Privacy in your home

Everyone likes to have some privacy, especially in their own home and there are several things a homeowner can do to screen themselves from the outside world and protect their home and valuables from prying eyes.

Blinds, curtains or fences?

There are a number of ways that you can secure your property to ensure your privacy and the most popular ways to do so are with:

• Window dressings
• Screens
• Fences
• Trees and plants

All of these options will give you adequate protection from others being able to look into your home and yard without having to turn your property into a prison and the choices available mean you can do so very stylishly.

Choosing a fence for your privacy

The first thing people think of when looking at privacy issues is blinds and curtains to shield their windows from others being able to see into their homes. Quality blinds and curtaining will go a long toward securing the privacy of your home and the array of materials, styles and colours mean you can dress your windows very attractively.

Another method is your choice of fencing. Stone, brick, metal panel and wooden fencing will create a good barrier between you and your neighbours and even between you and the street, especially if the height is such to prevent casual glances for passersby. Higher, more solid fences are also very good at reducing the amount of noise from beyond your boundaries.

Brush fencing panels are also a good choice. They are attractive, have good sound reduction qualities and can give a more informal look while still preserving your privacy from your neighbours.

The careful planting of evergreen plants and trees is another way of screening your home from others without actually walling yourself in. Many plants have excellent screening qualities and look really attractive at the same time. Box hedge fences are an old favourite that are beginning to find popularity again and climbers on lattice screens make lovely privacy screens.

In many cases, homeowners make use of more than one method of privacy screening and with careful planning you can create a very attractive look at the same time. Your immediate environment will be the main decider on what you use to enhance your privacy but with the options available, you don't have to sacrifice good looks to protect your home.