Five Ways to Keep Your Neighbors From Looking Down Into Your Yard

We like to think that our home is also our fortress of privacy: Once you walk through your front door, you’re free from prying eyes (or lenses) and can relax. There are a ton of ways to ensure your privacy inside, starting with items like window films, shades, and curtains. And if you want to protect your outdoor space from neighbors peering over the fence, you have several easy options.

Most of those options, however, assume your neighbors are on the same level as you. If the neighboring homes are located above yours, you’ll need to re-think your privacy plan. This is especially true if your neighbors have outdoor areas that offer a perfect view of your backyard. If you get the sense you’re being watched every time you step outside your house, here are a few ways you can regain some privacy.

Plant trees

The simplest long-term option is to plant trees—specifically canopy trees, whose branches stretch out and form a living roof over the area below. You’ll want to consult with an arborist or other landscaping professional to identify canopy trees that will thrive in your region and climate. You’ll also want to get some advice on spacing out the trees so you eventually get the lush, thick “roof” effect that will offer the privacy you’re looking for (not to mention cool down the space and block out the sun’s damaging rays).

Note the word “eventually,” however: Trees don’t just pop up in a matter of days. Maple trees, for example, are excellent canopy trees, but can take several decades to reach their full height and size. But if you’re going to be in the house (and using the yard) for a long time to come, investing in canopy trees will solve your problem and beautify the space.

Install shade sails

A shade sail is typically a large triangular or rectangular sheet of fabric that you attach to posts or existing structures in your yard (such as a fence). They let air and rain through, but block out the sun, creating shade wherever you want it. That means they can be used for vertical privacy, too—one or more shade sails installed in your yard will block someone’s view of your yard from above.

Shade sails are relatively affordable and easily installed. You can buy a shade sail kit that comes with everything you need, but it’s easy to DIY by sinking a few posts or attaching some hooks to your fence or exterior walls. They can also be quickly removed if your circumstances change.

Add a covered patio

If you have a defined patio or deck space where you spend most of your time being observed by your neighbors (or imagining you are), you can cover it pretty easily using several options: