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33 Garden Fence Ideas for Simple to Sophisticated Tastes

wooden x fence in a front yard

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

A fence can delineate outdoor space, provide privacy and security, and add some design flair. And there are many yard and garden fence ideas to choose from. They range in height, materials, structure, and more. Some fences can be DIY projects while others require a higher skill level to put together. If you're considering installing a fence, here are some yard and garden fence ideas to help inspire you.

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    Wood and Wire Elegance

    wood and chicken wire garden fence
    Brooke Giannetti

    Wood and chicken wire are simple materials. But this fence shows how they can be combined to create a fence that is both functional and elegant. The fencing helps to protect the raised garden beds from critters. And it provides a support structure on which plants can climb.

    Wood and Wire Elegance from Velvet & Linen

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    Farmhouse Garden Picket Fence

    garden fence ideas

    Liz Marie Blog

    This vinyl fence from blogger Liz Marie Blog is an affordable modern take on the age old nostalgia of a white picket fence that works perfectly with the farmhouse style of the backyard garden.

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    DIY Iron Fence

    short black iron fence

    ironcraftfences / Instagram

    This easy-to-install iron fence can be put in place in one afternoon. It's as sturdy as a chain-link fence, but its design and black finish make it much more elegant. Plus, its streamlined simplicity will allow it to fit anywhere on your property. You can use it to protect garden beds, set off an outdoor dining or seating space, and more.

    DIY Iron Fence from IronCraft Fences

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    Geometric Wood Fence

    wooden geometric fence
    Blog Lovin'

    Think outside the box with wood fence ideas by doing something a little more exciting than simple vertical or horizontal slats. This geometric wood fence both delineates property and adds plenty of design flair. It also doesn't impede the view beyond the fence. Yet the wire between the wood pieces still works to keep rabbits and other garden pests out.

    Geometric Wood Fence from Tara Dillard

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    Cottage Garden Fence

    garden fence ideas

    Lobster and Swan

    This rustic English cottage garden fence from Lobster and Swan has a weathered, natural feel that looks like it's been there forever.

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    Stepped Wood Fence

    wooden stepped fence on a hill

    Bower Power

    A stepped fence is an ideal solution if you're building on a hill. It's visually appealing, working with the geography of the land. And it offers privacy no matter where you're standing on the hill. The horizontal slats on this wood fence act to smoothly draw your eyes across the fencing, so the step effect doesn't look too choppy.

    Stepped Wood Fence from Bower Power

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    DIY Rustic Fence

    DIY wooden garden fence
    Merry Pad

    This simple wood-and-wire fence that surrounds a garden is stained with a DIY solution. It's made by soaking steel wool in vinegar and then using the slurry to add color to the wood. The stain color can react differently on various woods and tends to deepen with age. The end result is a unique and rustic DIY fence that you can make with just a few basic and inexpensive materials.

    DIY Rustic Fence from Merry Pad

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    Black Wood Fence

    black garden fence

    One Kings Lane

    When considering wood fence ideas, black probably isn't a color that immediately comes to mind. However, a black fence can be a stylish addition to an outdoor space, especially for contemporary homes. It can create a cozy and private area, depending on the fence style. And the black color will make any surrounding greenery pop.

    Black Wood Fence from One Kings Lane

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    Pallet Fence

    palette garden fence
    Backyard Boss

    The wood pallet is one of the best repurposed materials from which to build a DIY garden fence. Pallets can be found inexpensively or even for free. They give off a rustic vibe and offer many design options in how you put them together to construct fence panels. You can even paint them a color that coordinates with your home and garden space.

    Pallet Fence from Backyard Boss

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    Traditional Picket Fence

    white picket fence
    Homebunch

    What is more classic than a white picket fence? Not only does it add curb appeal to a home, but it also allows flowers and other plants to pop. Plus, picket fences can be beautiful additions to most styles of homes—from colonials to capes to farmhouses. They also come in many materials, including wood and vinyl.

    Traditional Picket Fence from HomeBunch

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    Arbor Garden Structure

    white picket fence and arbor
    Designs Northwest Architects

    An arbor is a vertical garden structure that you can walk under, and it can be incorporated into a fence. It can provide curb appeal, as well as an inviting focal point for your home. It also can offer support for plants growing vertically. Arbors can look especially beautiful with colorful flowering vines twining around them.

    Arbor Garden Structure from Designs Northwest Architects

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    Rose Climber Fence

    garden fence with climbing roses

    ggardenman / Instagram

    Strategically plan your landscaping and your fencing at the same time with a simple fence that can accommodate climbing rose bushes. You'll need a sturdy fence that can support the weight of the plants. Wire or lattice are good materials, as they will allow you to easily tie the vines to the fencing to train them to grow on the fence. Make sure to space plants far enough apart, based on their mature size. They will fill in on your fence soon enough.

    Rose Climber Fence from Ggardenman

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    Metal Mesh Garden Fence

    vegetable garden fence ideas

    Finding Lovely

    Metal mesh panels between the painted posts of this raised bed garden from Finding Lovely help keeps critters at bay and practically disappear to create an open and airy feel.

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    Painted Artwork Fence

    painted pallet fence
    The Garden Glove

    Why settle for a plain fence when you can give it some artistic flair? Cover your fence in artwork, either by painting something freehand or using stencils. Your art doesn't have to be perfect, as it will eventually become weathered as it's exposed to the elements anyway. Be sure to use a paint that's formulated for outdoor use, as well as for your fencing material.

    Painted Artwork Fence from The Garden Glove

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    Bamboo Retaining Wall

    bamboo retaining wall
    Garden Lovers Club

    Bamboo is a popular material for outdoor landscaping, as it automatically provides a natural look that fits right in with greenery. Create a short bamboo retaining wall to delineate a garden bed by cutting bamboo stalks down to a uniform size. Then, arrange them side by side, and bind them together with rope. This is a great option for a curved garden bed, as it's easier to curve the line of bamboo than it is when using materials like bricks or stones.

    Bamboo Retaining Wall from Garden Lovers Club

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    Rustic Split Rail Fence

    rustic split rail fence

    thecountrylane / Instagram

    This rustic split rail fence looks like it's always been there. That's because the fence is made from old distressed wood, rather than brand new materials. This is an excellent option if you have a mature garden and older home that would look odd with a brand new fence. Look for weathered barn wood or even reclaimed old fence wood to create this scene in your yard.

    Rustic Split Rail Fence from thecountrylane

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    Fence With Lights

    white fence with string lights

    miumari_74 / Instagram

    String lights never go out of style, and a fence is a great place to hang them. These vintage Edison bulbs add a whimsical touch to the outdoor garden. And at night their glow reflects off the white fence. Lighting on fencing can be helpful for you to see out to the perimeter of your yard. And it adds nice ambiance unlike a harsh flood light.

    Fence With Lights from Jaana Turunen

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    Brick Mixed Media Fence

    brick fence

    Barry Winiker / Getty Images

    Fencing doesn't always come in just one material, as this brick-and-metal fence proves. Building your fence posts out of brick or stone allows you to match materials on your home. And using metal or wood for the fence panels ensures that you have some sightline through the fence. Plus, by choosing a mixed media fence, you might be able to use an expensive material that you love and offset the cost by mixing it with a less expensive option.

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    Brick Wall

    brick wall

    annick vanderschelden photography / Getty Images

    If you're looking for privacy, durability, and beauty, consider creating a brick wall fence. Bricks come in many shades and can be painted, so you'll most likely be able to match them to your home. Plus, they can provide a sturdy support structure for climbing vines and other plants.

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    Horizontal Privacy Fence

    white horizontal fence

    Boris SV / Getty Images

    Horizontal fencing has somewhat of a modern or midcentury modern vibe, thanks to its clean lines. But it's flexible enough to fit in with most home styles. And it can make an excellent privacy fence. Simply keep the slats fairly close together, and build them as tall as you desire.

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    Iron Fence With Decorative Finials

    iron fence with gold finials

    Catherine McQueen / Getty Images

    Iron fences range from fairly simple designs to having very ornate and intricate details. If your home has detailed architecture, mirror that in your iron fence with some decorative finials. You can even go with a different color finial to make the detail pop like these gold points. They'll go far in creating luxurious curb appeal for your home.

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    Iron Fence With Gate

    iron fence with gate

    John Elk III / Getty Images

    If you have an iron fence wrapping around your front yard, consider adding a driveway gate as well. This provides extra security for your home while still maintaining its curb appeal. Plus, iron gates are commonly paired with mechanisms that allow you to automatically open them from your car.

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    Pointed Wood Fence

    pointed wood fence

    Michael Brinson / Getty Images

    To add some notable design flair to your wood fence without bringing in any extra materials, simply cut the tops of the slats into points. This does call for a little extra labor than simply leaving the wood squared off at the top. But it can do wonders to turn a boring fence into a feature. Plus, if you have multiple peaks to your roof, the points will mirror that nicely.

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    Long Rail Fence

    long rail fence

    John Coletti / Getty Images

    If you have a lot of land to fence off, consider a rail fence with long slats. Not only will this minimize the amount of materials you'll need, but it also will keep your sightline as clear as possible. Plus, the simple, uniform look isn't distracting to the eye at all, allowing you to focus on your beautiful landscape instead.

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    Short Picket Fence With Gate

    short picket fence

    Douglas Keister / Getty Images

    If you're looking for a fence to delineate your front yard and add a little curb appeal, consider a short picket fence with a gate. The fence will keep people (and potentially some animals) from wandering onto your lawn and possibly damaging plants or grass. But it still will maintain a welcoming and friendly vibe for your house.

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    Matching Stone

    stone fence

    Mint Images / Getty Images

    If you have a stone house facade, consider finding a match to that stone to create a short fence or garden retaining wall. Having that continuity in style can enrich the overall look of your home. And it prevents any clashes that could happen if you were to use a different type of stone or other material.

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    Short Stone Wall

    short stone wall

    Surut Wattanamaetee / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Stone is generally more expensive than wood when it comes to fencing, both for materials and labor. However, if you want that rich look of stone without breaking the bank, consider using it for a short wall. This would look especially good in the front yard to add curb appeal, as you're probably not looking for a full privacy fence there.

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    Wood Fence Post Caps

    wood fence with post caps

    Image Source / Getty Images

    To take a basic wood fence up a notch, check out your options for fence post caps. There are many designs to choose from, so you're bound to find a cap that fits with the style of your home. Post caps are an added cost when installing a fence. But compared to other options, such as intricate cuts or placement of the wood slats, they're relatively cheap yet still effective to add personality.

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    Lattice

    white lattice fence

    Lari Bat / Getty Images

    A lattice fence is both stylish and functional. It allows some visibility through it but still does provide privacy depending on how tight the lattice is. Plus, you can grow plants on it which will give you further privacy. Lattice also will work to keep larger critters out of your yard.

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    Vertical Garden

    vertical garden

    Noppamas Phanmanee / Getty Images

    Make your fence come alive with a vertical garden. One way to do this is to simply add hooks to your fence, from which you can hang pots. Just make sure the fencing material is sturdy enough for the weight of the pots. Plastic pots are ideal, as they are generally lightweight.

    What's great about a vertical garden like this is it will hide any blemishes on your fence and instead draw attention to the beauty of the plants.

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    Surfboard Fence

    surfboard fence

    Matt Anderson Photography / Getty Images

    There are many offbeat fence ideas to consider, including making fences from atypical materials like surfboards. While this does offer some privacy and property delineation, it’s mostly to add aesthetic appeal to your yard.

    You can use the surfboards to make a focal point fence panel, and then construct the rest of the fence out of a more traditional and practical material.

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    Layered Fencing

    tall and short fences

    ANITA BLAKER / Getty Images

    There are some cases where you might want more than one fence. In this case, the tall privacy fence fades into the background behind the planters. And the rich wood fence is what pops.

    This is a great option if you don't want to break the bank on a large privacy fence. Use more expensive materials for a small fence in front of the privacy fence, and allow it to steal the show.

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    Woven Fence

    woven garden fence

    Johner Images / Getty Images

    Be one with nature by crafting a woven fence out of pliable branches. This is a great option for garden beds to protect them against some critters and keep the soil contained. You're essentially weaving a basket for your plants.

    This look is easily customizable for wherever you want to build the fence; just cut branches to the sizes you need.

FAQ
  • What type of fencing is best for a garden?

    The best type of garden fencing depends on your taste, budget, and whether your fence is purely decorative or designed to provide privacy or to keep animals and kids from getting in and/or out. In terms of materials, a garden fence made from PVC or vinyl is an affordable, low-maintenance, weather-resistant option. Aluminum and steel garden fences are suited to more decorative designs and are often powder-coated for protection, but are more prone to rust. Wood fences are classic and nostalgic, but vulnerable to rot, mold, and termites.

  • How do you maintain a wood fence?

    Wood fences need the most maintenance and require staining and sealing every two to three years to help keep them protected.

  • Do fences add resale value to a home?

    If it is in good shape, provides curb appeal, privacy for a pool or backyard, or offers safety for pets and children, a fence can add value to the home.

  • What is the cheapest way to build a fence?

    The cheapest way to build a fence is by using PVC material rather than wood. Not only is PVC affordable, but it's also super low maintenance and very easy to maintain.