“From an ecological and natural point of view, privacy fences are the least desirable element in the landscape,” says Jonathan Fargion, a landscape designer based in New York City. Here, a guide to building backyard landscaping and a privacy fence-whether you use a pergola or a trellis-to keep onlookers out and a peace of mind in. “A privacy fence does all the work of a typical fence-indicating boundaries and keeping people and animals in or out-while also blocking views into the yard,” says Kevin Lenhart, a landscape designer and design director at Yardzen, one of the nation’s largest online landscape platforms. Luckily, clever retaining wall ideas and privacy fence ideas (some are even DIY landscaping designs) can ensure your backyard is the secluded oasis you want it to be. Hidden areas, made with privacy screening, create a sense of mystery, as you do not see all of the garden at once. “A garden should, at its best, connect us to nature, and this is simpler to do when you can relax in a peaceful setting. “Privacy fencing, either along a property line or around a specific area in your garden, creates a sense of sanctuary, seclusion, and peacefulness,” says Janice Parker, a landscape architect based in Greenwich, Connecticut. Your home should be the place where you feel the most relaxed, but without some privacy fence ideas it’s hard to truly unwind if you feel like you’ve got unwanted eyes peeking over your shoulder.

Black and white lattice rug