Whether you are going to enjoy a family barbecue on the terrace, read your book in peace on your balcony or swim in your pool without suffering the prying eyes of neighbors or passers-by, a blackout installation is always very practical. Well chosen, they can also be decorative elements in their own right, especially when select physical screens which blend perfectly with the landscape. Here are the options available to you to choose well.
The benefits of blackout
In general, all blackouts all have the same advantages. In addition to offering you greater discretion in case you face or busy road adjacent to your accommodation, they create shaded areas in summer and they have an effect windproof. They can also be used to camouflage unattractive elements such as air conditioning, an old wall or even a rainwater collector.
There are also all kinds of models to choose from depending on your tastes and the desired effect. Artificial fences, hedges and other fabrics of PVC, aluminium, polyester or polyethylene (as found on this page for example) are compact and give a modern outdoor look. As for physical screens, do they have the advantage of messing up the decor more? From cans to green fences, there is no shortage of options to dress up your green setting with charm and elegance, all without altering the vegetation of the outdoor areas. If this is the result you are looking for, here are some examples to adopt at home.
5 examples of physical screens
1) Natural hedges
If spending time in the garden and taking care of the plants does not scare you, the hedges of bushes will protect you from outside eyes without any problems. Here, consider for example cedar, berry bushes, holly, forsythia, cypress, poncirus or even oleander. Tall grasses can also make a difference in unpleasant confrontations.
2) Climbing plants as a screen
Climbing plants can be grown along a fence, a railing, a pergola or even a wooden panel that can serve as teachers and enhance their hidden power. It mostly is very decorative and it can really hide you from prying eyes, especially if you choose a perennial plant with evergreen. Some elegant examples include Virginia creeper, clematis, pea, wisteria, climbing hydrangea, star jasmine, honeysuckle, morning glory, climbing rose, bougainvillea or pinion.
3) Wooden canes
Consisting of thin natural wood elements connected by discreet cables, the frames are very popular for their very warm and cozy bohemian chic look. It’s extra cheap, easy to install and maintenance free. They can however tend to get damaged easily over time, especially in the event of snow and bad weather. There are models made of bamboo, wood bark, reeds, heather or wicker. It is up to you to choose according to the desired shade and the desired concealment! In any case, the frames offer a more rustic and light appearance.
4) Cleverly placed pots and planters
If you have space, you can install large pots or tall, leafy plants. This will give you more privacy when decorating your spaces with variety of pots and plants to suit your taste. You can also play with stacking at different levels with planters on the railing and plants of different sizes below to green up the balcony or terrace and elegantly hide the view of a busy street or parking lot thanks to the beautiful colors.
5) Wooden privacy screens
If you like tinkering, you can definitely consider creating a blackout panel with previously reclaimed pallets or recycled boards. This option allows toposition the boards as desired depending on the level of concealment you are looking for. You can also place the boards parallel or perpendicular to the ground, but also customize them (paint, spot cut, etc.). Alternatively, you can stack wooden logs supported by large poles on either side. Finally, you can weave long flexible stems of hazel or ash like a braid around stakes.
