Privacy screen for terrace & balcony: 5 creative summer trends

House and garden
Screening on the terrace and balcony: five trend ideas for more privacy

While you are usually undisturbed and unobserved in your own four walls, terraces and balconies often invite curious passers-by and neighbors to take a look at the breakfast table or watch dad sunbathing. Anyone who is bothered by constantly sitting or lying on the platter should think about a privacy screen for the balcony or terrace. The possibilities for this are manifold. Five creative ideas for more privacy.

1. Bamboo in the raised bed

If you want to get a touch of Asia on the terrace, you should go to bamboo think. It not only grows incredibly fast, but is also extremely decorative. Some species shoot up to 30 centimeters within a day. However, planting them directly in the ground in front of the terrace is not a good idea, because the filigree sweet grass usually spreads very quickly and is then difficult to bring back under control. So grab one raised bed of the right size and put the young plants there. Big plus point: Bamboo is evergreen and therefore protects against prying eyes even in winter when you are sitting outside with a mulled wine.

2. Balcony blind

Just put your feet up in a bikini on the balcony or celebrate the end of the day with friends with cold drinks and a bratwurst. Uninvited onlookers and neighbors with stare eyes are annoying in the long run, even on balconies. A balcony blind not only protects against sunburn in direct sunlight. At the same time, the optically appealing accessory discreetly seals off intrusive neighbors. Similar to indoor blinds, balcony blinds are attached to the ceiling and can be lowered using a chain mechanism. This model from Casa Vivendi can also be fixed to the balcony railing. This prevents the glasses from being pushed off the table in strong winds.

3. Mobile privacy screen (screen)

Let’s go back to the terrace. A permanently installed privacy screen has the disadvantage that it can only be removed or modified with great effort. If you don’t feel like it and prefer to remain flexible, you might be right with a mobile privacy screen, also known as a paravent. It is available in different heights and widths as required. Such protective walls, which are usually made of robust softwood, bamboo or plastic, can usually be folded up easily and stowed away to save space. When buying, make sure that the screen is suitable for outdoor use. This foldable Model by Angel Living cuts a fine figure on terraces, but also on larger balconies.

4. Trellis

For friends of natural privacy, there are also planted raised beds already mentioned trellis in order to isolate yourself a little in your free time on the terrace and to be able to recover undisturbed from everyday stress. Like screens, the grids usually consist of several segments and can be expanded as required. They are usually anchored to the ground with ground spikes. Climbing plants such as clematis, knotweed, climbing roses, climbing hydrangea or real grapevines are suitable for planting. Be careful with Virginia creeper: here the roots often spread out uncontrollably and extensively. If you really want to decorate and green your trellis with virginia creeper, you should switch to pots instead of planting them out.

5. Parasol

Last but not least, you can protect yourself from unwelcome looks (in this case from above) on the terrace and balcony with the well-tried parasol. Here you should consider how the sun and privacy protection can be securely attached, especially for the balcony variant. Some models are mounted on the balcony railing with a mounting set, others require a base that is as heavy and stable as possible to withstand gusts of wind. Also note the dimensions of the balcony, so that there will be room for a small one later table and a few seating is. So-called terraces are available for terraces traffic light umbrellas as a visual protection. The special thing about it: Here the umbrella hangs like a hanging basket and can be moved freely. The downside: because the wind’s attack surface is quite high, you shouldn’t save on the weight of your foot. It doesn’t matter whether it’s on the balcony or terrace: before you buy it, be sure to check the sunshade’s UV protection. An Ultraviolet Prediction Factor (UPF) of 50+ is recommended.

Privacy screen for terraces: which material is the right one?

Before you decide on a privacy screen, you should think about what purpose it is supposed to serve. Do you only want to visually (and for a limited time) separate the terrace from the rest of the garden or do you want the privacy screen to be installed permanently. In the latter case, privacy screens made of stone, plastic, WPC or BPC could be the solution. WPC (Wood-Plastic-Composite) and BPC (Bamboo-Plastic-Composite) are composite materials made of plastic and wood or bamboo and wood, which are currently in vogue. They are weather-resistant and above all easy to care for. Unlike wooden privacy screens, these partitions do not need to be painted or treated in any other way.

WPC vs. wood: advantages and disadvantages of privacy screens at a glance

If you want to be on the safe side and want to completely isolate yourself from prying eyes and strong gusts of wind, a stone privacy screen is the best choice. The higher the screen wall is built, the better it also protects against solar radiation. Important: Before starting construction, inquire with the garden board or the responsible authorities whether a permit is required. Privacy screens made of natural stone, brick or concrete are extremely durable. The individual design options range from modern to maritime, natural to exotic styles. Which stone you use depends, among other things, on the subsoil on which the privacy screen is to be built. Tip: An inexpensive alternative to massive privacy walls are so-called gabion, wire baskets filled with natural stone. They can also be covered with soil and greened. In this way you create additional habitat for bees and other insects.

Sources: “Lovely living”; gartentraum.de

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