Pool, Patio & Backyard Privacy Solutions

—Tactics using walls, fencing, landscape, and architectural features

Do you value your privacy?

Many homeowners with swimming pools, outdoor kitchens, patio seating, fire pits, sports courts, kids’ play areas, and other backyard amenities certainly do

Whether you’re swimming laps, sunbathing, lounging in a spa, grilling, dining alfresco, or just walking around in a swimsuit, it’s more peaceful when the activity happens beyond the gaze of neighbors’ prying eyes.

The desire for a truly secluded backyard retreat can be particularly important in homes with small lots, where houses are just a few yards apart. Ditto if the folks next door could peer down on your property from a second- or third-floor window or balcony.

That’s why planning for privacy in and around a pool, patio, and outdoor living environment is often a key objective when building a pool, patio, or other outdoor amenity.

Certainly, some homeowners take a more laissez-faire attitude toward the visibility of their exterior space. Or, matters of visibility are moot when the real estate is large and free of invasive sightlines from other homes.

But assuming that privacy does matter to your family—and you don’t live on a two-acre, wooded lot—we’ve got you covered!

USE AND SIGHT LINES

When considering backyard privacy—like many aspects of pool planning—it’s helpful to think about how you plan to use the pool, patio, and surrounding amenities.

Let’s say your teenage daughter and her friends will likely be sunbathing. You might want to ensure the deck area where the lounge chairs will go is kept out of sight from the adjacent homes.

Or, you swim laps every day—and would like to do so without any neighbors judging your times and kick-turns. It would be prudent to make it tough for anyone besides your family to see your entire pool.

Depending on the layout and size of your property, it may be possible to boost privacy by simply taking advantage of existing structures and plantings.

For example, say that your lot has thick, mature trees. When planning a new pool, your designer may be able to locate the new gunite spa to use the coverage that trees afford.

That way, you can relax with the warm bubbling water and pulsating jets knowing no one outside your home can watch.

Once you have the big privacy picture in mind, you can collaborate with your pool builder or landscaper to determine the specific peep-resistant—or at least, peep-challenging—measures to deploy.

Like all aspects of pool construction and landscape installation, your project budget will also come into play in your ultimate choices for privacy tactics.  

Don’t forget about local rules and codes. As is true of all aspects of pool planning and major backyard renovations, always check local building codes or HOA rules. In many cases, they will dictate specifications for fence height, outbuilding size, property line setbacks, and other details.

LANDSCAPING SOLUTIONS

A favorite way to enhance backyard privacy is the organic approach: bushes and trees.

This tactic requires a careful selection of greenery to achieve an attractive outdoor setting with particular sightlines. Consult with a nursery or landscaper to ensure your choice will thrive in the climate where you live.

A Hedge Against Views

If you do not have neighbors with a 2-story home or one that’s situated on a hill that gives them a downward line of sight onto yours, consider hedges.

A row of tall bushes creates borders that make it next to impossible to gaze into your property. For year-round cover, go with evergreen shrubs. 

Recommendations include Box, Yew, Beech, Sea Grape, Privet, and Hornbeam. The Laurel family is a great source for thick varieties that do well for a hedge, such as Schip Laurel, English Laurel (aka Cherry), and Portuguese Laurel.

Other choices include Virescens Western Red Cedar for temperate climates, as well as Cleyera, Hibiscus, and Wax Myrtle.

Bamboo—which is technically a grass—is another option. Not only does bamboo create a dense visual barrier, it can grow several feet in just a few months!

You can also plant a row of Italian Cypress trees, and prune them into a thick hedge that will grow about three feet per year.

Layering Landscaping

Consider a layered planting scheme of large plants and trees. Combine deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, and perennials that provide an attractive, organic privacy solution.

As an example, stagger evergreens in the background and place deciduous plants in the foreground.

This kind of arrangement provides an intriguing mix of texture, depth, and color—creating a lovely scene that can also block views from next door.  

To further support your plants, especially those vulnerable to freezing temperatures, consider using row covers.

These protective floating fabrics create a microclimate that promotes growth and helps extend the growing season. Healthier plants are easier to maintain, ensuring your privacy solution remains lush and effective throughout the year.

Of course, height is critical. Deciduous shade trees, for example, grow 25 to 60 feet high. That means they can block views from second- and even third-story windows or balconies.

Keep in mind, if your neighbor’s home has a height advantage—giving them the ability to peer down into your yard—tall, thick, strategically positioned trees may be the best way to obscure their view.

PRIVACY FENCING

Fences are a tried-and-true feature for privacy. In some cases, the fence may be the silver bullet that’s needed.

But fences must conform to any local codes or HOA rules about their height. In some cases where neighbors nearby have homes from where they can look down into your backyard, that height restriction could leave the fence “coming up short” for blocking out all of the eyes.

Vertical or Horizontal Slats

Slat fences can be built with vertical or horizontal plank or boards.

The spacing of the slats can be loose, allowing someone to easily see in through the gaps—or, they can be tightly configured for greater privacy.

They are available in a wide range of natural woods, composite materials, and metals such as aluminum.

With so many different materials, colors, and styles available, you can achieve the exact look to coordinate with your backyard aesthetic.

Panel Fencing

Also called “privacy panels,” this kind of pre-fabricated fencing comes in components that are assembled on site.

Your installer can customize the fence to fit any size or shape, making it versatile for various property lots and topography.

Panels come manufactured in materials such as wood, vinyl, metal, and masonite. Each offers unique benefits such as easy assembly, decorative patterns, play on light, cost-effectiveness, and visibility options.

Trellises and Lattice Covers

Screens from lattice, louvered wood panels, metal frames, or ornamental iron offer an attractive privacy solution.

They can be vertical and freestanding or shaped into an arced roof over a passageway,

Initially, they may not provide complete privacy. The gaps in the structure will allow sunlight, breeze, and someone’s vision, to pass through.

However, they create an ideal framework to accommodate climbing plants; when these plants grow, the gaps will fill partially—thereby at least partially blocking incoming views.

Lattice Fencing

With its criss-cross pattern, this style of fencing contains gaps through which outsiders can see.

However, while this is true when the fence is first erected, that can change.

To achieve a barrier that no one can see through, the trick is to grow climbing plants throughout all of the fence, or, at least in key sections.

Along with closing the gaps, the greenery will make the fence more attractive.

Chain-link Fencing

When combined with other elements, such as screens made of mesh, vinyl, or plastic shades, a chain-link fence can provide some level of privacy.

Or, you can fill in the gaps with greenery. Nurture fast-growing creepers such as trumpet vine, climbing roses, wisteria, and clematis. Their addition will create greater privacy and a far more attractive physical boundary.

SHADE STRUCTURES

Shade features can serve double duty: They provide shelter from the sun and private spaces for outdoor leisure and activities.

Pergolas

An elevated horizontal structure, a pergola consists of a series of slats—usually wooden—that form a grid or trellis that’s supported by posts or columns.

The grid can be “filled in” with climbing plants or vines, fabric panels, or mesh screens. This “fill” will obscure visibility, but may not block 100% of someone’s view.

Typically, a seating or dining area is situated below a pergola. One of these structures can also be built over the spa on a swimming pool.

It’s important to remember that the horizontal pergola—which is a kind of quasi-roof—will block sightlines from above. It may be a perfect way to block a view from a neighbor’s multi-level home or house that’s situated higher than yours. However, in most cases, it will not block incoming views from the sides.

Now, you can achieve a higher level of privacy inside a pergola. To do so, include some vertical structure or elements to partially enclose the structure.

For example, a partial “wall” can be built with the same kind of slats as the pergola.

Or, you could suspend several hanging planter boxes from the pergola slats. In addition, you could place several tall potted plants along one side. A decorative, freestanding screen will also up the privacy quotient.

Including curtains or retractable fabric shades that you can draw closed will take privacy to the next level. Strategically placed patio umbrellas can add a bit of additional cover.

Classic Gazebos

By far, the most common use for a gazebo is to house an outdoor dining area. Less common—but cleverly effective for privacy—is to enclose a hot tub or stand-alone inground spa.

A gazebo is a freestanding structure—a kind of small pavilion—with a roof and support columns. The sides are partially or entirely open.

The flat, domed, or arched roof is typically solid and supported by columns.

When it comes to sides, there may be none whatsoever, or, there may be partial structures made from slats, lattices, screen-type panels, or an ornate patterned metal with open spaces.

Sides may extend only a couple of feet high. Or, they may run full-height—but only a few feet wide—allowing wide-open expanses around the gazebo.

Outfitting a gazebo with a form of sides creates an enclosed, private space. Tightly spaced latticework, full-height walls, and encouraging climbing plants will go the furthest to block views into the gazebo.

A more thorough approach is to augment one or more sides of the gazebo with outdoor curtains or retractable shades you can draw down for a complete visual barrier.

Soft Gazebos

An alternative to the solid, classical gazebo is an open-sided, square structure with four posts or rods supporting a heavy fabric roof.

With this style of gazebo—which has a tent-like quality—you will often see curtains. These flowing swathes of fabric afford superb flexibility: You can tie one or more of them back, or draw them closed for a high degree of privacy.

Shades and Awnings

For patio space immediately adjacent to a side of your home, retractable shades and awnings are an excellent method to create a secluded spot of outdoor space.

These shades allow you to enjoy endless hours in your backyard without worrying about direct sun exposure or onlookers.

Cabanas

Resorts offer fancy poolside cabanas for their guest's relaxation and privacy, and you can do the same in your own backyard.

Swimming pool cabanas come in a variety of styles and price points. With solid fabric on all four sides, you can attain complete privacy while ensconced in a shaded, comfortable outdoor bed.

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

Depending on their location, architectural elements and hardscape features can block views into certain sections of your outdoor space.

Large Water Features

In certain settings, a faux or natural rock waterfall can enhance privacy. In most cases, this stone feature will be incorporated into the overall swimming pool design.

bubbling

The waterfall must be at least six feet tall, but preferably taller. Its placement on the pool needs to be calculated to block a specific sight line from the neighbor's property.

You can have great versatility with the structure’s dimensions and configuration—making it a strong defensive player against potential prying eyes.

For example, the stone configuration could include two or even three multi-tiered falls.

Generally, for the goal at hand, the best kind of rock waterfall is a grotto-style one. Unlike the tapered design of most stacked-stone versions, a grotto on a pool has a wide body throughout the structure.

That larger, blocky, cave-like structure provides multiple square feet that can stand guard against sightlines into the pool.

If a water slide was a feature you were thinking of including in your pool, you could have the ultimate approach with a rock waterfall: Integrate the slide into the rock waterfall.

Along with a dramatic visual attraction, this configuration means added height and width—which can provide a rock-solid “security curtain” along a considerable area within your swimming environment.

You can also design a pool with an artistic “water wall”. This structure is adorned in decorative tile or stone and punctuated with features such as cascade falls, spouts, scuppers, or spillways.

Such a wall could even span the entire length on one side of the pool, helping block views into some areas of the water.

Solid Walls

With the caveat of a height restriction, a wall around one or more sides of your property will offer maximum privacy.

Built with materials such as brick, natural stone, brick, decorative concrete blocks, or poured masonry, you can customize these walls for aesthetic value, functionality, soil erosion prevention, and added security.

To enhance the wall’s appearance, a landscaper can incorporate plantings such as climbing vines along the wall or planting tall shrubs adjacent to the structure, bringing greenery to the hardscape.  

Fireplaces, Grills, and Kitchens

When built tall and wide, an outdoor fireplace can serve as a visual blockade

However, even if the feature is thoughtfully positioned to fend off sightlines from the home next door, the amount of protected space will be just a narrow slice of real estate.

When it comes to an island BBQ grill or poolside kitchen, the layout can afford some limited privacy.

If the amenity is covered with a nearly or fully solid roof, then like a pergola, that structure may prevent incoming views for the small area of space below.

That attribute could be helpful if the home next door had high-ground or second-level sightlines down into your backyard where you grill or cook.

BACKYARD PRIVACY IN A NUTSHELL

Many homeowners want their family members to be able to enjoy their backyard space with confidence—without that underlying feeling that someone could be watching them.

By thoughtfully selecting a combination of privacy options, you can transform your outdoor living area and pool environment into a more private oasis.