Cheap Ways to Block Your Neighbours’ View

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Everyone wants to enjoy the privacy of their garden, but sometimes this is made impossible by intrusive neighbours. Luckily, there’s a solution — even if you don’t have a lot of money to spare.

In this article, we provide a list of cost-effective solutions for protecting your privacy from prying eyes. Keep reading and discover the many cheap ways to block your neighbors view!

Cheap Ways to Block Neighbors View - Image 1

15 Cheap Ways to Block Neighbors’ View

Do you want to enjoy the peace and quiet of your garden without being observed but you only have a small budget to work with? Below, you’ll find 15 ways for blocking the view of your garden for little money.

Hedges

One of the best, most economic ways to protect your privacy is to go green; the best way to achieve this is by planting a hedge. Hedges can grow very tall and they’re easy to maintain, plus there are plenty of different types to choose from. However, make sure that the hedge you choose is compatible with the climate in your area.

Not only is this one of the cheap ways to block neighbors view in a UK neighbourhood, but it’s also environmentally friendly and it’ll definitely add some charm to your garden.

Trees & Shrubs

Trees and shrubs are other green alternatives for sheltering your outdoor space from unwanted attention. Regardless of the size of your outdoor space, you can always plant a tree (or more) and add some shrubbery for an added layer of privacy.

Evergreen trees are a particularly good choice, as they are green all year round and they don’t need too much attention. Another plus is the fact that this is a very budget-friendly option!

Vertical Flower Garden

If you’re still thinking about how to block out your neighbours view in a natural way, but you want to add some colour to all that green, then a vertical flower garden is the right choice for you. Choose an array of potted flowers and arrange them in vertical lines using a wire mesh; go for different shapes, sizes, and colours of plants for your plant wall; not only will this obstruct the neighbours’ view into your garden, but it will also make it look nice.

Container Garden

A container garden is another great way to create an intimate setting in an outdoor space for very little money. You need to get some large containers that’ll be able to accommodate larger plants such as bamboo or arborvitae. Not only is this one of those cheap ways to block neighbors’ view, but it’s also a great aesthetic addition to your garden or yard.

The main advantage of container gardens over regular gardens and trees lies in the fact that they’re mobile, i.e. they can be moved and rearranged whenever you have people over or when you need to do some maintenance.

Cascading Landscape

A cascading landscape requires more time and work to build, but it’s definitely worth the effort. You can build the cascading levels yourself with items you have around the house and you can make this your next DIY project. The best thing about embarking on this project is that you can use various garden accessories and different plants — flowers, shrubs, vines — anything you want.

Bamboo Construction

One of the best neighbors privacy screen ideas is a fence-like construction made from bamboo. You can get bamboo sticks for an affordable price and arrange them together so they form a screen or buy a ready-made one; you can even make your own shield protecting you from unwanted looks.

Trellis

A trellis is a good choice because not only is it quite cheap, but it’s also easy to install. If you want to save even more, however, you can build your own trellis from wooden sticks and wire. Once the trellis is installed, you should attach some plants to it; we recommend using climbing plants such as vines or wisteria that will twine around the wooden structure.

Outdoor Curtains

Out of ideas for cheap ways to block neighbors view? Don’t forget about curtains! There are many different types of outdoor curtains you can buy, or you can sew your own — just make sure that you choose a durable material that can withstand all weather conditions. You can also choose a curtain made from a sun-blocking material, and you’ll be protected from the sun, as well as from nosy looks.

Curtains are also a great way to block the view of a balcony, so if you live in a flat or apartment, you can hang them around your balcony and enjoy your privacy.

Art Wall

If you’re still unsure how to block out the neighbours view of your UK residence, an art wall is another great alternative. If you’re artistically inclined, you should get a canvas and some wooden pallets and construct the wall. Buy some paint and the possibilities are endless — you can paint whatever you want! This is a very creative way to block someone’s view, and it’s perfect if you’re living in a semi-detached house and have to share the yard with your next-door neighbours.

Bottle View Blocker

Most of us have a certain amount of plastic or glass bottles lying around the house with no particular purpose. However, if you’re looking for privacy ideas to screen your garden from neighbors, the bottles can be put to good use, especially non-transparent plastic bottles. All you need to do is cut out the bottom of the bottle, smooth out the edges, and connect them all together using a string or a wire. The best thing about this DIY screen is that you can make it as high (or as wide) as you want.

Custom Outdoor Screen

Outdoor screens are one of the most popular ways of ensuring privacy in a small garden; these screens can be made either from bamboo or fabric, and they are available in various shapes, sizes, and designs. These screens are definitely among the best neighbors privacy screen ideas and they don’t cost too much if you get them new; you can also find used screens for very affordable prices. An outdoor screen can be easily moved to wherever you need it, plus, it will add a touch of elegance to your outdoor space.

Wooden Fence

Wooden fences are an aesthetic way of ensuring privacy, and there are plenty of different options you can choose from when you’re dealing with wood. You can get vertical or horizontal wooden boards in whatever size you need them, and use them to build the fence yourself. And although wooden boards aren’t expensive, you can also use old, discarded wooden doors to build your fence.

Pergola

In case you’re wondering how to block out the neighbours’ view from upstairs, a pergola is the answer you’re looking for. You can always buy a pre-made pergola, but it will cost you more and it’s more fun to make it yourself. You’ll need some wood beams and some boards or bamboo sticks for the roof; you can decorate the pergola with plants and flowers for more intimacy, and an added bonus is the fact that there’s no planning permission needed to build this type of structure.

Corrugated Metal Fence

A metal fence is another option for securing privacy in your yard. Corrugated metal is easy to obtain and very inexpensive; then, all you need to do is put the metal bars together and put up the fence. Although this is one of the best cheap ways to block neighbors view in the UK, it’s best to ask whether you’ll be allowed to build this structure. Keep this in mind and add it to the list of questions you need to ask when you’re looking at a house.

Have a Talk with Your Neighbor

The last thing on our list doesn’t involve building structures; if you’re having privacy issues with your neighbour, you can simply have a conversation with them. Even if you’re not very close to them, you can approach them and ask them nicely to do something about the privacy issue, and you can even pitch them some ideas on cheap ways to block neighbors view. In most cases, you should have some success with this approach, and your neighbours are something to be considered if you’re thinking about purchasing a house in London.

DID YOU KNOW? The English Housing Survey of 2008 showed that approximately 78% of English houses have both front and back gardens.

Conclusion

There are plenty of options for protecting your outdoor space and after reading through our list, you should be able to choose one option that works best for you and that will protect you from your neighbours’ unwanted curiosity. Whatever you choose, rest assured, you won’t have to spend too much on this endeavour!

FAQ

Can I plant trees to block my neighbour’s view?

Trees, shrubs, and other tall plants are all great cheap ways to block neighbors’ view; you can plant them directly in your garden, or make a container garden that can be easily moved and rearranged.

How can I stop my neighbours overlooking my garden?

If you want to obstruct your neighbours’ view from above, a pergola or outdoor curtains are the best choices.

ABOUT AUTHOR

I am curiosity-driven and detail-oriented so you will often find me researching the latest trends, experimenting with search engine optimization, or testing software. As a keen observer of content, my teammates often like to joke that "noting escapes the eye of Beti."

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