A home’s backyard says quite a lot about the owner and the people living there. The first impression of your house that outsiders get is through your front yard presentation. You undoubtedly hope to create a long-lasting impression with your unique front yard design.

But there are times you want a bit more privacy and want to create more of a private front yard
design. Now, there are plenty of reasons why people choose privacy:

Table of Contents

Why Does One Require a Private Front Yard?

Sense of Security

A front yard is an open space at the end of the day. This factor depends a lot on where you live. People who live in a more urban setting tend to appreciate that sense of security and control over who has access to their front yard. Also, regardless of where you live, you do not want any unwanted guests or intruders in your front yard, do you?

Privacy

Some people enjoy having a sense of privacy or seclusion in their front yard. Apart from that, you also do not want prying eyes attempting to peek into your house. And if you’re going to entertain guests or relax in your front yard and utilize the space, it can be done if the front yard is a little more private.

Respite From Busy Streets

Living in the city is fun, but that is until you live near busy streets. The constant cacophony of people, cars, and buses can destroy your peace. Here are cases where closed front yards might become more of a necessity for your peace and quiet.

Small Backyard

Few homeowners have a small backyard. Thus, they develop a closed or private front yard to have more space for themselves in their house.

Why someone decides to create a more private front yard ultimately depends on their situation and preferences. But no matter the reason, we here at Land-Con have excellent front-yard designs that can help you achieve a private haven for yourself. We have mentioned a few ways you can easily make a front yard landscape private.

Now before you start to plan your front yard landscaping design, you must ensure that you check your local zoning laws. Understanding the regulations regarding the necessary permits, height restrictions, and more makes the process easier.

Go for Fencing

Fencing your front yard is one of the most commonly used methods for creating a sense of privacy. You can fence your front yard by using a picket fence. You can also opt for slats to have the privacy you require without blocking the visibility of your front yard completely. If you want total seclusion, you can consider taller fences.

If you want your front yard completely private, you may want to consider installing solid tongue and groove or even good old boards. You can change your privacy settings depending on the material you use. For example, if you want a somewhat semi-private fence, you should opt for slats, lattice spindles, and more. This way, you still have privacy and a view of the outside.

When considering fencing material, you must keep the maintenance requirements in mind. Wood can be a bit costlier in return for maintenance as it needs to be painted and resealed every couple of years. You can also consider low-maintenance front yard fence options such as powder-coated aluminum, vinyl, and composite.

Line it with Hedges

Do you want a pop of green in your front yard? You can opt to hedge your front yard line with shrubs and evergreen hedges. Hedges and shrubs have dense foliage and can grow up to 40 feet tall. Living fences offer a sense of privacy and a respite from the busy street and the outdoors. The green front yard brings about a feeling of tranquillity and allows you to feel reconnected with nature.

You might have to remember what plants you use to create a barrier. Opt for low-maintenance shrubs packed together densely to create a screen-like hedge.

Vertical Gardens

Vertical gardens in the front yard are becoming increasingly popular, especially in urban areas with a lack of space to garden. A vertical garden for your front yard is a very versatile option. You can opt for wall-mounted or freestanding installation and choose plants depending on your location. For example, annuals, vines, perennials, and vegetables are popular choices. Herb and flower gardens are also gaining popularity as they add a pop of colour and have practical usage. Adding vertical gardens in your front yard also cools the area and offers the desired privacy.

Walls

The best way to gain privacy is to erect walls on your property. Solid walls surrounding your front yard are the best and the most effective way for privacy without looking unappealing. One can choose fieldstone, brick, concrete block, cut stone, and more to complement the house’s aesthetic and style. If the walls feel too closed off, you can incorporate elements that make the space look airy and open. The best way to do so is through a gate, arbour, scalloped section, and more. If the walls look too harsh compared to your front yard, you can always add plants that creep up or cascade over the edge to soften the look. One can also choose to add a wooden pergola or arbour to warm the hardscape and deliver a contrasting texture.

Lattice Screens

Are you in search of a semi-private look for your private yard? You can look for lattice screens; they are versatile and easily installed building elements. These lattice screens can easily cover unappealing aspects in your front yard that you do not want visible to the public. A wide range of weaves, grids, and lattice patterns are available in the market. You can customize between stone, board fence, brick, and more. If you have an array of flowering shrubs, vines, or roses that you want to present in an appealing way along with the added benefit of privacy, a lattice is your perfect companion.

Layer Up with Plants

If you are a homeowner who does not want to go for the obvious choice of closing your front yard, an option to explore is a layering of plants in your front yard. It is an option that can be used in a contemporary way to amplify the artistic soul in you.

For this option, you need to begin with layering short (on-the-ground) plants. Depending on your weather, there are several plants, but a common choice is chrysanthemums for the outermost layer. The second layer that you need to add to the layer is the shrubs. They are the perfect filler layer that adds depth to the entire front yard. For the third layer, you can opt for ornamental trees to tie all the layers together.

Gate Your Front Yard

You can choose who can enter your abode by making it a gated front yard. Add a fence in your front yard landscape and a gate with a walkway leading you to your house. You can keep unwanted attention away while still providing you partial privacy. Gating your front yard is ideal for someone looking for a little more sense of security. You can install a doorbell, intercom, or even a security system to make it more secure.

Dense it with Large Trees

If you want to live within greenery, this option is the best for your front yard. You can plant as many trees as you want while doing your front yard landscaping. It is ideal for those who live next to a busy street. The benefit of large trees is that they can hide your home and help you have a private space. You can choose from many options like the sycamores. They can reach about 90 feet with a large spread as well.

Potted Plants

Sometimes you might want to have something that is more movable. You can choose tall potted plants that visually create an appearance of separation. It allows your eyes to separate between public and private spaces. The tall potted plants in your front yard allow your front yard to feel more removed from any busy street that you might have. Tall potted plants in your front yard are ideal for renters who cannot construct permanent structures barriers, or fences.

If you ask what plant you should choose, you can work with evergreen plants or ornamental grasses. These work better than flowers in your front yard to add a bit more privacy and can substitute a hedge. You can work with denser foliage as it allows some noise reduction.

FAQs

How can I create privacy in my front yard without using a tall fence?

If you’re wondering how to create privacy in a front yard without a large fence, consider layered landscaping with hedges, ornamental grasses, and small trees. These natural elements can act as soft screens while enhancing the beauty of your house front yard.

What are the best front yard privacy ideas for homes on a busy street?

When learning how to landscape a front yard on a busy street, use a combination of noise-reducing shrubs, tall planters, and trellises with climbing vines. These front yard privacy ideas can reduce street noise and create a tranquil, shielded space.

Can a front yard privacy fence enhance curb appeal?

Yes, a well-designed front yard privacy fence can actually increase both privacy and curb appeal. Choose stylish materials like wood slats, metal screens, or decorative concrete to complement your home’s architecture while creating privacy in the front yard.

What’s the best way to make a front yard more private on a budget?

If you’re looking for how to make your front yard more private affordably, consider lattice panels with climbing plants, bamboo screens, or staggered planter boxes. These budget-friendly options are effective and visually appealing.

How can landscaping help make the front garden more private?

Strategically placed greenery is key to making the front garden more private. Tall hedges, evergreen shrubs, and layered plantings create natural barriers that blend beautifully into your house front yard landscaping design.

What types of plants are best for front yard privacy in Ontario?

In Ontario, evergreen trees like Emerald Cedars and tall ornamental grasses such as Feather Reed Grass are ideal for private front yards. These low-maintenance plants offer year-round privacy and work well with various fence front yard ideas.

Is it possible to create privacy in a sloped front yard?

Yes. Terracing a sloped house front yard and incorporating staggered retaining walls or raised planters can help create privacy in a front yard with varying elevations. This also adds dimension and visual interest to your landscape.

What are the best fence designs for front yard privacy?

Some of the best fence front yard ideas include horizontal wood slat fences, metal privacy screens, and living fences using espaliered trees. These provide effective screening while complementing modern and traditional homes alike.

How high can I legally build a front yard fence in Ontario?

In most Ontario municipalities, a front yard privacy fence can typically be up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) high. However, local bylaws vary, so it’s best to check with your city’s zoning office before building to ensure compliance.

What’s the difference between backyard and front yard privacy solutions?

Creating privacy in the front yard often requires more subtle and stylish solutions than in the backyard, since the front is more visible to the public. Design strategies usually focus on balancing privacy with aesthetics, using elements like softscaping, fencing, and structural screens.

Looking for an Amazing Private Front Yard Design?

Create an exceptional private front yard landscaping design with Land-Con. Land-Con is the most preferred front yard landscaping and backyard designing company in Toronto. With over 25 years of experience, no matter what space of your yard you wish to transform, Land-con’s professionals are ready to help you achieve the best outcome for your front yard and backyard space.

Our service areas include Toronto, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Barrie, Kitchener, Aurora, Etobicoke, Ottawa, Mississauga, Woodbridge, East York, Maple, Thornhill, Newmarket, Kleinburg, Concord, Hamilton, Burlington, North York, Pickering, Waterloo, and the surrounding GTA.

Contact Land-Con at 416.504.5263 or drop us an email at info@landcon.ca to learn more.