If you’re looking to reclaim your outdoor space and enhance your privacy, garden screening is the perfect solution. As the experts in all things garden screening, we have a lot of unique privacy screen ideas to block out neighbours from peeking into your space. In this guide, we’ll explore 15 simple (and cheap!) screening ideas to block out your neighbour’s view and transform your garden into a peaceful sanctuary.
But before we get into how to block out your neighbours, let’s first take a look at why you need screening to achieve that in the first place.
Why You Need Screening to Block Out Neighbours
There are several reasons why you might need screening to block out your neighbours, including:
Creating Privacy in Your Outdoor Space
Privacy is a fundamental need when it comes to enjoying your garden. Whether you’re entertaining, relaxing, or spending time with family, a screening solution ensures you can enjoy your outdoor moments without feeling watched.
Enhancing Your Garden Aesthetics
Screening isn’t just about hiding; it’s also about styling your space. The right materials and designs can seamlessly blend with your garden’s overall look, making it feel more cohesive and well-thought-out. For more information on the best colours for garden screens, check out our helpful guide.
Protecting Your Family’s Space
A good privacy screen creates a barrier that offers peace of mind, especially for families with young children or pets. It helps to define your space while keeping it safe and secure.
Effective Screening Ideas to Block Out Neighbours’ View
If you’re looking for some of the most effective and cheap ways to block out neighbours’ views and keep prying eyes away from your garden, consider the following privacy screen ideas for nosy neighbours:
Tall Fences
It’s not a stretch to say most gardens, especially in the UK, have some form of fence to block a neighbour’s view. Tall fences are a traditional yet effective way to block out your neighbour’s view. Whether you opt for wooden panels or metal alternatives, a high fence is an excellent solution for ensuring the highest level of privacy. And you don’t even need to splash out on a whole new fence! There are many creative ways to make your fence taller that can be a cheap way to block a neighbour’s view.
Bamboo Screening
For a more natural privacy screen idea, bamboo screening offers an attractive, eco-friendly solution. It’s lightweight, easy to install, and gives your garden a tropical, serene feel whilst ensuring a cheap way to block your neighbour’s view. Plus bamboo fencing’s durability is very strong, so you don’t have to worry about replacing your screens every few years.
Trellis with Climbing Plants
A trellis adorned with climbing plants is a beautiful and functional privacy screen idea. Choose fast-growing varieties like ivy or clematis to ensure a cheap way to block your neighbour’s view while adding greenery to your space.
If the above trellis idea isn’t quite up to your liking, check out our collection of modern trellis screens to find even more inspiration for your outdoor space.
Privacy Screens and Panels
Standalone privacy screens are perfect if you’re looking for a simple, movable solution. These come in various styles, from modern metal designs to more rustic wooden options. For a look at some of the most inexpensive privacy screens available, check out our blog.
Outdoor Curtains
For a more flexible approach, outdoor curtains can be hung on a pergola or arbor to provide instant privacy when needed. Probably the cheapest way to block out the neighbour’s view and can be very stylish depending on your aesthetic. They’re easy to adjust and can be drawn open or closed depending on your preferences.
Living Green Walls
A living green wall, made from vertical planting systems, is a brilliantly environmentally-conscious privacy screen idea. It offers a stunning way to block out the neighbours’ view while creating a lush, garden-like environment, making your private garden a nature retreat.
For some more inspiration, check out our collection of the 16 best garden screen ideas for gardens.
Cheap Ways to Block the Neighbours’ View
If you’re on a tight budget, there are plenty of affordable and creative privacy screen ideas that you can draw inspiration from instead to block out your neighbours, including:
Recycled Materials (Pallets, Crates, Old Fences)
Using recycled materials can be a cost-effective and creative way to create a privacy screen. Pallets, old wooden crates, or repurposed fence panels can be reimagined into unique garden screens that help the environment, reduce waste, save space in your house, and provide a cheap way to block the neighbours’ view.
Lattice Screens With Vines
A lattice screen, different from a trellis, is a grid-like structure to provide light support for climbing plants. Combined with climbing vines, a lattice privacy screen is an affordable option that gives a lovely natural feel to the garden and still provides plenty of privacy. It’s ideal for a more open, airy feel, as the vines can grow in and fill in the gaps naturally.
Fabric Screens or Mesh
For a quick and easy fix, fabric screens or mesh can be hung along existing fences or posts. This is a cheap way to block the neighbours’ view that works for temporary use, although you may not want this up in your garden all the time. It’s also a flexible solution, allowing you to move the privacy screen wherever you need it and take it down whenever you don’t.
Hedge Screens
Planting a dense hedge along your fence line is a great natural privacy screen idea for nosy neighbours and can look very neat and regal in your garden. Varieties like laurel or boxwood grow quickly and densely, making them an effective and green solution.
Fencing with Gaps
Consider using fencing with built-in gaps to still allow light and air while maintaining privacy. It’s a more stylish approach that balances openness with protection from prying eyes.
Additional Screening Ideas to Block Out Neighbours

If after reading this far you’re yet to find an idea that works for you, consider the following outdoor screening ideas to block out neighbours:
Decorative Panels
Decorative panels made from metal or wood are a beautiful and functional screening idea to block out neighbours. You can choose patterns and styles that complement your garden’s design and position them in aesthetic locations while they serve as an effective privacy barrier.
Pergolas with Screening
A pergola with added privacy screening can give your garden a more refined look. The structure itself can add a touch of elegance, while the screening ensures privacy in a sophisticated way.
Garden Arbors
Arbors can be combined with climbing plants for a unique and stylish solution to blocking neighbours’ views. Not only can they provide privacy, but they also add a charming focal point to your garden.
Planting Trees for Privacy
If you’re not keen on physical screens, planting trees along your property line is a long-term investment in privacy. Choose evergreen species for year-round coverage, and you’ll create a natural, lush barrier in no time.
How to Choose the Best Screening Idea for Blocking Out Neighbours
Now that we’ve shared a large variety of privacy screening ideas, let’s talk about how you can go about choosing the best one for your garden.
Consider Your Garden Style
Your choice of screening idea should go well with the rest of your garden’s design. If you have a modern garden, sleek metal or composite options might be the best fit. For a more natural space, plants or wooden screens might suit better.
Factor in Your Budget
The cost of garden screening can vary significantly. If you’re on a budget, consider using recycled materials or low-maintenance options like fabric screens. For long-term investment, more durable choices like metal or bamboo might be worth considering.
Think About Maintenance
Some screens require more maintenance than others. Wooden fences or plants might need regular upkeep, while materials like metal or composite options offer a more low-maintenance solution.
Consider the Local Climate
The climate in your area can affect the longevity and suitability of certain privacy screen materials. If you live in a damp climate, opt for materials like metal, bamboo, or composite screens, which are less likely to suffer from rot or mildew.
For more information on how to choose the perfect garden screen for your home, check out our helpful and comprehensive guide.
Final Thoughts
No matter your garden’s size, style, or budget, there’s a screening idea to block out your neighbours that will work for you. Whether you’re looking for something simple and cheap or a more permanent solution, the right screening idea can completely transform your outdoor space, offering both privacy and aesthetic appeal.
Whichever route you decide to take, you need to know how to set up your new privacy screen ideas. Check out our step-by-step on how to install garden screening to make sure you don’t go wrong. You should also consider reading our guide to building a privacy fence, as it can provide additional insights and inspiration for creating a private and stylish garden space.