Nothing wrecks quality time in the garden more than nosy neighbours popping their heads over the fence.
There you are trying to make the most of the five-day British summer when you can feel the heat of prying eyes on the back of your neck. Acknowledging them will only lead to small talk or worse, feeling guilt-tripped into asking them over.
If you live beside a busy road or walkway, the grievances only mount: think top-deck bus passengers gawping into your outside space, kids lobbing balls over the fence and dog walkers gazing longingly at your full BBQ grill.
The garden is a much-prized space, especially in summer when warm weather means you can enjoy it properly. If you’re lucky enough to have one, it’s only natural to want to create privacy from the rest of the world so that you can fully unwind.
Hedges and trees are natural barriers, and while they look lovely, they can take a while to establish, especially if you’re starting from scratch. Fences can be costly to build and risk triggering property boundary disputes.
A privacy panel, then, is the perfect solution with the added benefit of being installed practically anywhere, whether you’ve got a proper garden, a balcony, a porch or patio.
What’s more, they can be used in ways other than privacy. Got unsightly garden tools or don’t want wheelie bins wrecking the vision of your private oasis? Stick them behind a privacy screen. Want to zone off areas for fruit and veg beds, or create adult-only sections? You get the idea.
There are plenty of looks to appeal, from organic wood and cane to weather-wearing steel and long-lasting plastic. If you like the idea of a more natural screen, a trellis with a planter can create immediate screening with climbing plants like jasmine, clematis and honeysuckle adding sweet, fragrant layers as they grow.
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GARDEBRUK Wooden Trellis Expandable Fence Panel
Looking for an easy way to divide or create privacy in a small outdoor space? This design offers a delightful temporary solution with an expandable trellis that can be used to section your space or keep outside eyes out. The piece sits on little wooden feet so there’s no need to nail anything in although you may wish to anchor it with sandbags if it’s a particularly windy day.
Buy now £27.95, ManoMano
Alpen Home Zabarskaya Privacy Screen
Crafted from oiled eucalyptus wood this dual-level trellis and privacy screen makes the most of every inch of space. Create a secluded zone while also nurturing herbs, vegetables and plants up the wooden ladder. An effective way to keep your space feeling exclusive.
Buy now £129.99, Wayfair
Alpen Home Jetton Garden Privacy Screen Paravan
Offering the twin gifts of both privacy and shade, this three-panel screen allows you to live in your outdoor bubble without strangers poking their noses in. Crafted from natural willow gathered in Europe, the solid pine frame adds to the natural aesthetic. It’s water resistant too, so there’s no need to scramble it inside at the first sighting of dark clouds.
Buy now £225.99, Wayfair
B&Q Arched Pine Trellis panel
It may take some time, but growing your own ‘privacy screen’ by trailing plants up a trellis can be incredibly rewarding. You could go the pretty and fragrant route with clematis, honeysuckles and wisteria or make the panel work for its money by adding low-effort high-yield fruit and veg like tomatoes and strawberries.
B&Q’s 180 x 180cm option is made from pine, meaning your plants will have a strong foundation that will stand up to almost anything the British weather chucks at it. Just be sure to fix the trellis to battens to give plants the space to grow.
Buy now £100.00, B&Q
Outsunny 6.5ft Metal Privacy Screen w/ Expansion Leaf Style
Some want their garden screens to fade into the background but if you’re looking for something a bit different why not turn your new purchase into a feature design instead? This steel privacy screen is patterned with a fetching leaf print and serves well as a trellis but is effective without plants too. As well as shielding you from prying eyes, the design can be used to create zones in larger gardens or create walkways and paths. Comes with a six-month guarantee.
Buy now £100.99, Robert Dyas
Argos Lattice Wooden Garden Planter - Large
A planter and privacy screen in one, this design is ideal for anyone hoping to grow their own produce or flowers in a small space. The FSC-certified timber has been finished with a weather-resistant coating to give it extra protection and a longer life. It will arrive flat-packed, so you’ll need to get the toolbox out to put it together - still, the flat box means it’s easier to manoeuvre into position.
Buy now £31.50, Argos
La Redoute Interiors Wassif Garden Screen
This open-slat design has been crafted from acacia wood and finished with teak oil for an elevated finish. Sitting on matching legs, the 16kg design is ideal for creating a private oasis, especially on balconies and patios. It can be used as a support for trailing plants or used alone as a privacy screen that’s not too obtrusive.
Buy now £210.00, La Redoute
Dakota Fields Adomas 6.5' x 3.28' (2m x 1m) Privacy Fence Panel
A privacy panel themed on nature seems the most suitable option for organic-looking gardens. This four-panel piece expands from 32cm to 200cm (with a 120cm height) and is covered with 350 laurel leaves to mimic the look of a true trellis. The water- and weather-resistant finish means the green tone won’t fade and it can be used across outside spaces - balconies, patios, porches and more - as well as inside the home.
Buy now £82.99, Wayfair
Rowlinson Vertical Wooden Natural Timber Slat Fence Panels
There are some things we can’t wait to show off in our garden: new seating, a fun water feature, and flashy outdoor lights. Other things - like the bins or compost heap, for instance - we’d be happy to omit from the grand tour.
Hide undesirable garden features with a simple solution: a wooden screen. This bundle gives you two of them (measuring 180 x 90 x 4.5cm) in natural timber that you can use to obscure wheelie bins and unsightly equipment or just nail together for an extra layer of privacy.
Buy now £205.42, ManoMano
Oypla 1m x 3m Brown PVC Outdoor Garden Fencing Privacy Screen Roll
If you’re after a simple screen without the faff of building a fence, a roll could be the answer to your perfect garden dreams. This one is made with PVC and covers 3m so one for outdoor spaces on the smaller side. It’s also a good way to partition larger gardens to create zones for adults and kids (and all their toys).
Buy now £27.99, B&Q
