10 Cheap Ways To Block Your Neighbor's View of Your Yard
Owning a beautiful home and yard has always been a significant part of the American dream. Sadly,finding cheap ways to block your neighbor’s view of your yard is often easier said than done.Thankfully, you can use a wide array of methods to help increase your yard's privacy and block your neighbor’s view without having to break the bank!
Below, our team of experts at My Site Planexplores ten cheap ways to block your neighbor’s view and turn your backyard into your own personal haven. Let’s dive in!
Layered privacy plants
Incorporating an array of plants of different sizesis a great — and cheap — way to block your neighbor's view into your yard.Of course, for this to work, you need to pick plants that have heavy, evergreen foliage and can act as screens against prying eyes. Plants like arborvitae, privet, and juniperare all great choices.
Mixing a range of trees, shrubs, and flowers will also create a beautiful naturalistic look that has the wonderful side effect of increasing the privacy of your yard.
Stone walls topped with fencing
Even if you already have a privacy fence, it might not be tall enough to block your neighbor’s view — but that doesn’t mean it can’t without a little adjustment. Consider adding a stone wall beneath it to raise it higher and give it a unique aesthetic.
If you’re looking for an even more significant change, you could dismantle your fence completely and recycle the wood to create a new latticeor picket design.
Pergolas and panels
Decks, patios, and outdoor kitchens can be difficult to block from view in some yards. But adding adecorative pergolaor some unique privacy panels can be a great solution.Not only can these features add a new element of elegance to your home, but you can also add some form of curtain or cover to the panels to enjoy your outdoor space no matter the weather.
Staggered wooden boards
Staggered wooden board fencescan be an effective and cheap way to block your neighbor’s view of your yard. Unlike standard fences, the staggered nature of the boards ensures that there are no gaps that people can look through. They are also very durable and great in windy locations.
Additionally, you could consider painting or staining the boards, as well as adding some shrubs and feathery tree canopies overhead to increase your level of privacy while softening the look with a more natural aesthetic.
Privacy hedges
Privacy hedgesare one of the best ways to block the view of your yard while also providing your home with a more natural look that can pull other landscaping elements together beautifully. Planting, growing, and maintaining a quality hedge fencecan be a bit of a commitment, but many homeowners find the rewards more than worth their efforts. Plus, you might end up withmore wildlife in your yard too!
Living lattice or trellis fences
Lattice or trellis fencing is already beautiful on its own. However, it can be even more attractive- and add an extra element of privacy when combined with vines to createa living wall of greenerythat looks like something straight out of a fairy tale!These fences can be incredibly gorgeous when paired with other outstanding yard elements, like cute benches, swings, fountains, and outdoor fairy lights.
If you’re looking to put up a new fence around your home, you’ll likely need access to a quality site plan to get the appropriate permits required for the job. Our experts atMy Site Plancan help make the process as easy as possible with a 100% money-back guarantee!
Vertical gardens
Vertical gardens can be challenging to create,but they can provide a unique and gorgeous aesthetic to your home, serving as a great source of privacy between you and your neighbors.Once built, you can use the garden to plant a wide array of gorgeous flowers to create a rainbow wall of colors or even a variety of herbs and veggies that can save you a trip to your local grocery store every once and a while.
Bamboo fences
While you can always buy a pre-made bamboo fence to help enhance the privacy of your yard, growing a living bamboo fencecan be an even better option!The leafy stalks provide the cover from your neighborswhile also adding an enchanting element of charm. Bamboo is also relatively cheap to plant and grows very quickly.
Masonry walls with ornamental ironwork decals
While masonry walls may be a bit more expensive than the other options on the list, they probably won’t break the bank and provide a gorgeous new element to your yardthat can completely overhaul your home’s elegance, especially when combined with ironwork decals. These fences are also not quite as effective in terms of privacy, but their unique design may make them more than worth it!
Container gardens
Developingacontainer gardencan be a great way to incorporate a unique natural element into your yardwhile also blocking your neighbor’s view of your yard, especially for more open spaces like decks and patios. You can also leverage these container gardens to grow some delicious herbs and veggies.
Get the permits to block your neighbor’s view
Are you looking for a cheap yet effective way of blocking your neighbor’s view of your yard? Our team of expertly trained professionals at My Site Plan is here to provide you with all of the essential documentation and permits you need to start making changes to your property today!
FAQs around privacy and blocking a neighbor’s view
Before wrapping up this article, let’s also take a brief moment to explore some of the most common questions homeowners tend to have regarding their fences and their efforts to increase the privacy of their yards.
Do you have to have a permit to build a fence around your house?
Generally, yes. Most municipalitiesenforce specific zoning lawswith strict regulations regarding fence height, color, materials, and even style, especially if you live in an upper-class or historic district. You’ll likely need to apply for a fence permit at your local building and planning office. To get a permit, many homeowners will often need to provide a quality site plan of their home, like those offered by our experts atMy Site Plan!
How close can you build next to a property line?
The exact requirements for how close to a property line you can build vary between locations. The general required setback for the side of a property is five to 10 feet, while the front and back segments of the property require a minimum of 10 to 20 feet.
Getting your hands on a site plan can help make it easier to know where you can build, so be sure tocheck out our services today.And if you’d like even more information on top-quality backyard or home-design tips, please consider exploring our array of expertly written educational articles.
This article was originally published on 2022-04-11. It was updated on 2024-04-16 by Ryan Crownholm to provide greater value to the reader.