Garden dividers are one of the most transformative – and often overlooked – tools in outdoor design. Whether you’re working with a compact balcony or a generous backyard, introducing a screen can instantly shape the way a space feels and functions. Rather than fencing everything off, a well-placed divider creates gentle definition: a secluded reading corner, a sheltered dining spot, a backdrop that makes planting feel layered and intentional.
Good garden screening also softens sightlines, filters light, and is a wonderful way to add privacy to your home from neighboring windows, all while adding architectural interest without the permanence of walls.
The NÄMMARÖ privacy screen from IKEA captures this balance beautifully. Crafted in light brown stained acacia, it brings warmth and texture to patios and terraces, its slatted design allowing air and dappled sunlight to pass through while still creating a sense of enclosure.
The warm brown finish blends effortlessly with lush greenery, stone patio ideas, and natural fabrics, making it a natural fit for both rustic and modern garden spaces.
Bring the comfort of your living room outdoors with the NÄMMARÖ series. Perfect for balconies, terraces, or gardens, it creates a relaxed setting for quiet moments, long dinners, and summer gatherings. The NÄMMARÖ privacy screen is freestanding and easy to move, giving you flexible privacy wherever you need it – by the sunbed, the dining table, or as a stylish room divider. Use one or combine several to shape your space, and let climbing plants grow naturally along its frame.
Because it’s freestanding, the screen offers flexibility that built structures simply can’t. One panel can subtly frame a bistro set; two or three combined can form a cocooning corner for loungers or an outdoor sofa. As the seasons change, it can be repositioned to block prevailing winds or to shield a dining table from low evening sun. For renters or those hesitant to commit to permanent backyard landscaping, this adaptability is invaluable.
Built for both indoor and outdoor living, this piece is pre-treated to handle sun, rain, and everything in between – perfect for a summer garden party or crisp shoulder-season evenings. At the same time, it moves effortlessly indoors, where it can divide open-plan spaces or serve as a stylish backdrop behind a console or armchair – especially in homes that blur the line between inside and out.
Perhaps most appealing is its potential as a living feature. The open slats provide support for fast-growing climbing plants – think jasmine weaving through the frame or clematis adding seasonal color – transforming a simple divider into a vertical garden moment. Over time, the timber develops character, and the screen becomes part of the evolving landscape rather than a static addition.
In a garden, structure is everything. The right divider doesn’t just block a view; it shapes atmosphere, creates intimacy and introduces rhythm. With its natural finish and adaptable design, this screen proves that sometimes the most impactful changes are also the simplest.
Shop Garden Dividers
Garden screens do more than block neighbors’ views or hide less-than-perfect corners – they shape how a space feels. By creating distinct zones, they make a yard feel layered and thoughtfully designed, so each area unfolds as you explore it rather than all at once. They’re also a chance to get creative: from sleek panels and climbing plants to shrubs, trees, or small garden structures, screens can become design features in their own right.
I’ve selected some of my other favorite designs here to inspire your own outdoor space, showing how screens can add privacy, style, and dimension with ease.
There’s something irresistible about a three-panel divider that offers effortless privacy while elevating any space. Perfect for a patio, balcony, garden, or indoor room, it creates intimate corners that feel cozy yet open. Each finely crafted panel (24 × 47 inches, total 76 × 47.2 inches) provides flexible coverage, and the sleek, contemporary design adds a sophisticated touch.
This single metal privacy screen is one of my go-to pieces for adding style and structure to any space. Printed with eco-friendly inks, it’s perfect for creating intimate corners or making a statement in modern gardens. Durable against scratches, water, and sunlight, it’s built to last, and installation is a breeze – indoors or out.
I love this four-panel garden room divider for its traditional, boudoir feel – it instantly makes any space feel softer and more intimate. I use it to carve out a cozy nook or subtly define a 'room' without committing to anything permanent. It’s lightweight, foldable, and requires no assembly, so I can move or store it easily. At 64"L × 3"W × 69"H, it adds privacy and polish without overwhelming the space.
I recently picked up a planter like this, and I love that it’s not just a screen – it’s also a plant box. The metal planter features two elegant tree cut-outs that add a decorative touch while giving climbing plants room to grow. With a roomy 22.8" L × 9.1" W × 9.4" H interior holding up to 8 gallons of soil, built-in drainage, and flexible mounting options, it works beautifully on a balcony, patio, or garden. The durable metal construction with powder coating makes it low-maintenance and built to last – a practical, pretty piece I can see keeping for years.
If you’re not into a traditional divider, I love this best-selling bamboo cover as a great alternative. It’s eco-friendly, affordable, and perfect for both indoor and outdoor spaces. The premium-grade reed fencing creates a natural, tropical vibe while still providing privacy wherever you need it. Installation is simple – just attach it to a flat or curved surface with zip-ties or wires. This design is versatile enough to use as a divider, wall covering, garden screen, or patio border.
If you’re a naturalistic gardener, you’ll likely prefer to divide your garden using a trellis, especially one you can grow beautiful, sweet-smelling climbers on. I love these metal garden trellises for that – they’re perfect for cultivating cucumbers, grapes, peas, tomatoes, or flowering vines, all while adding structure and charm to your outdoor space. For anyone who loves both gardening and style, they’re a practical, elegant way to create defined, lush corners.
