IT seems that everyone and their nan is talking about privacy fences this year.
Long gone are the days of talking to your neighbours while sunbathing, now we’ll do anything to keep them out.
We tried three of the best privacy fences to keep nosy neighbours out[/caption]
But with over 40 million videos of privacy fences on TikTok alone, it can be hard to navigate which way is the best.
So Fabulous Reporter Leanne Hall and Associate Editor Rebecca Miller decided to put three of the most popular methods to the test.
While Rebecca has an 80ft fence in her back garden to take care of, Leanne has a front garden on a main road in London – both are subject to prying eyes they’d rather keep out.
Ivy Trellis
The fake ivy was a cheap and effective method[/caption]
The ivy trellis has become a popular way to give fences an update without forking out thousands on new fence panelling.
The one I picked from AliExpress has a flexible backing which is perfect for me as it’s easy to hang on the iron bars of my fence using cable ties.
I bought three packs of the Dark Green Grape privacy fence panels in a 50×200 size, each pack of two cost £5.28.
This made covering my side of the fence cost just £15.84 – a bargain if you ask me.
Fed up with passersby and dreaded Lime bike users watching my every move in the garden, I was eager to get the privacy panels up.
It’s a simple job and only needs one person to complete.
The ivy is super light, making it easy to hold on to while you secure it with cable ties.
While you can tell the ivy is fake, it still looked pleasant for the price and with some extra plants potted around, it looks perfect in the summer.
Most importantly, it kept neighbours out from seeing inside my garden.
You can’t see through from the outside either[/caption]
Bamboo Screening
The picket fence offered no privacy for either garden[/caption]
Another popular budget-friendly fence covering is using bamboo screening.
Rebecca decided to use the B&Q’s Bamboo Split Slat Fencing Screening Rolls for Garden Outdoor Privacy which did the job effortlessly.
The privacy screen is 4x2m and costs £44.99, but comes in a variety of heights, making it suitable for all gardens.
Rebecca used two screens to cover her side of fence making the hack cost just under £90.
To get it up, you’ll need long screws and mushroom caps to attach the screen to the existing picket fence every foot or so along.
Because of its size, you’ll need an extra pair of hands to get it done; one to screw and one to roll it out and hold it tight. After 10 minutes, both screens were up.
Rebecca adds: “As for how it looks…the screen isn’t entirely opaque; there are tiny gaps between the bamboo rods that let some light through.
“So unless you and your neighbour have a staring competition, you can’t see them.
“Plus, when the sun hits it, it leaves a beautiful dappled effect across the grass. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it looks.”
It also comes with a one-year guarantee to make sure it lasts through winter.
The finished result! Now I can potter around my garden freely without my neighbours looking[/caption]
How high can a garden fence be?
Despite what many people think a garden fence can be as high as 100m but you need to get planning permission for any fence taller than 2m.
Any fence under 2m does not need planning permission.
However, there are some complications to this.
If you are thinking about front garden fences, restrictions state that fences alongside a driveway can be a maximum of 1m or 3ft.
You would need to get planning permission for putting a trellis on a fence of 2m.
But, if any plant that you grow on that trellis exceeds 2m, you do not need to obtain a permit for the growing plant.
Shower Curtains
So I decided to take matters into my own hands and buy a shower curtain from Amazon for just £10.
I went for a design that featured luscious, thick greenery and a gorgeous lake in the centre so I could attempt to feel like I was on Lake Como while in the heart of London.
While many people who have shared the hack online have used a staple gun to attach it to their fence, I had to opt for a different method.
Because my front garden has iron bars – I used the hooks that came with the shower curtain and put them through each of the holes.
It instantly blocked out the stares from passersby and was much more pleasant to look at than the line of Lime bikes outside my house.
Although it can pass as looking quite nice in pictures, in real life it looks like exactly what it is – a shower curtain in your garden.
But if you’re looking for a quick, cheap and effective method this might be the one for you.
Fed up with nosy neighbours, Fabulous reporter Leanne Hall tried the viral shower curtain hack[/caption]
