There are many reasons to install a wooden fence, from privacy for your family, increased security for your children, keeping small critters out of your yard, or maybe you just like the aesthetic. Whatever the reason, you may be considering how you can decorate your new wooden fence. Just because you are using the wood fence for another reason, does not mean that you can’t ensure that your fence is providing the perfect backdrop for your home landscaping. Having a nice-looking fence can help to elevate the look of your yard.
Imagine that you have your family or friends come over. You want them to be impressed by your backyard and landscaping, but how can you do that? There are many different ways that you can decorate a fence. These are some ways that you can customize your residential fence to make it align with your aesthetics, but also add more beauty to your landscaping.
Painting the Fence a Solid Color
The classic, and most obvious, solution is to paint your fence a solid color! Most traditionally, wood fences are painted in natural shades, more specifically, shades of brown. Common colors inside a light brown stain or a dark brown. Many homeowners choose to paint their fence a deep red or maroon as well, and grey tends to be a common artificial-looking color. The browns, reds, and grays are the more traditional-looking colors and more common.
If you want something with a little bit more pizzazz, you may consider painting your fence a solid different color. Perhaps a dark blue, dark green, or a dark yellow would be a good look for your yard. If you are choosing to paint your fence with a color that is not natural-looking, be mindful about the effect it will have on your overall landscape aesthetic. Make sure that you match your fence color to your shutters, your house outer walls, your front or side door, and your driveway. If you have plants or flowers, also be sure to match the fence to those, as well.
Alternating Colors on Boards & Pickets
You can take the color on your fence a step further by alternating the colors on the boards and pickets. Alternating colors with natural colors can add an element of depth to your landscaping, as you won’t have a solid block of a single color in your backyard. If you choose to alternate with bright colors, consider the same suggestions as before, matching the alternating colors not only to each other, but also to other colors in your landscaping. Alternating colors can be a super fun way to add a pop of color to your fence.
Painting a Mural
If you want to go a step even further, consider painting a mural on your fence! Murals do not have to be large or complex, but can be a simple design. You could paint the fence yourself, or find a local artist to paint the fence for you. A mural facing inward is perfect as a centerpiece for backyard hangouts, relaxing days, or family game events. Murals become a topic of conversation, and the best part is that you can change the mural every few years. Whatever mural you choose does not have to be permanent, as your fence will need maintenance anyway, providing you with the perfect opportunity to change up the mural. If there is a social justice topic you are passionate about, a design you want amplified, or you want to show off your kids’ art, a wood fence mural is the perfect decoration.
Planting Along the Fence Line
If you are not into painting the fence a specific color, you could also add a 3D element to the design. You may consider planting flowers or a bed along the fence line, which will elevate the look of your fence. Whether you choose to create an elevated flower bed or you plant your flowers directly into the ground, adding plants will round out the look of your fence. Depending on the plant, you may also get increased privacy, as the plants would block the space between the slats of the fence. Having your plants grow against and around the fence posts will add a beautiful element to your fence.
Hanging Planters on the Fence
If you want to add plants, but want a less permanent option, consider hanging plants on the fence. Upon first thought, you may think that plants will weigh down the fence, but with proper positioning, remember that your wood fence is designed to last a really long time.
Adding Vines
Vines are another non-permanent plant solution if you want to add some plant life to your wood fence. The beauty of vines is that they will grow around the fence, starting to take the shape of the fence. Vines are a classic, sophisticated, and old-school way of adding another element to your wood fence.
Adding a Trellis with Flowers
Similar to hanging plants or adding vines, adding a trellis with flowers is another way of adding flowers in a non-permanent way to your fence. A trellis with flowers will also increase security since it will block the open slats from the fence. There are a lot of different trellis sizes available, with many different designs. Maybe you are looking for a lattice or maybe you want a square pattern. Whatever you are looking for in your trellis design, you can add to your fence!
Hanging String Lights
If you want something that will shine at night, literally, consider adding outdoor string lights. You can wrap the string lights around the fence like a vine, and they will look like sparkling stars when you turn them on at night. Hanging string lights is an especially good option for those who host regular dinner parties or other outdoor night events.
As you can see, there are many options for you if you want to decorate your wood fencing. From painting, to adding plants, to adding string lights, there is an option for whatever aesthetic or vibe you are going for.