12 Backyard Privacy Ideas for a Secluded Garden Oasis

Create a Green Room

Outdoor entertaining is all the rage in the warmer months—but it's best if neighbors aren't peering in during your dinner party or cocktail hour. In this space, landscape architecture firm Hoerr Schaudt used trees and other foliage to create a sense of privacy.

"These plantings not only soften the garden's boundaries, but also provide essential privacy and a quiet escape from the urban surroundings," says Simon Prunty, the firm's project designer and one of its partners. "This transforms the space into an inviting extension of the home."

Layer Lush Foliage

A natural, organic barrier can make a verdant garden feel even more lush. In this space by landscape design firm Topophyla, designer Nahal Sohbati surrounded the wooden fence with shrubs, trees, and other foliage. The result is a wall that feels like it's part of nature, and that adds to its surroundings.

Add a Cabana

Sometimes the best way to create privacy is by adding another structure into the mix. In this case, The Layered House added a cabana to the poolside area, creating another, more secluded area in the backyard. It's a retreat tucked away from other guests, where visitors can unwind, relax, and watch TV by the water.

Create a Border Garden

Martha's garden in Bedford, New York, is a constant source of inspiration. Here, pergolas frame wisteria, allium, and Camassia, creating a delicate, colorful border that effortlessly adds a sense of privacy and seclusion.

Wall It Off

Not all walls have to be rock solid. In fact, letting some natural light in can help your backyard feel open and airy—while still maintaining a sense of privacy. In this seating area, a black iron privacy wall adds a touch of elegance and quiet, rounding out the fire pit and the above pergola.

Layer Shrubs and Stone

Sometimes, traditional combinations and layouts work best. In this backyard, a pathway area is surrounded by a rock wall reminiscent of timeless English cottage gardens. Shrubs tie this privacy screen into the surrounding landscape, while also adding more height to the wall itself.

Set it in Stone

Nothing creates privacy quite like a stone wall. However, it's important to incorporate these structures into your existing landscaping, so they don't look too harsh against an otherwise lush backdrop. In this picturesque backyard, Hoerr Schaudt took inspiration from the historic residence itself.

"By designing a new wall with stones sourced from the same quarry as the home's original materials, we maintained design continuity and a cohesive material palette," says Simon Prunty.

Plus, stone helps muffle any surrounding city sounds, creating a truly serene escape.

Put Up a Pergola

A private backyard doesn't have to sacrifice style and coziness. In this outdoor kitchen by Mom's Design Build, string lights add a bit of warmth to the pergola. The structure itself creates a separate area in the yard, as well as a barrier for added privacy.

Lean Into Wood

Wooden fences are a tried-and-true design choice for a reason. Their natural material and finish work well with the surrounding landscape, and they're an easy, elegant way to keep nosy neighbors at bay. This example from Studio BV includes an outdoor sitting area—plus a barbecue and plenty of bucolic vistas.

Cover Your Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens are a place for family and friends to gather for drinks, conversation, and relaxation—so they should feel very private. This example has a pergola that covers the space and provides shade, as well as a white fence for an additional layer of seclusion.

Turn on the TV

Generally, TVs should be kept inside, but if your outdoor setup allows it, then why not set one up so you can watch the big game with friends? This outdoor entertaining area has a wood fence for privacy, but also incorporates a TV screen and seating, creating the ultimate hideaway.

Make a Splash

Pools should be dreamy, fun, and, most of all, secluded. Here, architecture firm Kroeger Intinarelli worked with landscape architect Tim Paterson to create a pool house that essentially functions as another room in the home. The exception? It's completely hidden from the rest of the property, so it feels like a totally separate entity.