From Spotlight: Fresh Ideas for a Brand New Yard

Deck Privacy Ideas: Creating Your Personal Oasis

Updated on April 16, 2024

Whatever your budget and preferences are, find a match in these creative deck privacy options.

An inviting backyard deck with chairs, a table and a pergola to cover it.
Image: JamesBrey/getty

A well-built deck can be a relaxing oasis at the end of a long day or a gathering place for family and friends. But when your neighbors live close by, a lack of privacy can keep you from maximizing your deck. Don't fret, though. Several solutions can protect your home from prying eyes and help you maintain your privacy and enjoy your outdoor living space.

Explore Deck Privacy Ideas

Start by assessing your requirements. Are you looking for permanent or temporary solutions? How much cover will your deck need? Are there zoning or HOA rules to follow? Keep these questions – and your budget – in mind as you consider the options below.

Permanent Deck Privacy Solutions

  • Modern home with attached pergola and a stone wall for privacy.
    Image: Ziga Plahutar/getty
  • Private deck with a modern slotted fence and pergola.
    Image: itchySan/getty
  • Horizontal cedar privacy fence in a bright and flowering backyard.
    Image: Joanne Dale/getty
  • Neat paved patio with sitting area covered by a retractable awning and small garden near wooden privacy fence
    Image: ProCreators/getty
  • Modern privacy fence with ridged texture and a flower bed in front.
    Image: U. J. Alexander/getty
  • Fence consisting of a low brick wall and a trellis of wooden braces Enclosed garden
    Image: nobtis/getty
  • Ivy covered espalier in a crisscross pattern on a block wall
    Image: Heidi Patricola/getty

Adding a permanent fixture to your home, such as a fence or wall, makes sense for anyone with a generous budget who plans to live in their home forever. Here are some permanent deck privacy ideas:

  • Walls: A well-constructed brick or stone wall helps block loud noises and requires less maintenance than some other options. The downside is that a brick, concrete, or stone wall is relatively more expensive to build and requires a strong foundation.
  • Fences: A fence enhances privacy without blocking light. This may be important for homeowners who want to retain an open and airy ambiance on their deck. Traditional wood is a viable option for many. However, vinyl, iron, and composite fences can work as well, depending on the weather conditions in your area.
  • Custom option: Your permanent deck privacy partition doesn’t need to be a high stone wall or a full fence. You can opt for a custom option that perfectly complements your outdoor space. For instance, a low brick wall topped by a trellis may give you some of the security and privacy of a stone wall while preserving the natural light and airiness of your deck.

Greenery for Natural Deck Privacy

  • Trees and plants in a backyard bring privacy to your deck.
    Image: Alona Krytska/getty
  • Row of trees in the backyard add privacy to your space.
    Image: rlat/getty
  • Vertical Garden made of reclaimed wood adding privacy to a deck
    Image: Naphat_Jorjee/getty
  • A vertical garden attached to slats creating privacy in the backyard.
    Image: SutidaS/getty
  • Herb wall featuring aluminium pots, hanging on black frame against a gray brick wall.
    Image: Naomi Rahim/getty
  • Seating in the garden on the balcony surrounded by plants, is a recreation place.
    Image: tapui/getty
  • Tall plants and planters mixing to add privacy to a seating area.
    Image: Alona Krytska/getty

Clever use of plants and trees can maintain privacy on your deck while creating a lush and serene environment.

  • Plant tall trees and shrubs: Trees and dense shrubs can be practical ideas for deck privacy. If you live in a warm climate, you can create a tropical paradise with potted palms and vibrant plants. Meanwhile, a cooler climate is perfect for the traditional, stately look of conifers.
  • Incorporate vertical gardens: A beautiful vertical garden is more than a backyard privacy idea. It can also be a stunning focal point on your deck. Your vertical garden can be a metal trellis covered with climbing roses or morning glory or a wooden fence with built-in planters perfect for growing your favorite herbs. Visit a local nursery to get more ideas.
  • Choose low-maintenance plants: Tall, spiky snake plants can be an elegant and effortless addition to your deck. Dense and bushy rosemary in raised planters can be another low-maintenance way to improve deck privacy (bonus: it’s edible and fragrant). While many plants are low maintenance choices that first-time plant parents may love, the climate, soil, and exposure to light are important considerations.

Whether you're looking for rose hedges with high visual impact or minimal-maintenance potted plants, talk to a local gardener or landscaper to identify which native plants will grow well in your space.

Trellises and Pergolas: Design Meets Privacy

  • Cozy walkout deck with patio area. Deck with wooden trellis overlooking backyard garden
    Image: irina88w/getty
  • Wooden trellis with attached greenery adds privacy to a backyard
    Image: altanakin/getty
  • Modern bohemian pergola with patio furniture and a bench swing.
    Image: KatarzynaBialasiewicz/getty
  • A backyard of a suburban USA home with a deck and pergola.
    Image: RichLegg/getty

A trellis or a pergola requires less financial investment than a full wall but may still be pricier than plants and trees.

  • Improve deck privacy with a trellis: A latticed trellis made of wood, composite, or metal can add a decorative element. It won't completely obscure your deck from view, but a trellis can add charm and character to a space. Choose from various ready-made designs and colors or have your trellis custom-made to suit your deck. A trellis lets in natural light and breeze while creating a sense of privacy.
  • Consider a dual-purpose pergola: A pergola creates shade, improves deck privacy, and keeps your deck feeling cozy and intimate. Pergolas also block the view of your deck from your neighbor's second or third-floor windows. They're easy to customize, so you can add elements like curtains and plant-covered trellises to increase privacy. An eyelash pergola can work especially well for more compact outdoor spaces and decks.

Privacy Screens: Blending Functionality with Style

  • A cute patio deck with a geometric privacy screen fence.
    Image: piranka/getty
  • A slatted wooden wall hides the neighbor's from view. Beach pebbles, square cut flagstone and brick landscape pavers and simple plantings provide ample texture and contrast in this small contemporary backyard Asian inspired urban garden.
    Image: Joanne Dale/getty
  • Partial residential deck with black free standing decorative privacy screen that hides the next door neighbor's area that is in close contact. Black iron railing.
    Image: Solidago/getty
  • A general view of a small courtyard garden hidden from view by a greenery panel with a cobblestone patio, slate chippings, table and string rope chairs
    Image: John Keeble/getty
  • Greenery panel on a fence blocking the backyard from view
    Image: Dominik Spalek/getty
  • A private relaxation area on the sun terrace with comfortable chairs, light filtering curtains, and wicker swings, the use of light light textiles in the interior design, a cozy veranda.
    Image: Anna Eremeeva/getty
  • Beautiful cozy gazebo with fabric curtains in the backyard surrounded with trees, flowers, lawn and fence
    Image: draganab/getty
  • Reed shades giving privacy to a modern pergola in a backyard.
    Image: Eirasophie/getty
  • Close up of bamboo blinds with light filtering through.
    Image: draganab/getty
  • A suburban deck with a roof and movable wooden shades.
    Image: Kristin Mitchell/getty

Lightweight and easy to install, privacy screens are a versatile pick for anyone seeking deck privacy ideas. Most manufacturers offer various materials like wood, metal, vinyl, and bamboo. Let’s take a look at some solutions that could complement your home and fit your vision for the deck.

  • Wooden and metal screens: Select solid panels for total privacy or decorative screens for a more design-forward space. Typically, these screens are sold as panels, so you can purchase as many or as few as your deck needs. However, depending on the size or shape of your deck and your design priorities, you may need to have your screens customized.
  • Greenery panels: Homeowners seeking the lush look of a vertical garden without the stress of plant maintenance might consider artificial greenery panels. Like turf, they are made of plastic and can create the look of tiny plants or creepers growing over a wall. Plastic is susceptible to the elements, though, and can weaken and discolor with exposure to sun and rain. Look for high-quality and well-reviewed greenery panels.
  • Fabric curtains: When paired with a covered deck or pergola, fabric curtains can be an effective and low-effort deck privacy idea. You can change your curtains throughout the year to switch up the mood of your space or choose a heavy-duty outdoor curtain that helps create a calm, shady space.
  • Shades: Like indoor shades, the outdoor variety comes in materials like bamboo, vinyl, and mesh that can be adjusted for light and privacy. As with curtains, the shades need to be suspended from a frame, so you may need to add a wooden frame or pergola to your deck.

Transforming Your Deck

Making your deck your private paradise is worthwhile in a couple of ways. Long-term solutions like walls and fences could help improve property value, but a deck transformation doesn’t have to break the bank. Reimagining your space with plants, screens, and trellises can change the mood of your outdoor space and make it the perfect lounge area for you and your family.

You can always combine solutions to maximize privacy. For instance, a partial fence paired with some hedges or an awning with tall potted plants may be the right choice for your deck. Don't hesitate to mix and match till you find the right combo.

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