8 Ways to Disguise an Ugly Fence

Disguise an Ugly Fence

There is no question about it; some types of fencing are just plain ugly. If you are stuck with an ugly fence, there are some things you can do about it that don’t cost the earth, so don’t despair. You don’t always need to get fencing contractors in to change it, and sometimes you can’t if the place is a rental.

Here are eight tips to disguise a fence you hate.

  • Paint it. If the fence is made from steel panels, make sure the paint you choose suits it. Sometimes, you must wear a particular undercoat, but it is worth doing well. Otherwise, the paint might peel off in a few months, making the fence look even uglier. If the fence is made from timber, painting will also be necessary to protect it from getting wet and rotting. You might want to go for white because a white picket fence is traditional, and it goes with every other colour. But if you want something different, why not choose another colour or a combination of colours?

  • Grow a vine over it. You must be careful to contain the vine if the fence forms a boundary with the neighbour’s property. Not all people want to have their neighbour’s plants in their yard. You can also grow tall shrubs or flowers in front of it or train a shrub along it.
  • Place attractive pot plants in front of it. If you don’t have much room or energy to grow a garden, pot plants can be an attractive option. Please ensure the pots are beautiful, as they are an essential part of the whole. Then, when the plants stop flowering, you’ll still have something nice to look at. Note: don’t place pot plants in front of the pool fence, as children can climb over the fence using them as a step.
  • Place other garden ornaments in front of it. Statues, gnomes, animals – you name it. There are many beautiful and whimsical statues in the garden these days.
  • Add a roll of bamboo fencing to the inside of the fence to cover it up. A bamboo fence is easy to install, especially with a backing already in place.
  • Add a water feature to it. Choose the kind of feature with a straight back, or add a combination of pots, plants and ornaments in and around it.
  • If you have children, place their play equipment in front of the ugly fence so you will be looking at them playing rather than at the fence.
  • String rolls of plastic flags or other kinds of decorations along it. The kids will think it is fun, especially if you have their play equipment out there. You could also tie some rows from the fence to the play equipment to make a tunnel for them to run under.