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Privacy Screens
If you want outdoor privacy, it's not always
a simple matter of one-type-suits-all. Palatial mansion or pint-sized plot,
every yard has a place needing an outdoor privacy screen or backyard retreat,
away from your neighbors' sight. Whether it's a pool, spa, outdoor kitchen,
patio, or just a spot for enjoying some solitude, you're going to need to figure
out how to create that outdoor privacy screen, barrier, fence, etc.
Looking Before Leaping
Obvious ways to create outdoor privacy screens are walls, fences or hedges. But
these structures aren't always necessary or smart solutions. Do you really need
a stacked-stone retaining wall for the terrace of your condo? Would an
8-foot-high fortress of clipped boxwood look somewhat odd surrounding a 5-foot
diameter spa?
Play it smart and ponder the following considerations before finding a creative
solution for making a privacy screen that works well for your particular
situation.
Inspiration
Yes, if you open your eyes to your surroundings, inspiration is lurking around
every corner. Visit a local botanical garden and take pictures. Cruise your own
or other neighborhoods for possibilities. And don't forget to check out this
photo gallery of ideas for outdoor privacy screens, which is frequently updated.
Size & Proportion
Analyze the size of the area to be screened and height of the actual screen.
Something big and tall could dwarf an already-small space (remember the
diminuitive Stonehenge props in the film Spinal Tap?) Conversely, a 4-foot-high
row of floribunda roses won't give you the privacy you might require, especially
during off-season when they're reduced to mere canes.Materials should be
appropriate for the particular space and surrounding area.
Don’t count on a delicate annual vine covering a chain-link fence to provide the
privacy required in a pool or spa area.
What's It Gonna Cost?
Cost is a consideration for most of us, which means summoning those creative
brain cells to come up with a solution that you like and works within your
budget (or lack of).
Art for Art's Sake?
Speaking of creativity – sometimes you’ll have to abandon artistic self
expression in favor of coming up with something that looks good and works well
for you, your neighbors, your homeowners' association, and any passersby. Unless
you live in a frat house, a wall of beer cans epoxyed together might be a fun
morning-after-the-party project, but probably won't win the approval of your
neighbors.
Architecture & Design
The style of the privacy screen should coordinate with the architecture of your
home. Think about ornamentation, texture, color, design, weight, and again,
materials. Examples: Victorian doesn’t work with modern; southwestern and tudor
don’t jive, etc. You want the screen to blend in with the rest of the structure
and hardscape, not jump out and scream, "Look at me!"
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