A good privacy screen reduces unwanted overlooking without blocking more light, air, or the view than necessary. The right solution depends on whether the screen will be installed on a balcony, patio, deck, in the garden, or by a window.
In this guide, we compare glass, slats, and trellises; plants, fence; and fences, fabric, privacy screens, and window film. We’ll help you choose a solution based on location, light exposure, maintenance, durability, and how permanent the screening needs to be.
We’ll also go over what you need to consider for property boundary and in multi-family buildings, when planning approvals or other regulations may apply, and how privacy screen is affected if it’s also part of a railing or other fall protection.
How do you choose the right privacy screening?
To choose the right privacy screen, first assess where the view is coming from, what type of space you want to screen off, and how permanent the solution needs to be. The distance to neighbours, the street, or a walkway, how often the area is used, and how exposed it is all affect how much privacy screening you actually need.
For example, a ground-floor balcony near a busy walkway has different needs than a patio with an unobstructed view of one’s own garden. On a small balcony, space, wind, and fixing are often crucial, while a larger patio or garden offers greater freedom to combine plants, slats, fence, or other privacy screen.
The goal isn’t always to prevent all overlooking. Well-designed screening should provide more privacy where it’s needed without blocking more daylight, air, or views than necessary. Once you know which sightlines are disruptive, it also becomes easier to determine whether you need to screen off the entire area or just one or two directions.
How much overlooking do you have?
First, determine where the view is actually coming from. Often, it’s enough to screen off the view from a neighbour, street, or walkway in a specific direction rather than enclosing the entire balcony, patio, or deck.
What type of surface are we talking about?
Balconies, decks, patios, gardens, and windows each have different conditions. Space, wind, light, existing railings, and the possibility of fixing all influence which solution works best in that particular location.
How permanent should the solution be?
A temporary screen, fabric, or vegetation may be appropriate when you want to be able to change the setup. Glass, slats, and fence are better suited when the screening is intended to be a long-term and more permanent part of the space.
What types of privacy screening are available?
The most common types of privacy screening include plants and hedges, slats and trellises, fences and solid screens, woven screens, window film, and glass. Which option is best depends on how much privacy you need, how much light and air you want to let in, and how permanent the solution should be.
The differences are also evident in terms of maintenance, durability, and cost. Plants, bamboo screens, and other lighter solutions may be easier to change over time, while a fixed fence, a slatted wall, or a glass solution becomes a more permanent feature of the balcony, deck, patio or garden.
| Type of privacy screening | Shielding | Light transmission | Maintenance | Sustainability | Cost Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plants & Hedges | Varies by variety, density, and season | Medium to high | Watering, pruning, and routine care | Long-term, provided the plant thrives in that location | Varies depending on plant type and size |
| Slats & trellises | Medium to high, depending on the spacing | Medium to high | Depends on the material and surface treatment | Varies depending on whether it is made of wood, composite, or aluminium | Often moderate |
| Fencing & solid screens | High with a dense structure | Low, with solid screening panels | Depends on the material and surface treatment | Medium to long | Often moderate |
| Awning fabric & screen wall | Medium to high | Low to moderate | Clean and inspect the fixings as needed | Shorter to medium, depending on the material and exposure | Often low to moderate |
| Window Film & Curtains | Varies depending on the solution and lighting conditions | Medium to high | Low | Short to medium | Often low |
| Frosted or tinted glass | Higher with frosted glass, lower with tinted glass | High | Clean as needed | Long | Often higher |
Which type of privacy screen works best on a balcony?
On a balcony, a privacy screen works best when it provides privacy without taking up unnecessary floor space or blocking out more light than you want. The balcony’s size, wind direction, existing railing, and the direction from which people can see in determine whether a fixed glass solution, fabric, plants, or another lighter privacy screen is the best fit.
Overlooking from the street or courtyard often come at an angle or from below. That’s why you don’t always need to screen off the entire balcony. On many balconies, it’s enough to cover the lower part of the railing or the side facing the most intrusive line of sight.
Which privacy screen is suitable for a deck or patio?
On a patio or deck, you often have more freedom to choose and combine privacy screens than on a balcony. Plants, slats, trellises, screen walls, denser structures, and glass can be used individually or together, depending on where overlooking occurs and how open you want the space to feel.
Start by identifying which sightlines are actually a nuisance. A patio rarely needs to be screened off equally on all sides. By screening the most exposed side, you can create more privacy while still maintaining light, air, and a view of the rest of the garden.
Screen off the areas where people can look into your space
Visibility often comes from a neighbour’s property, a walkway, or a street in one or two distinct directions. In such cases, it’s usually better to focus the screening in those directions rather than enclose the entire deck or patio.
A more targeted solution also makes it easier to maintain a connection with the garden and prevent the patio from feeling enclosed. Plants or a trellis can be used where you want a softer transition, while a denser screen is best where overlooking is greatest.
Combine privacy screening and wind protection
On a deck exposed to the wind, the same screening solution may need to serve two purposes. Glass can reduce wind while preserving natural light and the view, while frosted or opal glass can also block direct views into the space.
You can also combine different materials. Glass along an exposed edge can provide shelter, while slats, a trellis, or plants can be used as a backdrop where you want more privacy and a softer look.
Which privacy screen works best along a property boundary and in the garden?
At property boundary, hedges, fence, slats, and trellises work well when you want to combine privacy with a clear boundary around the garden. A dense arrangement provides more privacy screen, while a more open arrangement or vegetation allows more light to pass through and creates a softer transition between the properties.
You also don’t have to choose between fencing and plants. A lower fence with climbing plants or a trellis can provide gradually increasing privacy and be easier to adapt to the style of the house, the shape of the garden, and how much privacy is actually needed.
Choose based on maintenance and how open you want the boundary to feel
Hedges provide a green and soft screen but need time to grow and be maintained over time. Wooden slats and wooden fences can be customised on site but typically require more frequent surface maintenance.
Aluminium is an option when you want slats or fence with less need for painting or other surface treatments. How closely slats the panels are spaced also affects the balance between privacy, light, and airflow.
Block the line of sight instead of the entire garden
A tall, dense screen around the entire property can make the garden darker and more enclosed than necessary. Therefore, start by identifying the one or two directions where the view into the property is most intrusive.
If the fence is to be located close to your neighbour’s property, it’s also a good idea to discuss its positioning and design before you build it. This can make it easier to find a solution that works for both sides of the property line.
Which window privacy screen works best?
The best window privacy solution depends on whether you want to be able to see outside, how much natural light you want to let in, and whether the window film needs to be effective both during the day and at night. Frosted film provides a more even privacy screen, while mirror film is best suited for situations where it’s brighter outside than inside.
Needs also vary from room to room. A bathroom typically requires privacy at any time of day, while a living room often needs to maintain a better view and more natural light. In bedrooms, blackout shading can be just as important as the privacy screen itself.
Tailor the solution to how the space is used
Bathroom
Frosted window film or another type of opaque privacy screen is suitable when you need privacy both during the day and in the evening. Pleated blinds can give you more control over how much of the window is covered.
Bedroom
A roller blind or blackout curtain combines privacy with the ability to block out light when you're ready to sleep.
Living Room
Here, it’s often more important to maintain the view and let in natural light. Mirrored film can provide more privacy during the day, while sheer curtains or pleated blinds make it easier to adjust the level of privacy throughout the day.
Conservatories and large glazed areas
Frosted glass Or, fabric on the sides can block exposed lines of sight. For larger glass areas, a vertical awning may be an option when you want to combine solar shading with more privacy. How much it reduces visibility depends, among other things, on the density of the fabric and the lighting conditions.
Entrance and glazed door
Frosted glass or decorative window film on the lower part of the glass can reduce visibility where it is greatest without having to cover the entire glass panel.
Which material is most durable for privacy screening?
Aluminium, when chosen correctly stainless steel, along with steel and glass, can provide a long service life outdoors with relatively little need for periodic surface treatment. Wood can also last a long time, but the results are more heavily influenced by the type of wood, wood preservative, construction, surface treatment, and how exposed the location is to sun and moisture.
For a privacy screen, it is therefore better to compare the entire solution rather than simply choosing the material described as the most durable. Fixing, construction, surface treatment, wind exposure, and regular cleaning all affect how the material performs over time.
| Materials | Sustainability | Maintenance | Weather and exposure | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood | Effective when the right timber treatment and construction methods are used | Cleaning and surface treatment as needed | Designed for outdoor use, but the surface is affected by sun and weather | Tighter-sealed structures, slats, and on-site solutions |
| Cedar | Depends on the quality of the wood, the construction, and the exposure | Surface treatment to preserve colour and appearance | Untreated wood changes and turns grey over time when left outdoors | Slatted fencing and screens where the natural appearance of wood matters |
| Composite | Varies depending on the product and design | Usually cleaning rather than painting or oiling | Check the product specifications for UV, temperature, and humidity | Slats and screens with a timber-like appearance that require less maintenance |
| Aluminium | High when properly constructed and finished | Clean as needed | Naturally corrosion-resistant and can be given additional protection through surface treatment | Permanent slats, fence, and partition walls |
| stainless steel | High when the steel grade is suited to the environment | Cleaning is necessary to maintain the surface and appearance | The type of steel and exposure to salt and chlorides are particularly important | Posts, fittings, and other load-bearing or visible details |
| Laminated glass | High when the glass, edges, and fixings are designed correctly | Clean as needed | Does not require painting or oiling | Permanent solutions where light must be preserved |
| Awning fabric and textiles | Varies depending on the fabric, quality, and exposure | Cleaning and inspection of the fabric and fixings | Sun, wind, and moisture affect the material over time | Flexible or adjustable privacy screening |
Do you need planning permission for privacy screen?
Sometimes. It’s not the term privacy screen that matters, but what you actually build, how tall and dense it is, and where it’s located. An open “ fence ” and a tall, dense structure are often assessed differently, and the rules vary from place to place.
A loose fabric or removable screen is not automatically assessed in the same way as a fixed structure. For fixed structures, however, you need to be especially careful, particularly at property boundary, on an apartment balcony, or when privacy screen simultaneously affects a railing or other fall protection.
Open fence
An open fence is generally lower and less visually enclosed than a solid screen, so different planning considerations may apply. Check the requirements for the proposed height, design and location.
Tall and dense structure
For a tall, dense structure, the height, distance from a building, and location in the garden may determine whether planning permission is required. The rules vary by location.
If the structure is mounted on top of a wall or a deck, the height of the entire structure may be taken into account, not just that of the screen itself.
Near a property boundary
A location near a " property boundary " may affect the applicable regulations, even for a project that could otherwise be built without planning permission. In some cases, neighbours may need to be consulted.
On corner plots and near driveways, also consider visibility and road safety.
Balcony in an flat
If you live in an apartment, you should check with the homeowners’ association or the property owner before making any permanent changes outside the apartment. This is especially true if privacy screen is to be screwed into the façade, permanently attached to the balcony, or if it will alter the appearance of the railing or the façade.
They may also have their own rules regarding, for example, materials, colour, and how a balcony enclosure may be installed.
Balustrades and fall protection
If a privacy screen is fitted to, replaces or alters a balustrade, the railing’s safety function must still be effective. Fall protection must be designed according to the site’s intended use and drop height and comply with local building codes.
In areas where young children may be present, special requirements may also apply regarding, among other things, climbing and openings. Fixing and the entire structure must therefore be assessed as part of the fall-protection system, not merely as a barrier.
Local regulations
Specific regulations for a particular area or property may affect what is permitted, for example, in protected environments. Therefore, always check the requirements for your specific location before you begin construction.
What should you check before choosing privacy screening?
Start by identifying where the overlooking comes from, how permanent the solution should be, and what dimensions and regulations apply at the site. This will make it easier to compare materials, light transmission, maintenance, and cost.
Go through these eight points
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Identify the lines of sight
See where the view is actually coming from. It could be from a neighbour, the street, a walkway, or a higher-level residence. Often, it’s enough to block the view from one or two directions instead of the entire area.
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Determine how permanent the solution should be
Decide whether you need a portable or adjustable solution, plants that grow over time, or a permanent structure that will remain in place year-round.
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Measure the area and note any obstacles
Measure the width and the height you need to screen off. Also note corners, changes in level, existing railings, posts, and other obstacles that affect positioning or fixing.
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Check the rules at the location
Determine whether the solution is affected by planning approvals, zoning regulations, distances to property boundary, or rules set by the homeowners’ association or property owners. If the guardrail is to be mounted on a railing, the railing’s safety function must also be maintained.
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Choose materials based on maintenance and the environment
Consider how much maintenance you’re willing to put in over time and how exposed the location is to sun, wind, moisture, and dirt. At the same time, the material’s appearance needs to complement the house and its surroundings.
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Decide how much light and view you want to preserve
A completely opaque screen provides more privacy but can also reduce light and the view. Glass, a more open-weave slats, or a targeted screen may be a better choice when you want to maintain a more open feel.
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Consider combining multiple solutions
You don't have to use the same privacy screen everywhere. Glass can be combined with plants, and slats or a trellis can be complemented with climbing plants where you want more privacy.
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Calculate the entire solution
Base your decision on your measurements, and don't just compare the cost of materials. Posts, hardware, fixings, installation, and future maintenance can also affect the total cost.
Start with sightlines, dimensions and regulations. Then choose materials and density based on how much privacy, light, view, and maintenance you want—and calculate the total cost of the solution before making your decision.
Do you need help choosing privacy screening?
Check out our privacy screen or contact customer service, and we'll help you find a solution that fits your outdoor space.
What should you know about privacy screening?
Here are brief answers to frequently asked questions about privacy screen for windows, balconies, decks and gardens.
Which type of privacy screening lets in the most light?
If you want to combine privacy with plenty of natural light, frosted or opal glass is a great option. Clear glass lets in a lot of light and provides an unobstructed view, but offers little privacy. Open-weave slats and perforated fabric can also let light through.
Can you install a privacy screen without drilling?
Yes. Self-adhesive window film, certain fabric screens with straps or buckles, and freestanding screens can be used without permanent drilling. On an apartment balcony, however, you should check the rules set by the building management or the property owner before installing anything on the exterior.
How tall does a privacy screen need to be?
There is no single height that works for every situation. Start by considering the line of sight and whether you primarily want to protect seated or standing people. For a tall, dense structure, positioning near property boundary, or solutions that affect a railing, you also need to check which regulations apply at the site.
Does window film provide privacy at night?
Frosted or decorative film can provide privacy both during the day and at night, but at the same time blocks the unobstructed view through the glass. Reflective mirror film primarily provides privacy screen during the day when it is brighter outside than inside. When it is dark outside and the lights are on inside, overlooking from outside increases.
Do you need planning permission for privacy screen?
It depends on what you are building, its design and where it will be installed. An open fence may be treated differently from a tall, solid screen, and planning requirements vary by location. Check with the relevant local authority before building if you are unsure.
Which privacy screen can withstand the strongest winds?
Wind resistance is determined not only by the material but by the entire structure and fixing. A fixed glass or windbreak can perform well in an exposed location when the system is designed to withstand the load. More solid screens catch more wind and therefore require sufficiently stable anchoring.
Can you combine privacy screening with wind protection?
Yes. Frosted or opal glass in a design intended as windbreak can both reduce direct views into the space and provide more shade. Slats and fabric can also reduce both visibility and wind, but the effect depends on how open the material is and how the solution is installed.
Is it possible to have privacy screen and still look good?
Yes, but the solution depends on the location. Reflective window film can provide an unobstructed view and more privacy during the day when it’s brighter outside than inside. You can also frost just part of a window or use slats and targeted privacy screens that block a specific line of sight but leave other views open.
What type of privacy screen works best on an apartment balcony?
Start by checking the rules set by the homeowners’ association or the property owner. A removable or non-permanent balcony screen may be easier than modifying the railing or the façade. If you plan to drill into the façade, modify the railing, or make a permanent change to the exterior of the apartment, you will normally need their permission.
How much does a glass privacy screen cost?
The price depends on the dimensions, type of glass, posts, or hardware, mounting system, and site conditions. A custom-sized glass system therefore does not have a single price that fits all projects. Compare the entire solution, including fixing and any installation, when calculating the cost.
