fence, then maybe these ideas will help you design and use the area of ​​the fence in an original way for an interesting landscape design of the site.

If you are interested in any specific idea in the photo, I am happy to answer.

Enjoy your viewing and inspiration for the colorful design of your site.

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And, of course, I could not miss this option – my favorite cats!

Well, these are options on the topic “I blinded him from what was. ”

Yes, really very original… But not like everyone else!

No matter how amazing all these fences are, no matter how fascinated we are with the ideas in these photos, the best thing in your garden is you and your loved ones. Let it be cozy and light in any corner of your garden!

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Beautiful fences and fences: 25 photos of fence design ideas for private houses

The fence, without a doubt, closes you from prying eyes. However, in an effort to clearly limit our possessions, to separate our personal space from public areas, we often find ourselves in self-isolation. Who is pleased to be locked on all sides behind a massive impregnable fence! Even if you were forced to choose a fence to the skies, it does not have to be boring and nondescript. Quite the contrary – you need to make it a decoration of the garden.

Tim Davies Landscaping | Perth

And again about monotony
A well-founded desire to close one’s life from prying eyes often turns a fence into a darkly overhanging fortress wall. This effect is especially pronounced in small areas. And it’s good if it is justified stylistically, but more often than not, instead of comfort and behind-the-scenes closeness, a dominating closed space is obtained.

Perhaps monotony and excessive massiveness are the main problems that appear along with high solid fences. Even when using beautiful and expressive (and often expensive) material, a vast continuous plane stretching along the entire site looks boring. Therefore, the fence should be given attention at the planning stage. And turn it from a monotonous dull canvas into an interesting and stylish decoration of the site. As an example – the original and beautiful fences in the photo in this article.

Cool Gardens Landscape Associates – CGLA

In the photo: Beautiful fences for private homes are not a luxury, but a necessity. After all, they create the first impression of the owner’s property

Elena Scherbakova

Combine
The fence does not have to be the same around the entire perimeter – combine sections of different heights, made of different materials, different degrees of transparency and differently decorated. Such a division will visually break the plane of the fence into parts, and your garden will not give the impression of a fenced area. In addition, this technique will help with zoning: each newly decided segment of the fence will indicate a change of sites, especially if you correlate the design with the function.

Combining different sections will also effectively save on materials – expensive stone or metal can be used locally and alternated with simpler budget sections. At the same time, not only without damaging the design, but also creating modern and original compositions.

Tip: Combination also works in the vertical plane – combining two or more materials, colors or textures vertically, you will visually weaken the massiveness of a high fence.

Decide on the functional load of the fence
Where do you need to hide from prying eyes, and where do you need to mask an unsightly appearance or give backstage? Where to prevent animals from passing, and where – only to mark the border, to zone the space? And what types of fences and barriers to choose for this?

• To ensure visual impermeability, the fence must be solid and most likely high. But this does not mean that transparent or openwork elements should be completely abandoned – place them in its upper part or as decorative panels.
• For masking, consider the shape and size of the object to be covered and the material it is made of. Often in this case it is enough to use decoration techniques and it is not necessary to build an impregnable wall. It happens that such buildings themselves effectively serve as fences, and they only need to be decorated.
• To protect against unauthorized arrivals of neighbors’ cats and dogs, pay attention to the snug fit of the bottom of the fence to the ground, and even better – install it on a solid foundation tape to avoid undermining. And also consider the size of the holes if the fence is openwork.
• Both low barriers and decorative openwork or intermittent fences and fences will help in zoning. Here you can fully show your imagination, since the function of barriers is primarily signal and symbolic, and not applied.

Urban Landscape

Pictured: There are many types of decorative fences, choose the one that suits your yard

Scot Eckley, Inc.

Additional fence role
Depending on which zone a particular section of the fence adjoins, it can be made quite functionally useful.

1. In the garden
Attach cascading boxes to the fence for growing herbs or strawberries. This will help save space, make the spatial organization of the garden more diverse. In addition, in this area, the fence will become a good support for the trellis growing of fruit trees. Tall fruit bushes planted along the perimeter will also help diversify the fence in this part of the site. Fruit hedges, traditional for our climate, from chokeberry, shadberry, hazel form lush impenetrable curtains. But when planting them, keep in mind that the width of such a hedge will be significant.

2. Summer kitchen
Wooden boxes for herbs and herbs will be a good addition to the fence in the summer kitchen-barbecue area. Here they will allow you to cut the greens right to the table, and besides that, they will help repel mosquitoes. Fasten boxes or planters to a solid fence near the table – green shoots will decorate the dining area and create an image of freshness and vigor. A through screen of vertically fixed boxes will be a good zoning element for this area.

C.O.S Design

Also in the summer kitchen, a high solid fence will allow you to place a lot of shelves for dishes and spices. Open shelves will add decorativeness, provide space for beautiful dishes and decor. And closed ones will help to hide kitchen utensils and supplies from the eyes and, more importantly, from curious magpies and crows. And they will turn this zone in terms of functionality into a real kitchen.

Management area
Use the fence to store tools and garden supplies.

Recreation areas
The wide plane of the fence is an excellent display area, it will provide a neutral backdrop for various decorations. Especially it will be appropriate in places of rest.

David Nossiter Architects Limited

Use Lighting
The railing makes a great base for lighting, both decorative and functional. Luminaires can be mounted on support poles, cut into the plane of the fence.

Or you can turn the fence itself into a lamp by making it from a two-layer light-transmitting material and inserting a lamp between the layers.

LANDSCAPE SOLUTION SERVICE JSC

Make the border double
To ensure opacity, but not lose decorativeness and lightness, you can duplicate the fence and complement the openwork decorative fence with a solid fence. The fence turns out to be two-layered. Its ornamental part is responsible for decor and style, while its opaque part protects from prying eyes.

The simplest fence can be used as a closed part – in this case, you don’t have to worry that it will look boring. Or plant a tall hedge as visual protection, pairing it with an openwork trellis fence for which it makes a good backdrop.

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Roundhouse Architecture

Install Doors and Gates
Gates and gates break the endless length of the fence. As a rule, even if the fence itself is made of the simplest professional sheet or picket fence, the gates are decorated more decoratively, trying to decorate the entrance area. And they become an expressive accent that breaks the monotony of a solid fence. Use this technique more actively.

Make gates in several places on the site – in addition to decorative tasks, this will help zoning by creating alternative routes and additional exits from the site.

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If new exits are not needed, install false doors. And although they do not really lead anywhere, they will help create a fabulous intriguing image and add a decorative touch to the continuity of the fence. Let them be intricately designed or deliberately simple, but they will definitely be able to take on the role of an accent, and also create the illusion of a multidimensional space, its diversity.

Idea: Old interior doors can be used as false gates. They look expressive and create an atmosphere of tradition and history. And placed in the garden – will create a touch of mystery.

London Garden Designer

Niches and gaps
The use of niches will bring a similar effect. Place them in wide areas of the fence, such as support pylons – they will help lighten them. Slots in the solid plane of the fence also look spectacular, through which lush branches of plants penetrate, as in the photo.

Rhythm
Use complex rhythmic patterns in your railings. If your fence is made of slats, whether horizontal or vertical, space them unequally and use slats of unequal widths.

Diagonals
Diagonals are a great way to overcome monotony. Diagonal rhythm looks dynamic, even if it is presented quite extensively. Diagonally mounted poles have been used for fences in the northern regions since ancient times. Such a fence, moreover, was quick to erect and easy to repair. And it looks unusual and decorative.

Elena Veselova

A similar effect, as in the fence of houses from Kizhi Island (pictured), can also be used in modern constructions. Make a complete replica, or use instead of poles – slats made of wood or metal, the same or different widths. Alternate colors and materials.

Idea: If you install slats without gaps, while maintaining a diagonal orientation, such a fence will turn out to be opaque, but still dynamic.

Harold Leidner Landscape Architects

The beauty of diagonals can also be used in brick fences. Such an ornamental pattern, built on a diagonal checkerboard pattern, looks very decorative. It can be either openwork – then the gaps will create a fractional light-shadow pattern, or closed – in this case, make it two-layer.

As you can see in the photo, such a brick fence will be an excellent backdrop for a rose garden or other free flower garden. The clear lines of the checkerboard pattern will effectively set off the lush, unstructured masses of greenery with bright spots of flowers.

Make the top cut curly
Curly non-uniform top edge will divert attention from the length and uniformity of the fence plane. Yes, it won’t be the same. Use wooden slats and bars of different lengths, as in the wooden fence in the photo, place sections of different heights side by side. Or figured cut sheet materials.

Troy Silva Design Group Inc.

Hanging shoots of ampelous plants and lush cascades of flowers will also effectively decorate the upper edge of the fence. To land them directly on top of the fence, it must be very wide and massive. This method is suitable for old stone fences or low dividing barriers.

Tip: If you have a regular fence, you can simply place flower boxes on top of it.

Randy Thueme Design Inc. – Landscape Architecture

Add volume and texture
Don’t make the fence flat – let it be embossed, uneven in width. Complement its wide plane with protruding parts and elements – and it will not be boring.

For example, you can make a fence of smoothly curving metal strips, as in the photo. A similar effect can be achieved with bent plywood, but make sure it is moisture resistant and treat it properly. Flexible plastic panels are also suitable for creating an unusual fence.

GM Construction, Inc.

In such a fence, you can use the wattle principle, the traditional way of building fences. But instead of a vine, take wide ribbons and twist them more textured. However, traditional wattle has not lost its relevance – it is able to bring an expressive texture and rustic imagery with the utmost availability of material and ease of execution.

Texture and relief can also be added using other materials: natural stone surfaces, unevenly laid wooden blocks or bricks, rough plaster. And poured concrete is a fertile material for giving sculptural forms.

LimeTree Alfresco

Use the natural textures of materials
The natural properties of materials are a storehouse of decorative possibilities. So do not hide them under a layer of paint. Due to their naturalness, they present unique, non-repeating patterns that can become an expressive decoration of the surface. Differently treated metal will show a combination of rough rust and a reflective polished surface. The wood will give a rich variety of textures, depending on the variety. The stone will showcase many colors and patterns. Combine materials and processing methods – and your fence will definitely not be boring.

Germinate Design

Add asymmetry
Asymmetry destroys monotony. Play with distance and direction. Pattern density and color. Place unpaired decorative elements. Whimsical décor is perhaps the easiest way to add an asymmetrical accent. It can be a sculpture, relief, panel, mosaic or painting – a good reason to show imagination or use an unusual object.

C.O.S Design

Use ornaments and patterns
Ornament helps to effectively decorate the surface, allows you to clearly show the stylistic direction, introduce the necessary rhythm and plasticity. In large volumes, due to its diversity and complexity of the pattern, it will help to avoid monotony. But it can also be used locally as an accent stroke.

In fences, the ornament can be forged, in the form of laser cutting on metal or plywood sheets, engraving, etching, mosaic or painting. So, this technique gives really wide decorative possibilities. And as a result – beautiful openwork fences.

Zeterre Landscape Architecture

Conner Landscape Architects

Use translucent materials
Glass or polycarbonate will give the fence lightness: they do not look massive even in the form of large sheets. In addition, they let in light, which means that such a fence will not greatly obscure the site. This same property can be used for artificial lighting.

And matting with film or sandblasting will make them visually impenetrable.

Cuppett Kilpatrick Architects

Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects

Decorate an existing fence
If you already have a solid high fence, you can always decorate it.