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Privacy ideas

DiggyDiggersonDiggyDiggerson Posts: 16
in Garden design
Hi folks,

I've just bought my first house, everything is great except there's a bit of a privacy issue in the back garden; the patio leading from the living room is directly overlooked by the neighbours kitchen. Fortunately when you get into the garden the angles of the shed mostly solve the issue, but i'm hoping there's something that can be done here whilst maintaining the neighbours right to light through the windows. Here's some pictures attached, I thought that something bamboo-ish could be a way to go. Open to digging up part of the patio also. 

Picture one shows our living room on the left and one small neighbour window on the right. Second is both neighbour windows, which are roughly south facing. Third is the opposite wall.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

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Posts

  • ju1i3ju1i3 Posts: 189
    gosh, two of your neighbour's windows look out directly on your patio? bit unusual, my first reaction - is accept it, any plant that is going to make your patio more private will block their light

    but if they can see out, you can see in so I doubt they'll want to spend a lot of time looking out at you
  • DiggyDiggersonDiggyDiggerson Posts: 16
    Yeah, it's an old house so some of the layout elements are a little quirky.

    Any solutions involving pull out screen/divider etc for some temporary privacy during breakfasts etc could be a thing... I just haven't come across much on my online searching. The sun comes fairly high over the patio so I think there's some leeway in building in a little low lying (under 6') solution involving plants.
  • ju1i3ju1i3 Posts: 189
    table with an umbrella that you can tilt a bit so you're not visible if sitting there?
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Wide and deep troughs/pots with something tall but semi-transparent such as tall grasses, to break up the view without completely blocking the light ? Possibly even something on heavy-duty castors that can be moved? Think about positioning strategically between your patio doors and the neighbour's windows rather than right up against the windows, if you don't need the whole area for your table, chairs etc. It would be nice to discuss your plans with the neighbours too - they might be happy not seeing what you get up to on your patio :D.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DiggyDiggersonDiggyDiggerson Posts: 16
    Great, thanks! That sounds about right :smiley:. Maybe that in conjunction with the umbrella could work a treat. And very good shout on talking to the neighbours! Tbh I think anything we do will be an improvement to having to look at us all the time!  :D
  • DiggyDiggersonDiggyDiggerson Posts: 16
    Indeed! I think the rest of the house and garden make up for it, and it feels like there are ways around this, as you've suggested. Thanks for the idea!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You could always try a couple of meals out there in the nude @jamesrblann .
    That'll stop them ogling you  :D

    A little light screening that can be moved would be my choice too. It wouldn't be difficult to build it yourself if you're handy with tools. If you match it up to your existing entrance to the rest of the garden, it would work well  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FlyDragonFlyDragon Posts: 834
    Do you have any other outside space?  What's that like?
  • DiggyDiggersonDiggyDiggerson Posts: 16
    @Fairygirl Ha! I'll give both a try and report back :)
    @FlyDragon yes we have a fair sized garden on the other side of the trellis you can see in the pictures. That part isn't overlooked at all which is great.
  • FlyDragonFlyDragon Posts: 834
    Ok, so its not a desperate situation, you do have somewhere nice to sit out.

    In that case I'd be really wary of doing anything that's going to block light from the neighbour's windows at all. 
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