Make Your Yard a Private Paradise

ST. LOUIS, MO – We all like to enjoy our backyards and it’s fun to host the neighborhood get together occasionally, but what about when you want to carve out time and space for your own serenity? Not to fear, there are easy solutions to create a backyard haven that keeps wandering eyes and noise out. 

“Adding a fence or other outdoor decorative elements can enhance a home’s privacy,” said Jim Dohr, president of Coldwell Banker Gundaker. “These can also add value and become an attractive selling-point for potential buyers.”

Try some of these tips for creating outdoor privacy:

Screen from Above - If your neighbors have a tall house or it's higher on a hill than yours is, shielding your deck or patio from view can be tricky. But one easy way is to install a canopy of outdoor-friendly fabric. The canopy also casts a soft, filtered light on the patio, keeping it cooler on hot summer days.

Grow a Living Wall - Hedges are a classic way to offer privacy. They come in a tremendous variety of colors, textures and heights. 

Put Up a Fence - A 6-foot solid board fence is the quickest way to add year-round screening.  It may also be the best solution in a side yard, where space is tight. You can get creative by installing architectural details, lattice, planting flowers or evergreen shrubs to spruce up the fence.

Plant trees – Plant deciduous shade trees, which generally grow from 25 to 60 feet high, as a way to obscure a neighbor’s view from a second-story window or terrace. Positioned over a deck or patio, the canopy provides privacy and shade in the summer. In the winter, the trees’ bare branches allow the sun to shine into the house.

Using Fountains to Mask Noise – When creating your oasis, a fountain can mask unwanted sounds while offering relaxation. These range from off-the-shelf, plug-in units that sit on a table or hang on the wall to custom designs that become a major focal point.

Coldwell Banker Gundaker, the leading residential real estate brokerage company in St. Louis, operates 19 offices and is affiliated with 1,500 independent sales associates serving metropolitan St. Louis and east-central Missouri. Coldwell Banker Gundaker is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. For more information, please visit www.cbgundaker.com.

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Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Gundaker are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Gundaker