Come up with a backyard privacy plan. Think about what you want and need to make your yard secluded. Are you looking for privacy and noise reduction? Consider the space you have to work with, including property lines and neighbors’ properties, as well as existing fencing and structures. Having a good grasp on all the factors in your design is the key to a successful project.
Helpful Tip
Check codes and ordinances in your local municipality—as well as regulations from your homeowner’s association, if applicable—before constructing any fencing or other structures.
Research backyard privacy ideas online or take inspiration from your neighbors' yards. Look over pictures from books and magazines, and watch home improvement television shows. Absorb all of this information and try to picture what would work in your yard. Remember to stay realistic with your ambitions. You'll need to maintain landscaping features and pay for them. Don't get in over your head if you don't have the time for regular upkeep or the money to fund a grandiose project. A combination of fencing, landscaping and structural components for backyard privacy can produce the most effective and appealing results.
Sketch out your plan on paper. Draw how you want your backyard to look, and measure (or estimate) the dimensions of your space. You don’t have to be an artist, so don’t stress out about how your sketch may look. The idea is to visualize the design.
Keep reading below to learn about the different options available to increase privacy in your backyard. For more in-depth, general landscape planning, see the project, Plan Your Landscape.