Hide + Chic: Stylish, Smart Solutions For Creating A Private Outdoor Space

Your home is your oasis: a safe space for peace and quiet amidst the busyness of life. But once the weather warms up, the living room loses its charm. We move outside, spending hours soaking in the warm summer air and fresh breeze, only to realize that our backyard isn’t so private.

The pesky neighbor peering over your fence when you step outside for a quiet moment does not provide the sense of solitude you crave from your outside abode. Instead, you shuffle back inside because the idea of small talk before coffee is just too much to handle.

Your backyard should be an extension of your home — a place where you can be your ordinary or eccentric self. Whether you’re sipping wine at sunset, reading a book during the early morning hours or stealing a few minutes of solitude between Zoom calls and snack breaks, privacy transforms an outdoor space into a personal sanctuary. It’s not about completely shutting the world out — it’s about establishing a boundary where your world can breathe.

Luckily, there are easy strategic updates to block out the outside and add beauty inside your space. Ready to reclaim your backyard? Here’s how to hide in plain sight, but with style.

GREEN + GORGEOUS

Nature knows best when it comes to privacy. Living fences are lush, effective and look way better than a boring beige fence. However, you need to be aware of the proper placement of plants.

“Location is everything,” explains Stephanie Bertroch at Bookcliff Gardens in Grand Junction. “You could plant anything and have a beautiful space, but could run into failure for plants to thrive in the future if they’re not selected correctly based on environmental factors like water and sun exposure.” It’s recommended to consult a nursery or garden center before you dig.

For climbing coverage, reach for vines. They wind around trellises, fences or archways, serving as low-maintenance options that provide fast-growing coverage. Bertroch recommends the black-eyed Susan — a stunning, bushy vine that climbs fences and blooms with canaryyellow blossoms. Or, the trumpet vine is a fast-growing climber that flaunts flowers in shades of pink, red and orange.

Prefer privacy with permanence? Trees and shrubs provide coverage and are relatively easy to care for. Woody conifer trees, such as juniper and blue spruce, grow tall and maintain their leaves throughout the year. In contrast, deciduous trees, such as crab apple, hawthorn or Japanese tree lilac, offer beautiful, full leafy coverage but shed their leaves in the fall. Additionally, Bertroch explains that shrubs such as Hicks Yew and other varieties are ideal for living walls because they’re thick, narrow and tall — but often require trimming.

PANELS WITH PERSONALITY

Want something simple yet stylish? Panels and partitions create privacy and inject personality into your backyard.

Forget a plain white picket fence. Modern privacy screens are equal parts stylish and smart, providing architecturally interesting elements that make a statement. Laser-cut metal panels create intricate shadows and patterns as the sun moves through the sky, turning a functional barrier into a work of art. Lattices, slatted wood and geometric partitions can all create a sense of separation without feeling like you’re building a fortress.

Need something less committal? Foldable panels and retractable screens are ideal for renters or indecisive decorators who want a flexible option for privacy.

CURTAIN CALL

Decorate with curtains beyond the bedroom. Outdoor curtains add softness and flair, transforming patios into private cabanas. Suspend them from a pergola or rod installed along your covered porch to infuse color, texture and privacy. Lightweight fabrics create a breezy, romantic ambiance while heavier options provide more coverage and a cozy, cocooned feeling.

SHADE + SHELTER

Blocking views from the side is one thing — but what about those second-story windows staring straight into your backyard?

Sail shades are chic and modern, blocking both the sun and prying eyes. Pergolas are perfect for creating an architectural canopy, defining space and providing dappled shade.

Bonus: String bistro lights or add lanterns to turn your private paradise into a cozy twilight lounge.

PRIVACY + PEACE

Privacy isn’t just about blocking views or muffling noise. It’s about creating a serene sanctuary. A place where you can read, nap, entertain or simply exhale — without feeling like you’re on display. Most of all, it should feel like home, even when you’re outside.

Originally published in the summer 2025 issue of Spoke+Blossom.