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An outdoor screen is the ultimate concealer. You may want to hide something in your garden, add some privacy to an area or create an eye-catching feature.
Even with the world’s friendliest neighbours, most of us prefer a home where we have privacy so we can relax.
The Bunnings Workshop community can help with creative solutions to most D.I.Y. challenges. Here are our most popular screening projects by pageviews:
1. Training climbers to screen a fence by @royq
Roy camouflaged a Colorbond fence with a living screen of fast-growing Chinese Star Jasmine.
2. Screen to hide a hot water system by @ProjectPete
Hot water systems can be an eyesore, so Pete built a wooden screen to create a trail for a climbing Ficus.
3. Low-profile deck with screening and steps by @MGusto
Workshop member MGusto installed two Merbau screening panels to frame a new deck and partition this entertaining space from the rest of the outdoor area.
4. Bin storage box by @ponting72
This neat-and-tidy solution kept rubbish bins out of sight but still remain easily accessible.
5. Merbau feature wall by @weekenddiyer
What started as a way to hide a water tank turned into a way to create storage and bench space for barbecuing in this outdoor kitchen and feature wall project.
6. Poolside fence makeover by @ProjectPete
Pete used rough sawn Marri to create a rustic wooden cladding for a Colorbond pool fence.
7. Feature wall fence with Matrix screen panels by @Chaks_DIY
With this eye-catching design, Rufaro combined timber and screening panels to elevate the appearance of his backyard fence and create a feature in its own right.
8. Low-level deck and Merbau screening by @WendyL
Wendy built a low-lying deck and installed Merbau screening panels to maximise the usable area of her courtyard and hide an unsightly fence.
9. Bamboo fence panel for extra privacy by @Shannon
Shannon used wonderful bamboo panelling and a rose mahogany stain to bring a touch of Bali to his backyard and greatly enliven the fence.
10. Dog-friendly garden screening by @Brad
Brad’s garden screening not only added a beautiful feature, but also helped keep his dog out of the garden.
More inspiring screening ideas
The Bunnings Workshop community have shared many other inspiring screening projects. Here's some other great projects:
- Pallet upcycling to create screening by @AndrewLee – Andrew used recycled pallet timber for screening to create a stunning outdoor seating area and shaded area for plants.
- Terracotta pot vertical garden screening by @DIYology – How to further enliven timber screening with terracotta pots to create a vertical garden.
- Display / privacy screen by @Yorky88 – A portable privacy option suitable for those in a rental.
- Backyard privacy screen inspo by @RenoQueen – A planter box with a lattice frame that hangs over a balcony handrail, perfect for creating a trellis for climbers in a small space.
Screening projects in the garden
There are some really simple outdoor projects to create a private garden retreat. By doing it yourself you'll save a lot of money.
Want more privacy, but don’t know where to start? Here are some ideas for outdoor privacy projects to suit all skill levels.
Bins, clotheslines and sheds are a fact of life, but shouldn’t be the star feature of your garden. Here are five ways to hide these necessary but not always nice to look at items in your garden.
More help for backyard screening projects
The Bunnings Workshop community can provide helpful suggestions for any screening project. Here are some recent discussions:
- Privacy screen by @Caron – Caron wanted to be able to open her front door to let the sea breeze through a 1940s cottage, but didn’t want to sacrifice privacy.
- Privacy screening by @katita – Ideas for how to create a screen to break up the line of sight between two neighbouring windows.
- Sliding door privacy by @tisme – How to create a private space in a rental property by using window film.
- Ideas for cheap and easy privacy screen to enclose my front verandah by @Alyssa384 – A timber screen was the perfect solution for Alyssa who wanted to be able to use her verandah without being exposed to all.
Fences as screening
A fence can provide important privacy and security to your home and doesn’t have to look drab. You can transform a dull fence into an attractive feature of your garden. Here are the top 10 most popular fence projects from the Bunnings Workshop community.
You can add privacy and security to your boundary fencing with D.I.Y. extensions to a Colorbond fence. Find out how in ProjectPete’s step-by-step guide How to add an extension to a Colorbond fence.
Using plants as screening
Plants can also be used to give privacy or hide something in your garden. Check out 5 ways to create a vertical garden.
Here are some helpful suggestions for plants to consider:
- Hedging plant suggestions please by @Nic1979 – Low-maintenance suggestions to soften a brick house with a hedge.
- Planting a new native hedge with Murraya by @Adam_W – Murraya is a native that grows well from full-sun through to part-shade, has beautiful perfumed white flowers and can flower multiple times a year.
- D.I.Y. artificial plant wall by @Nikkaz – A plant wall that doesn’t require watering or gardening skills.
- Vertical garden with built-in watering system by @kel – Vertical gardens need careful watering as they’re a bit more exposed to the elements and can dry out quickly.
- Front yard garden bed screening by @suequarford – Advice on how to get the most out of planting Port Wine Magnolias as a screening plant.
- Fast growing trees or shrubs? by @Gwandalan_Tales – Plants you should consider to create a fast-growing natural screen along a fence.
- Alternative to a conifer for screening by @greygardener – Suggestions for plants that will grow two to three metres.
Bunnings also offers great advice on the best plants to use to create a hedge boundary and Adam Woodhams shared How to create privacy by planting.
Help with your privacy screen project
Need help with working out how to create more privacy in your home? Feel free to press the Start a discussion button and our members will be more than happy to help.
Last updated: October 2021
