Folks have this desire for privacy, but they often go about it all wrong. I see homes (or rather, I don’t see homes) that have installed eight-foot privacy fences around their entire lot to keep people from looking in. What are you hiding? Fencing creates a harsh boundary between you and your community. Not to mention, it completely destroys the aesthetics of your neighborhood. And there are many better ways to make your home feel more private without building a fence. It’s time to tear down the wall!  

You’re Doing It Wrong: Privacy Doesn’t Require Fences 

I often travel across the country for design inspiration. I just got back to my Austin interior design studio after a magical trip to Los Angeles — the land of the laid-back California casual design style. Every time I visit, I am struck by the state’s beauty. 

One thing I noticed as I drove through the neighborhoods of Beverly Hills and Laguna Beach was the stunning landscaping. Of course, the homes are gorgeous, but the plantings stole the show, from lemon trees bearing their bright yellow fruits to azaleas erupting with their exuberant fuschia blooms. 

While these homes are located in somewhat crowded communities, proper lot positioning and landscaping allowed each to achieve a sense of privacy and intimacy. There’s no need for big ugly privacy fences blocking the views, light, and connections to the outside world when you have a charming row of oleanders giving you just enough privacy from the street (and a beautiful view to all who pass). 

Returning to my South Austin neighborhood, I was confronted by the oppressive, towering privacy walls many of my neighbors have built. What a shame it is to hide behind rotting cedar fencing. If you’re walling yourself off from the outside world, it’s time you know that you’re doing it wrong! 

Privacy doesn’t require fences, walls, or boundaries that block your view and connection. It can be achieved through proper positioning and an understanding of the Intimacy Gradient.  

 

Understanding the Intimacy Gradient 

Architect Christopher Alexander defines the Intimacy Gradient in his 1977 book, A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction. It is a guiding principle for the layout of spaces “so that they create a sequence which begins with the entrance and the most public parts of the building, then leads to slightly more private areas, and finally to the most private domains.” In summary, a home’s spaces become increasingly private as you move from the front yard to the living room to the back bedrooms. 

Your front yard should be considered a public space and designed accordingly. Your neighbors drive past your house every day on their way to work. Your delivery workers drop off your packages. Your friends walk up your driveway to your front porch, eagerly awaiting the dinner party you’re hosting inside. When we live in a community, it is part of our duty to create a welcoming exterior space for these folks. 

Walls Aren’t Welcoming 

What’s the obsession with privacy fencing? Walls aren’t welcoming! Building a privacy fence at the edge of your front yard disrupts the Intimacy Gradient by establishing a private space too early. Your neighbors taking an evening stroll will feel wary of what lies on the other side of your fence or be angry that you’ve disrupted the inviting community feel of the streetscape. 

Your home isn’t an island in itself; it’s part of a larger community. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t create privacy through the proper channels. In his book, Alexander explains, “The movement between [spaces] is as important as the [spaces] themselves.” So, rather than creating a privacy wall in our front yards, we need to develop transitions that take us from the public exterior to the private interior. A row of azalea hedges works so well because it starts to create a division of privacy while giving those on the sidewalk something beautiful to admire. 

Here’s How to Make Your Home Feel More Private (The Right Way)

A successful and well-designed entrance must provide space to receive guests, ease the transition into a new realm, and make it easy for visitors to navigate the home. A wall does none of these things. Here’s how to make folks feel at home and connected while also creating more than enough privacy for your home. 

Plant Landscaping 

Creating a garden for your home is one of the most welcoming ways to establish privacy. Trees can help block views into upper interior rooms, while bushes establish a divide from street to home. Even a wall of privacy hedges is more appealing than a rotting fence! Your neighbors will appreciate the beauty your garden adds, and your guests will feel much more welcome. 

Create Entryway Transitions 

Sometimes, a sense of transition is enough to signal to folks that they’re about to enter a more private space and to be respectful. For example, the sounds of footsteps moving from the sidewalk to a gravel entryway path can indicate to visitors that they’re now approaching your private space. 

Design Outdoor Courtyards 

Creating a front courtyard can be a good way to develop a sense of privacy without completely removing your home from its surroundings. Courtyards offer a charming spot to welcome guests and can also increase your private outdoor space. 

Install Window Coverings 

If you’re worried about people looking in from the street, simply install window coverings. Sheer curtains and drapes will provide the sense of privacy you need on the inside of your home without creating obstructions to your home’s public front areas. 

Position Living Areas Properly 

Finally, design your home intentionally with the site orientation of your property in mind. Positioning more public areas of your home, like the living room, towards the front and more private areas, like bedrooms, towards the back will reinforce the Intimacy Gradient and create a natural sense of privacy. 

Tear Down the Wall

It’s time to tear down the wall. Your eight-foot privacy fence isn’t serving you or your community. Rather than shutting your home off from the world, open up. There’s a beautiful world out there, and you can connect with it while also having just enough privacy inside. 

 

What are you hiding anyway?