There are lots of ways to add privacy to your home without compromising your style, blocking out natural light, or going overboard budget-wise.
From front yard privacy ideas to sheer curtains, plants inside and out, to renter-friendly window film, our seven expert ideas are sure to help you find the perfect fit, whether you own your home, have a big budget, or a small space to contend with.
7 smart ways to add privacy to your home
1. Adding plants for privacy
Planting a hedge in front of your windows will add privacy in a natural way
One of the first places to start when adding privacy is outside, according to Rachel Stringer, an experienced real estate agent at Raleigh Realty.
'Privacy shrubs and hedges are great because they create a living wall that both screens your yard and looks beautiful. They also offer a natural, organic touch that can soften the lines of your property and make the whole place feel more inviting. You can go for tall, dense evergreens if you want year-round privacy, or choose deciduous plants if you like the idea of changing seasons and dappled sunlight.'
It's also worth choosing a variety of heights when picking your plants and hedging, whether it's for your front yard or plants for privacy on a balcony. Tammy Sons, founder and CEO of TN Nursery explains, 'I prefer using layered landscaping when building privacy because it achieves both visual beauty and functional privacy. My standard advice for property boundaries involves planting tall native shrubs that possess dense foliage.'
For a fast-growing tree, check out The Sill's Thuja green giant, which you can buy in multiples for ease and up to five feet in height from their website. Thuja can grow between three and five feet per year so it won't take long to create privacy.
This creates a screen that functions both as a soft shield to prevent visual intrusion while also attracting birds and butterflies to the space, as it's important to plant for pollinators. 'This transformation creates a private sanctuary that keeps its space open and inviting,' says Tammy.
A good starter pollinator plant that can live outside is Plants.com's Gardenia; you can choose from two sizes, and it's sweetly scented.
2. Layer your drapes
Layer your drapes for privacy, warmth and decoration
Learning the 'layering trick' will bring many benefits to your home, Nana Quagraine, founder and CEO of 54kibo, explains, 'Adding privacy to your home with by layering window treatments that are carefully placed is a simple and effective method I definitely recommend.'
There are two ways to improve your privacy within a living room, one for the summer months, the second is for when it's cooler. The layering method is perfect for all seasons.
'For instance, you can hang sheer inner curtains so that the sun’s rays can penetrate, and you can still look outside during the day, but at night, the closed outer layer will make you the sole occupant of the space. This layering approach further works to bring in the presence of light and adds character,' says Nana.
For winter months, swap out your sheer window treatments for heavy designs made of velvet and brocade. 'They will give you the sensation of being in a private room and will make the place more cozy and warm,' Nana continues.
'I always give the same advice: Extend the curtain rods beyond the windows and use curtains that reach the floor and even puddle on it to get the maximum privacy level and elegance. These curtains, when pulled back, can act as a covering for the windows, therefore, not allowing any prying eyes to see in and at the same time, the few people inside can have the comfort of having their own little space.'
Target has a wide range of great value rods. We're fans of the Oval Spring tension curtain rod in white, as it has an easy, no-tool installation feature, and comes in four sizes.
With 15 colors to choose from, this range of sheer curtains comes with rod pockets for easy installation and is machine washable in cold water. You can choose from 13 different lengths.
3. Add shutters
Shutters are great for a home office as you can control the light coming in
The beauty of shutters is that they are bespoke and work in any room in the house. There are plenty of shutter ideas to choose from, too, where you can only block out half the window or all of it, and the slats move to offer privacy when you want it.
'Shutters have a bad reputation for being far less exciting than a fabric window treatment, so be sure to have fun with it,' says Lindsey Walsh, founder and principal designer at Lindsey Walsh Interior Design. 'Paint your shutters (and the rest of your trim) a bold color, surround your shutters with a bold patterned wallpaper or both.'
For added home privacy, Lindsey recommends solid interior shutters (no louvres), such as Walmart's Homeside raised panel vinyl shutters come in 11 sizes and seven colors.
She adds, 'They offer complete privacy coverage and instantly become a chic architectural detail that feels straight out of the 1800s. They are so uncommon in today's houses that I think they could be an incredibly unique addition to any house, especially if the window well is nice and deep.'
4. Add window film
Window film adds privacy to your home and can come in many appealing designs and colors to suit every style.
Window film has become a great value addition to homes over the years, and it's easy to see why. Not only is it decorative, but it's also practical for a variety of reasons.
Karen Watts, founder of DomiSource, explains, 'In bathrooms and close-quarter windows, especially side entries or kitchen nooks, I use linen-style frosted film that adds privacy while still allowing natural light to filter in.
'It softens the room and gives you peace of mind without hiring a contractor. One of my go-to hacks is to use it on just the bottom panes so that you get the light and sky from above.'
It can also be used on front doors, French-style doors, and side windows. You can pick a frosted design or create a feature with a decorative look.
Many are easy-peel, making it a great temporary home privacy addition for renters, such as the glue-free static cling window film from Wayfair that blocks 92% of UV rays and adds privacy.
Adding window film is a wonderful way to be creative, as well as keeping prying eyes at bay. This magnolia design looks like etched, stained glass, and will look stunning when the light pours through it.
5. Install cafe curtains
Cafe curtains add charm and privacy to a bathroom or kitchen
If you don't want the investment of shutters and the faff of window film, then follow the cafe curtain trend – it could be your new 'thing'. They work best in kitchens can work brilliantly in smaller places that are overlooked.
'Right now we are working on a residential project in Bronxville, NY, which is a beautiful town right outside of New York City with gracious homes from the 1800s built quite close to one another,' says Lindsey Walsh, founder and lead interior designer at Lindsey Walsh Interior Design.
'In this scenario, smart interior design privacy tactics become paramount. For the kitchen – you want to let light in but you don't want your neighbors to see you getting coffee in your pajamas...As such, we've decided to install white linen cafe curtains which will do a beautiful job of letting the light in, as well as some of the views, without letting nosy neighbors see too much!'
Fancy having a go at cafe-style curtains? Walmart's Curtainthinking Store cream white kitchen cafe curtains will fit most windows and come in gray, blue and beige.
6. Utilize your window sills
Adding accessories and flowers to your window sill will give you extra privacy
Windows sills are a great place to up your privacy and you have both the interior and exterior ones to utilize.
You can plant up beautiful window box ideas for the outside, full of seasonal plants. Then inside, you can get creative.
There are indoor plants that flower all year round or consider Rachel's advice, 'They not only bring in a touch of nature but also act as a soft screen. Tall plants like snake plants or ferns can help break up sightlines while still letting in light.
'Placing decorative items on your windowsills can work the same way. A few vases or sculptures arranged thoughtfully can block views without making the space feel closed off.'
Using a mixture of the two options will definitely give your windows privacy and interest. Check out our top buys below to get your windowsill ready.
These charming window boxes will soon look pretty on your exterior window sill. They have a coco liner and a horse trough metal frame, plant up with seasonal varieties that will add color, height and texture.
Head of Solved Punteha van Terheyden has a snake plant on her north-facing office window sill, which is overlooked by neighbors. She says. 'It adds just the right amount of privacy indoors without blocking my view or light.'
Add color and interest to your windowsill with this super cute ribbed glass vase. The shape will add width, so all you need is some pretty blooms to add height and a touch of privacy.
7. Screens
Even a shelving unit can be used to create privacy
When space is tight, it's a good idea to screen sections off to create zones. This can also create some pockets of privacy and block the direct view anyone has when passing by your lower-level windows without making the space feel claustrophobic.
You can use a fixed piece like a shelving unit, or a foldable screen. We love the simplicity of Amazon's beige four-panel room divider that's made of bamboo, which also as a living room divider ideas,.
Rachel agrees, adding, 'Folding screens are one of the most versatile tools in the privacy toolbox. They can be moved around wherever you need them, making them perfect for renters or anyone who likes to change things up from time to time.
'They come in so many materials and styles, from wood to fabric, and can add an artistic touch to the room while giving you the seclusion you need.'
Using a foldaway privacy screen will come in hand for renters, those on a budget or those who do not want to make permanent changes in their homes.
Meet the experts
Rachel is a dedicated agent who understands that the most important part of any real estate transaction is her clients and is well placed to advice on all things exterior and interior when it comes to our homes. Rachel is also equipped with the knowledge and experience you need in an agent for today's real estate market.
Tammy Sons is the founder and CEO of TN Nursery, a family-owned business that has been active in the nursery industry for over 60 years and three generations. She is a plant expert and has studied horticulture at TSU. Tammy has grown the nursery from a modest operation into a thriving enterprise.
Nana is a board member of Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) and is also a Harvard Business School alumna. She always loved the unique contemporary African design items she found on trips home, and realized these designs were largely hard to access globally. Nana launched 54kibo in 2018 along with a team committed to sharing the endless creativity in Africa and its Diaspora.
Karen Watts is the founder and CEO of DomiSource, a WBENC-certified platform designed to simplify the process of moving home. Having moved home 23 times and completed 14 renovations, as well as enjoying a professional career spanning SaaS, finance and real estate, she has first-hand knowledge of how people live and what helps them settle in.
Lindsey Walsh is the owner and principal designer at Lindsey Walsh Interior Design. Trained at the Parsons School of Design, Lindsey delights in helping clients create homes that are beautiful, inviting, and personal. Based outside of Princeton, NJ, Lindsey enjoys easy access to New York City’s design trade resources and regularly scours auctions and antique stores across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
So there you have it, seven clever ways to add privacy to your home, including renter-friendly options that won't cost the earth.
Some will add instant privacy indoors, whilst others get to work in your yard over the medium to longer term. Planting fast-growing trees or adding pergola privacy ideas will help you stylishly cocoon yourself in beautiful seclusion, whatever the season.
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