Porch Privacy Ideas
- Hedges provide privacy as well as barriers to wind, snow and rain.garden decoration in front of yew hedge image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
If nosy neighbors and passers-by interfere with time spent on your porch, it is time to put up a privacy barrier. If your porch is not covered, consider adding a pergola, a structure that uses support columns at each corner of the porch to support beams or lattice that form an open ceiling. A pergola will protect the porch from the hot summer sun and enable you to use floor-to-ceiling treatments to protect your space. But there are plenty of other options to establish privacy for your porch. - Consider using natural plants to create a privacy barrier for your porch. If you want to close off only one side of your porch, consider a medium-size tree, such as a weeping willow or an evergreen variety. Plant them far enough away from the porch so the branches will not intrude on the space when fully grown.
Kathy Brown, Colorado Master Gardener at the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, says, "Hedges make very effective screens as well as barriers." Although they might provide more privacy and help protect the porch from wind, snow and rain, hedges require more maintenance. Hawthorn, juniper and arborvitae are good choices in most climates, and incense cedar, European hornbeam, English holly and hemlock might work as well.
Tall grasses add a level of visual interest and privacy for ground-level porches. Porches that are high off the ground can use potted plants, such as topiaries, to provide privacy barriers. - Use crisp curtains or bamboo shades on your porch to create an outdoor living space with plenty of privacy. Treated outdoor curtain panels are a good choice in any climate and will help keep the porch raindrop-free. Bamboo roman shades can be raised or lowered and afford complete privacy from nosy neighbors, but they also will keep summer breezes off the porch. They are a good option when you need only occasional privacy on your porch.
White sheers lend an exotic and tropical feel to any space. Use sheers that are long enough to allow some of the material to pool on the floor for a truly romantic feel. Sheers make spaces semi-private but should not be used in regions that have a lot of rainfall. - Purchase inexpensive wood lattice to create walls for your porch. The lattice can be stained or painted in a color that will complement your porch. For even more privacy, plant some trailing vines, such as clematis, sweet peas or morning glory, that will eventually cover the trellis.
- If your porch does not have a roof or a pergola, privacy still can be achieved with freestanding screens and room dividers. Placed strategically along the front and sides of the porch, screens lend a sense of intimacy and a level of privacy to your space.
