A sense of being observed can undo even the loveliest of gardens. So as you choose the planters and the furniture sets for your patio, give equal thought to the features that draw a discreet veil between you and your neighbours.
Adding privacy rarely means walling yourself in behind a 10-foot fence – the cleverest fixes make use of screens, structures and clever sleights of hand. Some are weekend jobs, some are proper investments and a few you may already own.
What follows are 8 ways to block out the sight and sound of neighbours.
1.Retractable awnings
When you're overlooked from above by taller houses or upstairs flats, an awning draws a discreet lid over your seating area. Modern cassette models retract fully into a slim housing, so they vanish when not in use.
Look for a decent projection (2.5m and up) and integrated heating and lighting are a bonus. A muted canvas in olive green makes for an easy companion for a range of outdoor settings.
2. Slatted timber screens
Horizontal slatted screens are deservedly popular, filtering sight lines while letting light and air slip through, so your patio never feels boxed in.
Go for hardwood such as iroko or thermally treated softwood if you'd rather not repaint it every other summer. Stain them charcoal and they recede, leave them natural and they warm with age.
3. Tall planters with grasses
Mobile, sculptural and surprisingly effective, a run of tall planters filled with miscanthus or calamagrostis creates a feathery screen at standing and seating height, and you can shuffle them about until the sight lines disappear.
Grasses move beautifully in the wind and have a waxy quality that catch low evening light, so they're as much about atmosphere as concealment. Group them in odd numbers and vary the heights for a relaxed look.
4. A pergola
Train wisteria, grapevine or an evergreen clematis over a pergola and within a few seasons the canopy knits together into a leafy ceiling that screens any overlooking window above.
The cover shifts over the course of a year – dappled and fragrant in summer, bare enough to let the light back in come winter. Add side planting or a run of climbers up the posts and you've effectively built an outdoor room with green walls.
5. Garden mirrors (used cleverly)
A bit of sleight of hand for smaller plots. A well-placed mirror won't block a view, but it pulls the eye to a leafy reflection and away from the neighbouring buildings peeking over the fence.
Always use mirrors designed for outdoor use and angle it to reflect greenery, never a blank wall. Keep birds in mind when placing your mirror, so as not to confuse them mid-flight.
6. Outdoor curtains
Pergola Curtains in Latte
The softest fix and arguably the most adaptable. Hung from a pergola or gazebo, weatherproof curtains let you open up or hide away a space as the mood and the neighbours dictate.
They billow in a breeze, soften hard landscaping and pull across in seconds when you want to dine in peace. Choose a heavy outdoor-grade fabric that won't fade or sag and weight the hems so they hang properly rather than flapping. Tie them back with rope for a relaxed, coastal feel.
7. A strategically placed parasol
The lightest touch of all – a generously-sized parasol offers privacy with a modest outlay. Choose a solution-dyed fabric to resist fading and weight the base properly so a gust doesn't send it cartwheeling across the lawn.
Cantilever models tilt and pivot with ease, keeping the pole out of your way so the cover floats unobstructed overhead.
8. A water feature
Privacy isn't just about what people see, it's what they overhear too. A wall-mounted spout or a simple bubbling urn throws up enough gentle white noise to blur a conversation, which matters just as much as a screen when patios sit close together.
The sound also pulls your own attention inward, so a neighbour's radio or a passing cars fade into the background. Place it near your seating rather than at the boundary for the best effect.
Rachel Edwards is the Style & Interiors Editor for Country Living and House Beautiful, covering all things design and decoration, with a special interest in small space inspiration, vintage and antique shopping, and anything colour related. Her work has been extensively translated by Elle Japan and Elle Decor Spain. Rachel has spent over a decade in the furniture and homeware industry as a writer, FF&E designer, and for many years as Marketing Manager at cult design retailer, Skandium. She has a BA in French and Italian from Royal Holloway and an MA in Jounalism from Kingston University. Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelaed
